Jacking up a fifth wheel

jasin1 · 02-24-2022, 05:10 AM

My 5 Carlisle tires arrived last week..what is the best way to jack up the fifth wheel to remove all four tires…

I have the lippert ground control 3.0. Four point jacks

Should I use the leveling jacks with wood blocks under them to get the lift I need ?
Will the jacks hold up the rig for a half a day without dropping?

put jack stands under the axles? I’m thinking right under the spring brackets on the axles

Would you recommend blocking up the frame at four to six points as well?

I have to take the wheels to get them replaced and don’t want the rig to be in an unsafe condition or have it cause any damage to frame or axles

If I could find someplace to replace them on the trailer I would but also worry about a inexperienced worker bending an axle with improper jack placement

Where is the best place to jack just the axle? Under the spring pack?

I know it’s a lot of questions and I appreciate any input

**chuckster57** · 02-24-2022, 05:30 AM

We have used the leveling jacks whenever available to lift the trailer for tire/axle service. Lippert recommends jack stands under the frame for safety.

The shackles may flip down, but it’s easy to get them to flip back up when your done. You just have to raise/lower the front end.

jasin1 · 02-24-2022, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

We have used the leveling jacks whenever available to lift the trailer for tire/axle service. Lippert recommends jack stands under the frame for safety.

The shackles may flip down, but it’s easy to get them to flip back up when your done. You just have to raise/lower the front end.

What if I put jack stands or blocks under the axles as I’m jacking up…would that lessen the chance of the shackles to flip…say if I added a block of wood for every couple of inches I raise…even if the blocks are lower then the axles it could prevent the axles from dropping so far that they flip?

rhagfo · 02-24-2022, 05:48 AM

Why not save your self a lot of work and jut take the 5er to the tire shop? Do they have a very small lot? Any good tire shop will know how to jack a trailer axle. I for one am not afraid of a little hard work, but have yet to removed my own tires to have new mounted. If determined yes the four point will lift and support your 5er, you can also do that at the tire dealership if you wish.

This is our 5er getting new tires.

**JRTJH** · 02-24-2022, 05:51 AM

This is just a personal preference, but I always put a 6x6 wood block under the U-bolts on every axle if I remove the jack or if I'm lifting from any location other than the U-bolts. My reasoning is that once the tire/wheel are removed, if anything happens, the hub would be sitting on the ground, supporting the axle "at the spindle end". So, by using the wood blocks, I eliminate the potential for the hubs to be "supporting the entire axle weight while on the ground" and make it possible to get a jack under the axle if the leveling jacks fail.

While it may not damage the hub or the backing, I just prefer not to have a cast iron hub sitting on concrete, supporting that much weight. It's probably "overkill", but if it saves the cost of even one hub assembly, it's worth the effort. YMMV, but I'd take the steps to protect the hubs from the possibility.

**chuckster57** · 02-24-2022, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

What if I put jack stands or blocks under the axles as I’m jacking up…would that lessen the chance of the shackles to flip…say if I added a block of wood for every couple of inches I raise…even if the blocks are lower then the axles it could prevent the axles from dropping so far that they flip?

Yes you could do that.

**flybouy** · 02-24-2022, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhagfo

Why not save your self a lot of work and jut take the 5er to the tire shop? Do they have a very small lot? Any good tire shop will know how to jack a trailer axle. I for one am not afraid of a little hard work, but have yet to removed my own tires to have new mounted. If determined yes the four point will lift and support your 5er, you can also do that at the tire dealership if you wish.

This is our 5er getting new tires.

The OP lives <10 miles from me, closer by water. There only a few tire shops within a long distance (time wise) that can accomondate a rig that long. They do not have the adapters to hub balance wheels if that's Jasin's desire.

jasin1 · 02-24-2022, 06:15 AM

Thanks for all the info..might just try and take it somewhere. Marshall gave me the names of a few places

Just thought it would be easier to just drop off tires and come back when they are done

jasin1 · 02-24-2022, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybouy

The OP lives <10 miles from me, closer by water. There only a few tire shops within a long distance (time wise) that can accomondate a rig that long. They do not have the adapters to hub balance wheels if that's Jasin's desire.

Yes I forgot about the balancing issue..thanks for reminding me

Got quotes of $35 to $50 a wheel to replace if I bring them in And that’s with installing new steel valve stems

wiredgeorge · 02-24-2022, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

Yes I forgot about the balancing issue..thanks for reminding me

I have never balanced a camper wheel after changing the tires and seem to have lived through it. Tires have always seemed to wear evenly since they go in a straight line.

jasin1 · 02-24-2022, 06:20 AM

Maybe I’ll just use an old bumper jack and starting fluid to do the tires in my own driveway like my neighbor used to do lol

**flybouy** · 02-24-2022, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

Thanks for all the info..might just try and take it somewhere. Marshall gave me the names of a few places

Just thought it would be easier to just drop off tires and come back when they are done

I replaced my truck tires 2 weeks ago at Costco in White Marsh, great deal on Michelin's. I asked the shop if they serviced trailer tires and he said "yes, if you buy them here". All they sell are brands I don't buy.

I'm familiar with most of the chain and independent tire shops within a 1/2 drive and their parking lots just aren't long enough, manuverable enough or empty enough to accomondate long trailer. I know it's different in more rural areas where land is less expensive.

jasin1 · 02-24-2022, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I have never balanced a camper wheel after changing the tires and seem to have lived through it. Tires have always seemed to wear evenly since they go in a straight line.

Well I will keep that in mind..thanks

jasin1 · 02-24-2022, 06:45 AM

One thing I need to remember if I remove the wheels myself is to take my time and be CAREFUL..

roadglide · 02-24-2022, 06:56 AM

At home there is only 1 tire shop that can brake down a 14 ply tire because the side walls are thick . I rest the axels on a custom cut rail road tie and use me ele impact wrench that is part of my tools to carry on a trip .

rhagfo · 02-24-2022, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I have never balanced a camper wheel after changing the tires and seem to have lived through it. Tires have always seemed to wear evenly since they go in a straight line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

Well I will keep that in mind..thanks

If it spins it should be balanced!

hornet28 · 02-24-2022, 07:36 AM

I believe in balancing tires for any vehicle or trailer. Just last year I had an experience with a new tire on my car trailer. The guy who balanced them didn't do the job right and when I went back a different guy worked on them. He declared one tire defective and I was given a new one. If they hadn't balanced them what would I have had. I've pulled that trailer well over 30K mi so I know how it's supposed to feel going down the road. Maybe you can put up with tires being unbalanced but I can't

travelin texans · 02-24-2022, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I have never balanced a camper wheel after changing the tires and seem to have lived through it. Tires have always seemed to wear evenly since they go in a straight line.

Nor have I on campers or any other trailer & never had an issue with any of them.

**JRTJH** · 02-24-2022, 08:37 AM

If you've ever watched a car/truck with a bad shock on it and seen a "supposedly balanced tire hop and skip" then you'll understand why trailer tires "should be balanced"... If a balanced tire can hop enough to shake the steering wheel, imagine what an unbalanced tire can do to a trailer suspension.....

hornet28 · 02-24-2022, 08:43 AM

If I were at a tire store and was told my trailer tires didn't need to be balanced I would be out of there so fast they would need a fan to get rid of the smoke. Many times my trailers are run anywhere from 600 to 1000 mi in a day, a rough running tire can make for a miserable trip running that many hours. I guess it could be different if you're only running to your local campground.

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