Tire Jack Advice

[Mellinkat]

We recently bought a 2008 25' Safari with dual wheels. It did not come with a tire jack. We have the plastic trailer assist ramp. I would also like a jack in case there was a situation where it was needed. The gross weight of the trailer is 7300 lbs. My questions are:

1. What type of jack would you recommend?
2. What capacity in terms of tonnage would be sufficient?

thanks - Ted

[dznf0g]

My preference would be a small hydraulic bottle jack. 2 ton should do it, as long as you mind you GVWR. Figure 700 on tongue and 3500 (max) on each side. If you.re uncomfortable with that close of a margin, hunt for a 2 1/2 ton. They start getting heavy pretty fast as rating goes up. 3 ton would be overkill.

[dznf0g]

BTW, I've lifted mine with a 2 ton, and I'm right at 4000 pounds a side at the axles.

[SteveH]

I just bought a 4 ton at Northern Tool for this very reason, and it was $17 and change. It was just slightly larger and heavier than a 2 ton, but I needed a 4 ton because my trailer as we use it is 10,500lbs. Mainly I needed it for service work on the brakes at home. On the road I would use ramps to change a tire, and don't even carry a jack with me, but I suspect the mechanical jack from my 3/4 ton truck could do the job if need be.

[Wingeezer]

I always use Lynx levelers to change a wheel, I feel it is easiest and safest.

But I also carry a small bottle jack as well. Mainly in case I ever have problems with the electric tongue jack on the trailer.

The tongue jack does have the ability to be cranked manually in case of electrical problem, and that would likely be my first option, but you never know what might go wrong!

What do they say? ...... Plan for the worst and hope for the best!

Brian.

[polarlyse]

I always carry my hydraulic bottle jack. AND I've needed it.

[aftermath]

In my never ending effort to "keep it simple" I try not to carry anything that I don't absolutely need. I simply use my TV jack. I have had to use it twice, once on the Airstream and once on my previous trailer and it worked just fine.

You can go out and buy a separate jack and then store it in your trailer but what is the point of that?

[GCinSC2]

Do you have a pick up for a tow vehicle? They have (possibly) a surprisingly simple and easy to use Jack that might work great for the airstream. I keep some 2x chunks for leveling and use them to boost the jack up a bit.

I can lift my 30' trailer with a pair of them from 1 ton pickups. I have lifted one side with the Jack from my 3/4 ton pickup.

[dznf0g]

Just to clarify, I used bottle jacks at home. Don't carry one. I use leveling blocks to change a flat on the road.