how to jack & stabilize for wheel & brake repairs.

[Eric F]

I need to jack up the wheels on my 1976 argosy 24 motorhome (p37 underneath).

Today's project is debugging the rear parking brakes (which are stuck disengaged). I figure that I ought to buy a jack & stands that will allow me to fix this, and also would be suitable to keep on board. Otherwise, I'd just be tempting the tires to go flat during a trip.

The entire vehicle only weighs 5 tons, so a a 3 ton bottle jack and jack stand seems sufficient for lifting any one corner of the vehicle.

I can't figure out where the suitable "jack points" for front & rear are located..

Also, is this reasonable?

Thanks,
Eric

[bkahler]

Eric,

At the rear you only want to jack from underneath the rear axle. I typically place the jack under the springs where they attach to the axle. Before you buy a jack make sure it's short of enough to fit under the axle. Same for jack stands.

At the front there are two places you can jack from. Right in the center of the front axle or under each a-arm close to the wheels. Again, do some measuring before buying anything.

Brad

[Eric F]

Thanks!

[Eric F]

Is the area under the springs roomy enough raise just a corner and insert a jack stand on that side (and perhaps then repeat on the other side), or must I position something in the middle?

Why I ask:

* I observe that the middle of this beast is 4' away from its sides and I wonder how to safely choreograph this operation. Does servicing it safely require a jack with a very long handle, or maybe a motor with a switch on its wire?

* I wonder if a 3 ton jack or stand is sufficiently strong to support the middle of either axle?

Originally Posted by bkahler

Eric,

At the rear you only want to jack from underneath the rear axle. I typically place the jack under the springs where they attach to the axle. Before you buy a jack make sure it's short of enough to fit under the axle. Same for jack stands.

At the front there are two places you can jack from. Right in the center of the front axle or under each a-arm close to the wheels. Again, do some measuring before buying anything.

Brad

[ROBERT CROSS]

I've done the same thing every Fall since 2007...SFSG

Bob
🇺🇸

[92landyacht]

Make sure you have a good set of wheel chocks to go under the wheels left on the ground. This is especially true if you're jacking the rear wheels or, in your case, don't have a parking brake. Small automotive type chokes are not sufficient. You need a set that are taller to keep the wheels from riding over them.

Here are the ones I purchased for my RV:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

They're not the cheapest, but you don't want to be pinching pennies when it comes to your life.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

I've done the same thing every Fall since 2007...SFSG

Bob
🇺🇸

That is not a motor home.

[bkahler]

Eric, I've been thinking about the 3-ton jack you mentioned. You might find the 3-ton to be somewhat undersized for the job. I now use a 20-ton air over hydraulic jack for lifting my Argosy. Previously I would use a 5-ton bottle jack and while it worked it just seemed like bigger would be better.

Brad

[92landyacht]

I use the same 20-ton air over hydraulic jack for my 36' RV. So much easier to have the jack lifted by air and so much safer to go big on the jack.

You can even buy the jacks at Harbor Freight.