Proper Way To Jack An Excel

[Highgturn]

This appears to have gotten buried so I'll resurrect it as it's own topic.

A few months ago, there was a discussion about jacking an Excel and we never got a PI position on how to do it. Dexter is adamant about not placing a jack on any part of the suspension. Placing a jack on the frame is in my mind asking for trouble unless you have something to distribute the weight and then there is the need to carry a sufficient amount of wood blocks to put under the jack, not really practical when traveling IMO. Having been around trailers all my life I have never seen a problem placing a jack under the spring plate an raising that wheel position to allow removal of the wheel and tire. Hopefully, ExcelRVguy will weight in on this and tell us what PI recommends. Seems like to me this should be in the owners manual. If it is, I missed it.

[Highgturn]

This appears to have gotten buried so I'll resurrect it as it's own topic.

A few months ago, there was a discussion about jacking an Excel and we never got a PI position on how to do it. Dexter is adamant about not placing a jack on any part of the suspension. Placing a jack on the frame is in my mind asking for trouble unless you have something to distribute the weight and then there is the need to carry a sufficient amount of wood blocks to put under the jack, not really practical when traveling IMO. Having been around trailers all my life I have never seen a problem placing a jack under the spring plate an raising that wheel position to allow removal of the wheel and tire. Hopefully, ExcelRVguy will weight in on this and tell us what PI recommends. Seems like to me this should be in the owners manual. If it is, I missed it.

[ExcelRVGuy]

Bob

When we are asked where to place the jack when changing a tire, our "politically correct" response is to always place the jack directly under the main frame of the coach. This is the most stable, and the strongest place to lift from. I called Jack Yenne, our customer service manager, and from a practical perspective, we certainly don't see any issue arising from placing your jack directly below the spring plate on your axle and lifting from there.

Dexter is very cautious about telling people that because they are concerned that there will be someone who places the jack toward the center of the axle tube and try to lift the unit. Lifting from the axle tube can actually bend the tube, thus changing the camber of the axle, causing damage to the axle and/or excessive tire wear.

Bryan