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Old 08-28-2021, 08:19 AM   #1
Blaise
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Tire Change Jack/Ramp Suggestions?

Any recommendations on a Tire Change Jack/Ramp for a 2020 31' Cougar Travel Trailer? Looking at the Trailer Aid Tandem Tire Changing Ramp. Also considering their PLUS model.
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Old 08-28-2021, 08:34 AM   #2
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Welcome to the forum.

If you have a jack in the Tow Vehicle you can use it.
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Old 08-28-2021, 11:03 AM   #3
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I tried the Trailer Aid with my last bumper pull and when I needed it it wasn't tall enough; had to fidget for 30 minutes getting a 2x8 under it so it would work. Bought an Andersen Rapid Jack? and it worked better. After that trip the Trailer Aid came back, got threw out in the barn somewhere and is still there, somewhere, gathering dust in the dark (I suppose).

As Chuck mentioned you can also use your jack or I carry 2 8 ton bottle jacks as well. The Rapid Jack is just much simpler IMO.
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Old 08-28-2021, 11:31 AM   #4
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I recently (3 years ago) switched from a small 4 ton HF jack to a 12 ton low boy hydraulic jack. The reason was a couple of "impressive bleeding blisters in both palms when I had a tire/wheel issue and couldn't find my gloves... (I know, tender hands).....

Anyway, Harbor freight has a 12 ton low boy hydraulic jack that fits under the axle U bolts with a flat tire and is much MUCH easier to jack without having to wear blisters. It's worked for me to rotate tires, change wheels, repack bearings and adjust brakes for the past 3 years, still looks like new and is stored in its original paper box in the trailer passthrough.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton...ack-56738.html
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Old 08-28-2021, 01:14 PM   #5
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I don't have experience with tire changing ramps, but consider this;
If you use a ramp to run one wheel up high enough to lift its neighbor off the ground, you have the whole weight of the trailer on only three of the four wheels. That will put a lot of extra weight on the three wheels on the ground and might end up bending the end of one or more of the axles.
Bear in mind that the weight rating on RV trailer axles is usually less in total that the gross aggregate weight of the trailer to begin with. This assumes that a percentage of the load is carried by the tongue and by the TV.
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Old 08-28-2021, 01:14 PM   #6
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The one time I needed a jack, I just used the one from the truck. With the wide stance equalizer axles, one wheel goes up really easy with very little effort.
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Old 08-28-2021, 04:17 PM   #7
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I have the Trailer Aid + and have used it twice over the last 12 yrs or so. Also use a 12 ton HF bottle jack. Here's the how and why I use each.

Trailer Aid Plus - that gets used for changing a tire on the side of the road. With using that (and a Dewalt 20 v impact gun) I can change a tire very quickly with the least amount of bodily exposure to traffic. Typically a roadside tire change will not be conducted on a level surface. The ramp won't shift or kick out and no concern gor a seal failure causing the jack to collapse rapidly.

Bottle jack is used for any and all maintenance and repairs. Typically when conducting R & M the surface is fairly level and stable. I use the bottle jack to lift and wood cribbing /jack stands for support.
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Old 08-28-2021, 04:31 PM   #8
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I've got a Trailer Aid+ and used it on previous 5th's for bearing & brake maintenance. Only time I've had a blowout on the road, I guess I forgot I even had it. I lifted the trailer with the levelers, took the flat off and waited on Good Sam.
I would buy one and keep it in the trailer, it might be just what you need on the side of the road in Nowhere New Mexico.
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Old 08-29-2021, 03:22 AM   #9
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I have a Trailer Aid+ and had the same issue as Danny did. I bolted a 2x8 to the bottom and it works fine now. I also have a set of 4 Trailer Legs that I use to lift all the 5er wheels off the ground when parked in the pole barn or if we are gonna be at a campground for more then a few days. They work great for taking the movement out of the 5er or for servicing the axles plus the tires don't get flat spotted from sitting on the ground for long periods of time.
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Old 05-20-2023, 07:52 AM   #10
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Using a bottle jack, floor jack or any other device will also cause the other three tires to carry the load of the trailer, You can't help that. I imagine the mfg. co. thought of that scenario and included a spare tire for such times when you had to change a flat tire.

I have 4 ST225/75R15E tires rated at 2860#@80psi. I keep all tires at 80psi checked cold in the a.m. 3 tires x 2860# = 8,580#. Max. GVWR Cougar 22MLS = 7,200#. 3 tires can handle it with 1,380# to spare.
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Old 05-20-2023, 08:10 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AK Fish View Post
Using a bottle jack, floor jack or any other device will also cause the other three tires to carry the load of the trailer, You can't help that. I imagine the mfg. co. thought of that scenario and included a spare tire for such times when you had to change a flat tire.

I have 4 ST225/75R15E tires rated at 2860#@80psi. I keep all tires at 80psi checked cold in the a.m. 3 tires x 2860# = 8,580#. Max. GVWR Cougar 22MLS = 7,200#. 3 tires can handle it with 1,380# to spare.
In addition to this ^^^ When the tire is "hanging free in the air" the other three tires are "carrying the entire trailer weight".. As soon as you put a jack under the tire (unlike when you pull up on the ramps/Trailer aid/etc) the jack is carrying the weight of that tire/axle position.

So, with a jack under the axle lifting that tire off the ground, the "other three tires" are NOT supporting all the weight. A percentage, close to what that tire position normally supports, depending on how high you jack the flat tire, is being supported by the jack, not the other three wheels.....

It's true, when you have a flat, the other three wheels carry the load, but as soon as you put a jack under the flat tire position and start to raise it to change the tire, the weight starts to return to that axle/wheel position.
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Old 05-20-2023, 09:09 AM   #12
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KEYSTONE recommends a hydraulic jack be used when changing a tire.
OWNERS MANUAL: TIRE CHANGING BASICS-
2 | Block the wheels on the opposite side from the tire you wish to change to prevent accidental movement.
3 | Position a hydraulic jack on the frame close to the spring hanger. (Never attempt to use a stabilizer jack to lift the RV.)
4 | Raise the RV until the tire clears the ground.
5 | Set a jack stand under the frame just to the rear of the tire being changed.

ALSO they recommend a 3 stage retorquing of lug nuts (I got to remember this WHEN I have to change my 1st flat on my trailer. No Flats----yet.)
WHEEL REINSTALLATION

STAGE 1. 20-30 ft./lbs
50-60 ft.lbs (9/16" stud)
STAGE 2. 55-60 ft./lbs
90-100 ft./lbs (9/16" stud)
STAGE 3. 110-120 ft./lbs
140-150 ft.lbs (9/16" stud)
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Old 05-20-2023, 09:38 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sourdough View Post
I tried the Trailer Aid with my last bumper pull and when I needed it it wasn't tall enough; had to fidget for 30 minutes getting a 2x8 under it so it would work. Bought an Andersen Rapid Jack? and it worked better. After that trip the Trailer Aid came back, got threw out in the barn somewhere and is still there, somewhere, gathering dust in the dark (I suppose).

As Chuck mentioned you can also use your jack or I carry 2 8 ton bottle jacks as well. The Rapid Jack is just much simpler IMO.
I have to ask this (regardless of how old this thread is)...

Danny, is the Trailer Air still in the barn?
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Old 05-21-2023, 05:53 AM   #14
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I have to ask this (regardless of how old this thread is)...

Danny, is the Trailer Air still in the barn?


Yep, just out there a couple of days ago with DW telling me I had to do something with all those grills, dehumidifier, ramps, etc. etc, and...."what's in those boxes"? Well dear, that box is the old Trailer Aid jack and the other box is the Andersen Rapid Jack.... "You need to get rid of those"....yes dear, can we go home now?
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Old 05-21-2023, 06:17 PM   #15
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I don't have a barn, but a garage full of stuff and I hear pretty much the same too.
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Old 05-22-2023, 04:39 AM   #16
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I don't have a barn, but a garage full of stuff and I hear pretty much the same too.
Yep... I've got a garage attached to the house, a pole barn/workshop behind the house and a storage pole barn (no electricity and a rock floor) about half a mile away from the house, on the other end of our property, and I hear the same thing every time DW goes into any of the three..... I couldn't begin to imagine what she'd say if she peeked into the passthrough on our fifth wheel.....
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Old 05-24-2023, 12:28 PM   #17
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Yep... I've got a garage attached to the house, a pole barn/workshop behind the house and a storage pole barn (no electricity and a rock floor) about half a mile away from the house, on the other end of our property, and I hear the same thing every time DW goes into any of the three..... I couldn't begin to imagine what she'd say if she peeked into the passthrough on our fifth wheel.....
1/2 of the stuff in the pass through in ours is full of stuff the DW insists that we still carry even though the kids are grown up.
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