Changing a flat on the trailer

[JamisonWorkshop]

Been fortunate enough to not have to do it yet. but searched and couldnt find any info.

Anyone change a flat with your truck still on the trailer? Toy truck or buggy. Nothing overly massive,

I know pulling the truck off of course is safest, but wondered who may have experience.

Kind of figuring high lift it up a bit, and then use a bottle jack to get the axle with the flat off of the ground enough to slide a tire on.

Thoughts.

[rock-rod]

Been fortunate enough to not have to do it yet. but searched and couldnt find any info.

Anyone change a flat with your truck still on the trailer? Toy truck or buggy. Nothing overly massive,

I know pulling the truck off of course is safest, but wondered who may have experience.

Kind of figuring high lift it up a bit, and then use a bottle jack to get the axle with the flat off of the ground enough to slide a tire on.

Thoughts.

I did it once- will never do it again. Remove the truck off the trailer.

I did it on the side of the road when driving back from moab a few years ago. I used the highlift to jack the trailer up, and the jack mechanism didn't engage all the way on one of it's pins. It fell down one notch, and the handle slipped from my hand. Of course, that handle immediate flew up and nailed me in the jaw. I saw stars. Don't do it- not worth it. Minimize the weight you are attempting to lift- it's safer for everyone.

[rocksteadyrobk]

If you have a 3 ton or more floor jack its not bad .. Its safer to remove the rig..

[Mechanos]

I think a lot of it depends on the terrain you're working on and the equipment you're using. Nice level paved surface and a 3 ton floor jack and it's a snap. Soft or sloped gravel shoulder on the side of the road with a high lift... unload the truck from trailer.

[JamisonWorkshop]

Good points. I think I will keep my spare 3 ton floor jack in the trailer box just in case.
I can understand the "every situation has a best approach" .

[needmorepower]

Why are you using a jack on a tandem axle trailer? We changed a tire with a 1-ton chevy on a 2500# trailer in ST. george with a tire iron and a curb.

Just pull on top of something until said offending tire is off the ground.

Done this loaded and empty multiple times, safer than using a high lift! :flipoff2:

[sceep]

i was going to ask the same question.. WhyTF are you people using jacks????:shaking:

carry a couple 2x4s and 2x6's.. when ya get a flat.. stack em up and pull the other axle up onto the blocks.. axle with flat is now dangling. remove and replace.

if you cant get your axle off the ground jam something between the teetertotter and the frame to limit the wheeltravel.

I've changed no less than 6 tires on this trailer, with this load, and never once have had to unload any of the load.

http://www.dana60.com/sceep/a4f/g-town/leave3.jpg

[JamisonWorkshop]

eggcellent. :D Even better. I have a nice stack of 4x4 posts that are a hell of alot lighter than a jack. Thank you guys. Apparently I am not the only person in need of direction.

[84 Sheepdog]

I had to change a flat about a month ago on the trailer. I used the truck jack (3/4 ton truck) to jack it up. The Jeep and trailer together are less than the weight of the truck so I wasn't concerned about the capacity of the jack.

[black jimmy]

Have you guys seen these :http://www.statelinetack.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444177 0684&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302032021&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302024176&CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673314667&bmUID=1125676288065

My parents have one that they use on their horse and ultility trailers except it is steel or aluminum.

[ramv]

Have you guys seen these :http://www.statelinetack.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444177 0684&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302032021&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302024176&CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673314667&bmUID=1125676288065

My parents have one that they use on their horse and ultility trailers except it is steel or aluminum.

I have used one, handy when the trailer is empty, not sure I'm confident putting all that weight on it loaded.

[needmorepower]

Thanks Sceep, I was waiting for the " thats so unsafe, you are going to kill us all".

I don't think I have ever used a jack to change a trailer tire. :D

[sceep]

for those of you who have never done this. make usre you have enough block to make yourself a good1-2' long platform. it can be tricky to get thetrailer to stop right on top of a little 6x6. especially if you are by yourself.

[black jimmy]

I have used one, handy when the trailer is empty, not sure I'm confident putting all that weight on it loaded.


With it being plastic, I'm not so sure either even though it says it is rated for 15,000 lbs I believe. My parents have a steel or aluminum one, and I would do it with that one loaded and it would not bother me a bit.

[CanuckJeeper]

Bottle jacks of the appropriate weight rating were quite well.

High lift jacks? DON'T DO IT. Too dangerous.

JP

[m016324]

Bottle jacks of the appropriate weight rating were quite well.

High lift jacks? DON'T DO IT. Too dangerous.

JP

It's dangerous as lifting anything with a high lift, but it'll work and don't let anyone tell you it won't. I lost three tires on my trailer bring it back from the east coast everytime I changed the tires I used my high lift. I had two disabled vehicles on the trailer so it wasn't an option to take them off. I also ended up taking off two of the tires at one point (had to leave the trailer somewhere that I didn't want to took them off for security) and left it on the high lift for two days. Granted my high lift is now bent, but that's probably from getting frustrated at it not wanting to go down and just driving off it twice.

Yeah it's not the best way to do it but it works in a pinch. And sceep you're a hobo you and your uhaul tires I bet you changed a couple in the past week. That trailer is a safety hazard :flipoff2: :flipoff2: .

-ben

[ScottFJ40]

Why are you using a jack on a tandem axle trailer? We changed a tire with a 1-ton chevy on a 2500# trailer in ST. george with a tire iron and a curb.

Just pull on top of something until said offending tire is off the ground.

Done this loaded and empty multiple times, safer than using a high lift! :flipoff2:
No shit, I am disappointed in my fellow PBB'rs here. Even my dumb ass figured this out, when I noticed I could pick up a wheel even driving over uneven terrain. Sheesh.

[crashnzuk]

I also ended up taking off two of the tires at one point (had to leave the trailer somewhere that I didn't want to took them off for security) and left it on the high lift for two days.

-ben

I'd say you're lucky someone with a block of wood or a cinder block didn't steal your high-lift! :shaking:
Travis..

[mudslinger99]

I'd say you're lucky someone with a block of wood or a cinder block didn't steal your high-lift! :shaking:
Travis..

I think what he was saying is it's better to lose a High Lift then a traler and 2 trucks :flipoff2:

[Joe_W]

I carry a 3 ton floor jack in my tool box for my truck as well as my trailer, easy enough

[DRM]

JUst a few weeks ago I changed a flat on the trailer - with 4runner still loaded up - using the stock Dodge bottle jack. Worked ok.

I would have used the block of wood method - but the tire was shredded and the block kept scooting on the loose gravel.

[bronco75]

I have a 20 ton air bottle jack that is needed to jack up motorhome and it picks up traier loaded with no problem

[CanuckJeeper]

Of course a high lift will work. It's just not very safe.

Me and a buddy jacked up my 32-ft flatbed with 2 jeeps on it, using 2 high-lift's side by side.

The interesting part is when you crank up the handle to let the b&otch come down and you don't expect the handle to come flying upwards. :flipoff2:

JP

It's dangerous as lifting anything with a high lift, but it'll work and don't let anyone tell you it won't. I lost three tires on my trailer bring it back from the east coast everytime I changed the tires I used my high lift. I had two disabled vehicles on the trailer so it wasn't an option to take them off. I also ended up taking off two of the tires at one point (had to leave the trailer somewhere that I didn't want to took them off for security) and left it on the high lift for two days. Granted my high lift is now bent, but that's probably from getting frustrated at it not wanting to go down and just driving off it twice.

Yeah it's not the best way to do it but it works in a pinch. And sceep you're a hobo you and your uhaul tires I bet you changed a couple in the past week. That trailer is a safety hazard :flipoff2: :flipoff2: .

-ben

[sceep]

And sceep you're a hobo you and your uhaul tires I bet you changed a couple in the past week. That trailer is a safety hazard :flipoff2: :flipoff2: .

-ben

I dont know what your talking about. :flipoff2:

Its got 8 brand new, MATCHING SIZE E rated all the way around. with all new wireing, non-melted new steel backing plates, and brakes that dont come on with the blinkers.

Oh, and a complete new running light set down both sides.

yeah.. we dumped a buncha of $$ into it last month.. it was gettin pretty hobo. :flipoff2:

[pcorssmit]

I've had the displeasure of changing a few tires on mine. I had a set of 4 tires that all slipped belts. Did it on the side of I-70 with a high lift, simply because it was the most convenient. Worked fine, no more/less sketchy that any other high-lift experience. Truck jack works OK too. Once I unloaded a Jeep at a friends house ~10 miles from home, and discovered one of the tires had a big bubble across the tread on one side, causing the now empty trailer to catch air every time the bubble came around. I just aired the tire down and drove it home to change it.

Pete

[Hyena]

I had to change a tire on the trailor with the Toy still on it. All i had was my high lift. lifted it up carefully and made sure it was stable. Still had the other 3 trailor tires on the ground.

[Travis Waldher]

On mine... I've used the block of wood method, the stock jack method, the floor jack method and even the hi-lift method. the block of wood or curb method is my favorite though.

What I don't get is why people say a hi-lift is "un-safe". I feel just as comfy using that as a bottle jack. I figure there's still 6-7 tires on the ground to keep anything from moving, and as long as your not overloading the hi-lift no big deal.

What scares me is you guys that run such an unstable loaded trailer your afraid to change a tire on your trailer with the trailer loaded. :eek:

[yager]

ive used the ramp/block method and it does work. But with a loaded trailer thats a lot of weight to put on the other tire... I have used my truck mini-crank up jack with extentions and thats nice and easy to slid in from either side. Plus its under the hood of th truck... But i do have the $30 mini floor jack if needed.. YMMV