please look at my photos of jacking up problem

[flamingo-kid1]

I would appreciate any comments anyone could give.. I entered a post earlier re: these slits in the wheel well after installing new tires and wheels, but here's the actual before and after pictures.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to repair?
Anyone seen this before?
Will it get worse? It doesn't seem to be in any support type of area.

Thank you in advance.

[millionairstream]

Outriggers/stringers...

[TomW]

A closeup of your damaged area would help a lot. It looks like a puncture wound (from the outside) in your photo.

Are both sides damaged?

Tom

[flamingo-kid1]

They are puncture wounds from the inside OUT, over three tires.. of course, on BOTH sides of the trailer.

One side has two punctures and the other side has a smaller slit just on one tire well.

We are shocked.

The tire installer was very careful and used two hydraulic jacks under an axle as he did one side of the trailer at a time.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by millionairstream

Outriggers/stringers...

I have to agree with millionairstream. Unfortunately, for this to happen, your floor would have to be soft around the edges in the wheel well area. As a corollary, the elevator bolts, which hold the floor to the outriggers, would either be loose or rusted away.

To confirm, either pull the carpet up, or take an ice pick and probe the interior floor around the damaged area.

The only invisible fix for the skin is to replace the damaged panel.

[smily]

Originally Posted by flamingo-kid1

The tire installer was very careful and used two hydraulic jacks under an axle as he did one side of the trailer at a time.

Oops! bad jackman, bad jackman...............

Andy prevails again, he will be quick to tell you, NEVER JACK AXLES!

This is a huge topic of controversy here on the forum.

There are grave consequences when jacks are applied incorrectly to the axles, here is living proof.

I believe you will read that axle mounting plates are th only acceptable location for upward force to be applied to trailer.

The best course of action is to change one tire at a time. You drive one wheel of trailer up on ramp, (solid wood or comparable), to elevate the side of the trailer. This will leave one wheel suspended for change out., Repeat process for next wheel.

Smily

[59toaster]

I'd say it's either what ken said or worse. Where they jacked it didn't alow the axle to droop. They yanked the wheel till the skin gave enough to get clear of the hub. They proably jacked it off the shock mount on the swing arm so they pushed the wheel up into the fenderwell making the clearnece to pull it off even worse.

[howco]

TomW and millionaire stream, I (humbly) think your both mistaken, how is it this just happens 'immediately' after his tires are changed. I wouldn't happen after one day would it?
Flamingo even said the tire man put the jacks under the axles.
Am I wrong in assuming that there deliberate established 'jack points'
and they are to be used instead of the axels?

I admit, I am new at the A/S world, and do not have a clear understanding as to exactly the axels work as opposed to a auto straight axle, but what would that have to do with the outriggers/stringers???

[FreshAir]

This why I change my own tires. I take 'em off, take 'em to the tire place, they mount new tires and I put 'em back on. BEFORE I installed new axles, which you may need, it was very difficult to remove the wheels down from inside the wells. New axles, my friend, and don't jack from the axles.
Neil

[bmklawt]

Educate me,
The tire is mounted to the drum which rides on the spindle which is welded to the swing arm which is welded to a bar that sits inside the axle tube that is bolted to the frame.
The whole trailer is sitting on the axle tubes so I am confused how it can be harmful to jack up the trailer with the jack on the axles.
What am I missing?

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by bmklawt

Educate me,
The tire is mounted to the drum which rides on the spindle which is welded to the swing arm which is welded to a bar that sits inside the axle tube that is bolted to the frame.
The whole trailer is sitting on the axle tubes so I am confused how it can be harmful to jack up the trailer with the jack on the axles.
What am I missing?

Hi, jacking up your trailer by the axle tubes can bend the axles and change your alignment. Use Airstream's jacking points or the axle mounting plates only.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by flamingo-kid1

I would appreciate any comments anyone could give.. I entered a post earlier re: these slits in the wheel well after installing new tires and wheels, but here's the actual before and after pictures.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to repair?
Anyone seen this before?
Will it get worse? It doesn't seem to be in any support type of area.

Thank you in advance.

Hi, I think things will get worse if you don't replace those sagging axles. And this might be in part the cause of your problem.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Bingo what Bob said on this now 6 year old thread. Those axles are totally sagged out.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Outriggers piercing the underbelly wrap, is somewhat common.

The cause?

Vibration and flexing the shell excessively.

Unbalanced running gear, along with bottoming out because of bad axles, will do it everytime.

The fix?

Balance the running gear, address the issue of the axles, and replace the underbelly wraps.

Andy

[flamingo-kid1]

this thread is YEARS old. We have since leaned NO JACKS, ANYWHERE.. we roll her up on a ramp and the tire comes free, easy. It was a stupid BEGINNER mistake.

The trailer is still alive. We've had loads of fun, and years to go.

We have made more than one mistake with her.

She has a new/wrong rear bumper, too :-(