Tips for removing both wheels to replace both tires

[chaeha]

I have a 2013 Sport 22, single axle. It has come time to replace my tires. Anyone wish to offer advice on how to remove both wheels/tires so that I can take them to the tire shop for new tires? Is it as simple as two jack stands under the ‘Jack’ location? Use the spare? I may be over thinking this but it’s my first time taking of both wheels. I have changed a single wheel before though.

[Tim A.]

For our single-axle 19', I always take one wheel and the spare to the tire shop first and then the second wheel after remounting the first. We live in earthquake country and I get nervous having the trailer up on two jack stands.

Why do I take the spare to get a new tire? The one on it, although never used, is as old as the other two.

Tim

[chaeha]

Great advice. I know this might be a controversial question but do people with single axles use the “jack” location or the axle mounting plate to lift a single axle? Or is either ok?

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by chaeha

Great advice. I know this might be a controversial question but do people with single axles use the “jack” location or the axle mounting plate to lift a single axle? Or is either ok?

Hi

There are a wide range of trailers out there. Sticking with the marked jack points is the best general advice.

Bob

[05ModPod]

I have the 22’ tandem. Have been around for a while, and both from the factory and lots of restorers out there the best place is the axle mounting plates. Not the axle bar!

Some goof helped me change a flat tire once and jacked it on the frame. Now you would think the frame is strong enough but no it ended up with a bit of a bend/twist.

Last summer I had to service all my brakes and get new tires. So no way I was going to jack up and down.

Floor jack and jack stands worked perfectly and easy too. And I’m a gal with no male helper around.

[WhereStream]

I have a Bambi so I’ve had the same question.

Also, if I jack it up at the jack plate, how do I put it on a jack stand? The jack is already taking up that spot.

[JMynes]

Originally Posted by WhereStream

I have a Bambi so I’ve had the same question.

Also, if I jack it up at the jack plate, how do I put it on a jack stand? The jack is already taking up that spot.

One option would be to use one of those jacks with a jack stand built in.
Powerbuilt 640912 All-In-One 3-Ton Bottle Jack with Jack Stand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ULZGFU..._0RuUBbPMD20V0

[JMynes]

Or maybe a screw jack.
JET SJ-5T 5-Ton Screw Jack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00079WOZI..._3TuUBbB5XP15N

[Caffeinated]

When I did this on my 27 ft twin axle I used my hydraulic bottle jack on the Jack point under the trailer, and set up a jack stand just under the bracket that holds the axles on just in case the bottle Jack failed. The jack stand was like a quarter inch under the bracket, not touching anything. Then I removed one wheel at a time and had them done. Kind of a pain in the keister but it got done safely. Don't forget your torq wrench.

Mike

[GammaDog]

Overthinking indeed... lower the tongue using the power jack. Place jack stands under both jacking points (I use a wood block between the steel of the stand and the jacking plate). Raise the tongue with the power jack. Both wheels come off the ground. I wouldn't recommend opening the door with the trailer off the ground regardless of what method you use to elevate it... it won't close again until the trailer is back on its wheels.

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by GammaDog

Overthinking indeed... lower the tongue using the power jack. Place jack stands under both jacking points (I use a wood block between the steel of the stand and the jacking plate). Raise the tongue with the power jack. Both wheels come off the ground. I wouldn't recommend opening the door with the trailer off the ground regardless of what method you use to elevate it... it won't close again until the trailer is back on its wheels.

That's a great idea ... thanks.

[WhereStream]

That's an interesting idea. I hadn't thought if doing it this way.

[aftermath]

I think you have a pretty good answer to this, but I will ask anyway. Why not just take it to the tire shop and let them change out the tires? When I last replaced my tires I told they guys where to put the jacks and watched them. They lifted it, took the tires off and put the new ones on. No problems and no sweat on my part.

[GammaDog]

Originally Posted by aftermath

I think you have a pretty good answer to this, but I will ask anyway. Why not just take it to the tire shop and let them change out the tires? When I last replaced my tires I told they guys where to put the jacks and watched them. They lifted it, took the tires off and put the new ones on. No problems and no sweat on my part.

I've done that, too. It takes longer since, as you say, supervision of the tire jockey working your trailer is required plus the waiting time on your part while they demount, remount, balance, etc.

I insisted on torquing the lug nuts myself as we put the wheels back on. I pulled out my trusty 18", 1/2" drive, 10-150 lb.ft., aircraft style torque wrench in its case. I opened the case and removed the shining beauty and the tire jockey assigned to my job looked at it and said "What's that?". As you said, supervision of the tire jockey is required.

[chaeha]

In the end I used the spare in the rotation during the change. Wanted to go through the exercise of removing it since I hadn’t done it in awhile and inspect the spare. There isn’t must clearance under a Sport 22! Used the mounting plate to jack the trailer with another jack stand ‘just in case’ under the ‘jack’ location. Everything went fine.

[Johnnyooo]

Use two jack stands and the front jack.. that's all there is to it..

[Tim A.]

Originally Posted by Johnnyooo

Use two jack stands and the front jack.. that's all there is to it..

Unless you live in earthquake country and are as paranoid as I am.

Tim

[tjbsilv]

Originally Posted by GammaDog

Overthinking indeed... lower the tongue using the power jack. Place jack stands under both jacking points (I use a wood block between the steel of the stand and the jacking plate). Raise the tongue with the power jack. Both wheels come off the ground. I wouldn't recommend opening the door with the trailer off the ground regardless of what method you use to elevate it... it won't close again until the trailer is back on its wheels.

I have never tried this...but wouldn't that put too much of a strain on the jack motor, since you are now lifting much more than your normal tongue weight?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by GammaDog

Overthinking indeed... lower the tongue using the power jack. Place jack stands under both jacking points (I use a wood block between the steel of the stand and the jacking plate). Raise the tongue with the power jack. Both wheels come off the ground. I wouldn't recommend opening the door with the trailer off the ground regardless of what method you use to elevate it... it won't close again until the trailer is back on its wheels.

That's EXACTLY why you don't do it that way.

Never a good idea to apply excess stress on a semi monocoque frame.

Bob
🇺🇸


I have always used the axle mount plate. (single axle Safari and the Classic.)Even thru Winter storage.👍

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

That's EXACTLY why you don't do it that way.

Never a good idea to apply excess stress on a semi monocoque frame.

Bob
🇺🇸


I have always used the axle mount plate. (single axle Safari and the Classic.)Even thru Winter storage.👍

Curiosity has me asking...

If it's so much better to lift from the axle mounting plates, then why has Airstream gone through the effort of placing the jack point markings on the trailer and specifying in the manual to use them? Wouldn't they have just told everyone to do it the way you're doing it?

Not saying that you haven't had good results from your method, as obviously you have. Just strikes me as odd that Airstream has, for so many decades, recommended doing it a different way if there hasn't been a good reason.