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10-26-2014, 04:51 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2024 23' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 502
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Best Jack to Change Tire on Single Axle Sport
OK, after 9 months of ownership, I have picked up a nail in a tire, creating a slow leak. 2014 Sport 22 FB, (single axle). Tire shops seem to not have the "proper" floor jack, and some just flat refuse to do the repair. One even went so far to tell me that "it was against the law to repair a trailer tire, it has to be replaced." I have to call "BS" on that one. So, I am relegated to going to storage, jacking up the trailer, remove tire, go get repair, reverse process.
Q: I have a 6 ton bottle jack. Is this an appropriate application, or is there is a better choice?
Thanks.
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10-26-2014, 05:01 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,767
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Your bottle jack should work if it's short enough to get under the proper jack point on the trailer. Of course, the usual safety precautions apply--chock the opposite wheel and make sure the trailer can't move. Support the trailer with a jack stand if you need to be under it.
Most people think the axle mounting plate is the safest jack point, and that's what I've been using. Never jack on the axle tube itself.
I carry a double ram bottle jack from Northern Tool in our single axle Safari. It's easy to see that a tire might need to be changed in a location where the trailer is too low to get a taller jack under than axle mounting plate.
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10-26-2014, 05:32 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2024 23' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 502
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Thanks.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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10-26-2014, 05:46 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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We have dual axles, so once I learned about running one wheel up onto Lynx levelers, I don't bother with a jack any more, but previously I used to carry a light weight trolley jack and also safety stand.
I have bottle jacks as well, and no doubt they would be fine - I just felt that the trolley jack was a bit more stable - and it requires less height.
Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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10-26-2014, 06:32 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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mimianderws has the best answer for you. Both my trailers are single axel ones and jacking at the axle mounting plate is what I do. I cary a small, cheap floor jack or a bottle jack with extra leveling blocks to allow it to lift properly, that is have enough height.
I will repeat one comment though, never jack the axle tube itself.
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10-26-2014, 06:55 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2008 22' Safari
Oracle
, Arizona
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,174
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The Discount Tire around here all have the proper equipment and seem to know their way around Airstreams. They have never given me any BS. I carry a bottle jack for the truck and TT but never had to use it as I carry Allstate Road side assistance.
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10-26-2014, 07:29 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,408
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Secure trailer
Place Jack under trailer behind axle on the mount plate.
Jack high enough to set a jack stand under the plate and have tire off the ground.
Pretty simple and safe if done properly
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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10-26-2014, 07:45 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2024 23' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 502
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Thanks to all responders.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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10-27-2014, 10:49 PM
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#9
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Slowpoke
2012 27' Flying Cloud
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 255
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"The Flying Toaster," our '71 18ft Caravelle single axle, had wheels that required inner tubes, and the wheels were so rusty they chafed the tubes, resulting in numerous flats and one catastrophic tread loss on the freeway east of San Diego (there's more to that story). I got pretty good at jacking up that trailer. What's been mentioned here is all good - bottle jack, backup short screw jack (Toyota pickup truck jack from a junkyard), chocks, blocking, jackstands. One more item became essential: A pair of hard-faced knee pads for kneeling in the gravel.
We were pulling the Toaster in Baja, when we saw some locals in a truck with a flat and no jack, but they did have a spare, a tire iron, some lumber and a shovel. They had jammed lumber between the frame and the ground, and they were cheerfully digging a hole under the flat tire...
__________________
Like the tortoise, travelin' slow with the house on our back
2012 FC27FB "Ted Zeppelin"
2010 Tundra Crewmax Platinum "Silver Rhino"
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10-28-2014, 05:40 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville
, New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,343
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I used a bottle jack but also used the marked jacking point on the belly pan, not the axle plate.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
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10-28-2014, 10:49 AM
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#11
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Site Team
2007 30' Classic S/O
Somewhere
, South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,436
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Take a look at your F150 jack, you might be surprised. Worth a look.
__________________
S/OS #001 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L 6 Speed
16" Michelins, Hi Spec Wheels, Max Brake, Dexter 4 Piston Disc Brakes, Carslile Actuator, Equal-I-Zer, Dill TPMS. Campfire cook. BMV-712. DEMCO 21K Lb Cast Iron coupler
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10-28-2014, 02:55 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2024 23' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 502
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Hmmmmmm. Have driven the truck since new, but have never had the jack out from under the seat. At least I think it is under the seat ....
Thanks for the tip.
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10-28-2014, 06:26 PM
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#13
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Site Team
2007 30' Classic S/O
Somewhere
, South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,436
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I use 2 from the Dodge 3500 and I can lift both sides of the trailer at the same time. Done it. 30' slider.
Couple of possible advantages. Mechanical must be raised and lowered by turning shaft can't lower or drift on its own. Mine have a swivel saddle that fits the axle mounting plate quite well. The larger 1 ton jack has a pretty large base. Got truck? Got jack.
__________________
S/OS #001 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L 6 Speed
16" Michelins, Hi Spec Wheels, Max Brake, Dexter 4 Piston Disc Brakes, Carslile Actuator, Equal-I-Zer, Dill TPMS. Campfire cook. BMV-712. DEMCO 21K Lb Cast Iron coupler
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11-02-2014, 02:24 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2024 23' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 502
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Ok, report on jack. My 6 ton bottle jack worked perfectly. I needed three Lynx leveler and a small block of wood to get the right height, but after that, no issues.
I did mangle two lug nuts. The lug nuts are really soft metal, and if your socket slips, it just destroys the lug nut. I do not understand why Airstream uses such a cheesy lug nut. At any rate, I found almost an identical match at Advance Auto Parts for about $2.50 a piece. I now have several back ups in my tool box. I would encourage everyone to carry some extras as well. Want to be stuck by the roadside over a lug nut?
Cannonball, Deep in the Heart of Texas!
WBCCI #4387, Air #84080
Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums
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11-02-2014, 04:39 AM
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#15
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Colorado Springs
, Colorado
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 30
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If the lug nut was mauled with a 12-point socket you may have made a case for a 6-point socket.
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11-02-2014, 05:06 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville
, New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,343
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6-point is the only way to go.
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
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11-02-2014, 06:49 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,767
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Be sure to re-torque those lug nuts after about 10, 20, 50, and 100 miles. It's amazing how loose they can get if you don't.
We nearly lost a wheel last year, and that's not good on a single axle trailer.
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11-02-2014, 07:08 AM
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#18
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retired USA/USAF
2001 30' Excella
Somerset
, New Jersey
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,418
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Cannonball, did you mangle the lug nut OR the chrome shell atop the lug nut ??? The chrome shell is easily mangled and cause the wrench to spin. Happened to me so, been there done that. I now carry a small sharp chisel and a smaller socket. I can split and peel off the chrome shell and remove the lug with a smaller socket. These things will always happen in places and times where you don't want them.
To the original question the best jack is the one you carry but never have to use. I have a 6t bottle jack and it works great. Would do for my truck too if needed. In the case of my tongue jack failing it also works great to hitch/un-hitch. It's small and fits into a nice compact clean case for storage. Those of us with tandem axels have the option of pulling onto blocks also so go for what works best at the time.
__________________
Roger in NJ
" Democracy is the worst form of government. Except for all the rest"
Winston Churchill 1948
TAC - NJ 18
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11-02-2014, 07:20 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2024 23' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 502
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The chrome cap was what went first. Of course, I was at the storage place without my full toolbox, just the truck box. Ah well, lesson learned.
Cannonball, Deep in the Heart of Texas!
WBCCI #4387, Air #84080
Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums
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11-05-2014, 02:17 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2024 23' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 502
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OK, the tire repair saga is over and done. However, in an effort to save other Forum members some of the grief I experienced, I am posting a list of what is now "on board" as my tire change kit:
1. 6 ton bottle jack;
2. Set of Lynx levelers (I used 3);
3. Two pieces of scrap wood, roughly the same dimensions as the Lynx levelers (used on top & bottom of levelers to provide flat surface);
4. Wheel chocks for opposite tire;
5. 19" Craftsman breaker bar, 1/2" drive;
6. Set of three Craftsman extensions, 1/2" drive;
7. 3/4", 6 point, deep set Craftsman socket, 1/2" drive;
8. Craftsman torque wrench, 1/2" drive;
9. Old school "T" lug wrench; worthless for most anything, but you can use it to spin the lugs down real fast prior to applying proper torque. Plus, it belonged to my father, and looks cool;
10. Tire gauge;
11. Air compressor to plug into 12v outlet in truck to air up spare (do this before mounting the spare on the Airstream, please!);
12. Small flask of good quality bourbon for post tire change celebration.
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