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Inland RV Center, In · 09-15-2011, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edglenn

So if your hydraulic jack is placed between the two axles (?) for example, and you lift up one side of the trailer, where do you place the jack stands?
In front of, and to the rear of the axles, along the frame rail?
I never rely on the hydraulic jack to support the weight, only use it to get it up onto the jack stands.

The jack stands, should be placed "rearward" of the rear axle, on the axle mounting plates.

Andy

ROBERT CROSS · 09-15-2011, 07:46 AM

This is the way I have jacked up the Classic since new.(for storage), I use ramps for tire changes.

I don't use a bottle jack, the one's I have do not have a large enough lifting pad to safely lift on the axle mounts.

You can see in previous post how I place the stands.

on edit.....jack placed behind front wheel looking back.

Bob

dznf0g · 09-15-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

The jack stands, should be placed "rearward" of the rear axle, on the axle mounting plates.

Andy

That's where mine go.

Phil&Sher · 04-13-2012, 04:19 PM

Thanks for all the info. Have had my trailer for a year and wanted install metal valve stems and have the tires balanced.

Checked the owners manual, found the little aluminum squares under the rear frame rails and couldn't belive that was the point from which I was supposed to raise the entire side of the trailer. Seemed like changing the front tire on a '59 Caddy by using a bumper jack on the rear bumper.

Called the Mother Ship in JC and the tech support guy verified it. Still didn't seem like good common sense, so I read the info here on the forums.

Slipped my 8-ton bottle jack (made in the USA

) between the wheels under the axle plate and raised her right up.

Took the trailer to the tire shop the next day and they wanted to raise her with a floor jack under an axle. "Not unless you want to buy me new axles!" They didn't have a bottle jack... I did. They used my jack under the axle plates - easy as pie.

Thanks to all, especially Andy at Inland RV for the advice on this.

Phil

Sodbust · 04-13-2012, 04:48 PM

All good data.. At first it sure seemed that thin lip sticking down from the frame was about all one had to work with but then like the picture above I placed my jack on the plate with the shock mount..

Sodbust

SilverGate · 08-18-2013, 07:03 PM

Last year I used a bottle jack on the axle mounting plate while changing the tires.

Recently, I learned where the Airstream designated jack points are located. I also note that in my Owners Manual, Airstream says, "To CHANGE A TIRE with a jack see the label affixed to the underbody to the rear of the wheels. This label, says JACK [in blue letters] with an arrow and points to a [3"] plate riveted to the mainframe rail where the jack head must be placed." (The manual also mentions using a ramp to raise the trailer.)

It seems the trailer could be safely raised at these designated jack points (as others have mentioned observing at the Airstream Service Center) and then jack stands could be used to support the trailer weight during tire changing or repacking of bearings.

Inland RV Center, In · 08-18-2013, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverGate

Last year I used a bottle jack on the axle mounting plate while changing the tires.

Recently, I learned where the Airstream designated jack points are located. I also note that in my Owners Manual, Airstream says, "To CHANGE A TIRE with a jack see the label affixed to the underbody to the rear of the wheels. This label, says JACK [in blue letters] with an arrow and points to a [3"] plate riveted to the mainframe rail where the jack head must be placed." (The manual also mentions using a ramp to raise the trailer.)

It seems the trailer could be safely raised at these designated jack points (as others have mentioned observing at the Airstream Service Center) and then jack stands could be used to support the trailer weight during tire changing or repacking of bearings.

Using the factory labeled jack points, is somewhat dangerous.

If the jack is even slightly off center, it will slip and punch a hole in the underbelly.

But, why do you need a jack at all ????

If you wish to change a tire, simply pull the good tire on the same side up on a couple of 2 x 6's. The bad tire will be hanging in the air.

No chance of a jack slipping, no damage from a big gust of wind, no chance of the trailer slipping off the jack, AND, no safety hazard.

But, if you insist on using a jack, place it between the tires on the axle mounting plate. No risk of damage.

Andy

68Streamline · 01-23-2014, 11:52 PM

Any advice on Jack points for a pipe frame?

DreamStreamr · 03-07-2014, 12:15 PM

Dexter Axle unequivocally advised us to NOT lift by one wheel/axle, but only to lift at designated lift points aft of the rear wheels. Rationale is potential damage to the one axle supporting the entire side of the trailer. I've done per their recommendation with a floor jack at that point while the trailer is stabilized by hitching to the truck -- no problems.

They're the experts, I'm inclined to take their advice first.

Jim Clark · 03-07-2014, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aage

Apparently, this is what they use at the JC factory, according to one member who had his rig there on many occasions. He stated several times on here that JC always lifted his trailer to do work using those indicated spots.

And he was talking about a 34-footer...

But this isn't the first time that this information (as printed in many Owners Manual over many, many years) has been disputed on our forum.

This is the post you are speaking of. Well worth a look.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f457...tml#post428907

m.hony · 03-07-2014, 03:00 PM

I guess I should get that oil change ramp out of there and put a floor jack and jack stands in...

Inland RV Center, In · 03-09-2014, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamStreamr

Dexter Axle unequivocally advised us to NOT lift by one wheel/axle, but only to lift at designated lift points aft of the rear wheels. Rationale is potential damage to the one axle supporting the entire side of the trailer. I've done per their recommendation with a floor jack at that point while the trailer is stabilized by hitching to the truck -- no problems.

They're the experts, I'm inclined to take their advice first.

Once again, Dexter says the opposite of Airstream.

The weight that is being lifted is on the jack, and very little if any goes to the other side of the axle.

That is unless you lift it about 2 feet or higher.

Andy

Siegmann · 03-09-2014, 11:19 AM

If Dexter is saying not to lift by "one wheel", are they suggesting that our time honored method of driving up on to boards to change the tire on a two axle unit is not acceptable to them? It certainly is OK with Airstream, it's even in my owners manual.

m.hony · 03-09-2014, 01:04 PM

So...
I can leave the oil change ramp in the trailer?

Siegmann · 03-09-2014, 03:27 PM

m.hony-- Sorry, didn't mean to be redundant. I scrolled down too fast and missed your post.

But what has now got me interested is the difference of jacking on either the axle mounting plate or aft frame jack point versus driving up on one wheel with a two axle rig. The former puts no stress on that side of both axles. However when you drive up on one wheel, you're doubling the load on that one axle on that side of the rig. I'm not an engineer, but I presume all of the load ratings (tire, wheel, axle) are designed for the dynamic stresses encountered when you are driving down the road. So when you're loading one wheel during a static activity (changing a tire) you have not exceeded its true strength. Do manufacturers ever report any specs that would indicate a static load rating? Probably not for a towable. Anyone out there that thinks they know how it could be estimated?

m.hony · 03-09-2014, 03:32 PM

I have had a flat on a travel trailer tire twice.
The first time I was at a campground, set up, and did not want to move the trailer. I used a can of Fix-a-flat and a 12 volt compressor. The tire stayed up for a year or so and went flat again at home. I drove up on the oil change ramp to change the tire, then took it to a tire store where they fixed the tire, jacked the trailer, and replaced the tire/ wheel.
Then I got new tires...
Then I traded the trailer...

ROBERTSUNRUS · 03-09-2014, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m.hony

Then I got new tires...
Then I traded the trailer...

Hi, you got a flat tire and got rid of the trailer?

m.hony · 03-09-2014, 07:41 PM

Not exactly like that...
I traded an SOB as the down payment on my Airstream...
I didn't realize I would be pulling the trigger quite so soon.
I had just put 4 new tires on the other trailer 4 months prior to trading.
Had I known I would be trading in 4 months I would not have bought new tires...

Sbb · 03-09-2014, 08:04 PM

I have Bambi and AAA RV Plus, but seriously, I mostly travel alone for work( cuts down on finger pointing) . I purchased a big X shape thingy to get lug nuts off and a bottle jack. I make sure my spare is checked each year for air.

I can't drive up on one tire since I only have one...so the "plate"is along edge just behind axel? I want to place bright duck tape under there so there is no question if the time ever comes and I need to change tire, or someone else does and does not understand and messes up my Airstream. Thank you in advance.