If you do not want to use the Levellers...

[GSGracie]

to lift the wheels to change them, then what do you use? I cannot find a bottle jack (very scary as they are not stable unless on level ground and hard seal) that has a higher rating than 3 ton. If I get a trolley jack, it seems that I am carrying a lot of extra weight (and volume) for the few times I might need to use it.

[FDchief]

When I had my brake recall done, I saw that the Workhorse service center used the leveling jacks, then placed stands under the axles. They did this on all rigs being repaired.

[paz]

Most RV repair places, truck tire dealers, and roadside services use high capacity bottle jacks that are powered by compressed air, although one place I was at had jacks with traditional handles.

Google "truck jacks," and you'll come up with a whole bunch of options. You'll need at least 8 or 10 tons for an RV. Most of the truck jacks are expensive and also quite big, but HERE is a 20 ton bottle jack I found for only $44. I have no idea about the quality of the jack or about the company selling it, but it gives you an idea of what is available.

[JimM68]

I used a 6 ton bottle jack with the 22k lb F53 coach, I would raise her some on the jacks, then jack up the axle corner I needed with the bottle jack.

I do not think that jack could have lifted the full wieght of the coach.

You could practically walk under the F53 even at normal ride ht.

The new coach is LOW! Especially when you dunp the air. and heavy, at 33k lb. I haven't come up with a solution yet. I'm thinking for normal working under there, to fashion some sort of blocks that would fit between the suspension and frame to hold it up, from normal ride ht jack for clearance, then put the blocks in and lower to them.

For changing tires, I dunno. I got nuttin that will generate 450 lbs of torque anyway.
I need to work on that, I like to do my own stuff.

[Pairajays]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSGracie to lift the wheels to change them, then what do you use? I cannot find a bottle jack (very scary as they are not stable unless on level ground and hard seal) that has a higher rating than 3 ton. If I get a trolley jack, it seems that I am carrying a lot of extra weight (and volume) for the few times I might need to use it.

Just curious, why would you want to change a tire when traveling and carry all this stuff?

Jim E

[Gary RVRoamer]

Harbor Freight has bottle jacks to 30 tons and the prices are reasonable. You can get either straight hydraulic or air/hydraulic.

[Senior Chief]

I would spend the money on a good road service plan, rather than carting around jacks and spares and then rupture myself lifting the tire. JMHO

[Piledrive]

When putting tire back on just use a bar and leverage, I'm 78 and 155lbs and can do it myself.
Yesterday had 6 new Toyo's installed in Rialto CA. MH is too tall for bays. They used a truck floor jack and then used a jack stand for safety.
I'm retired heavy const. Piledriver

[hondo122]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piledrive When putting tire back on just use a bar and leverage, I'm 78 and 155lbs and can do it myself. Yesterday had 6 new Toyo's installed in Rialto CA. MH is too tall for bays. They used a truck floor jack and then used a jack stand for safety. I'm retired heavy const. Piledriver

Welcome, at your weight I guess you did a lot of monkey work lol, I'm a carpenter and worked with the dock bulders local a few times, dirty hard work. Glad to see a retiree that's made it to 78 and healthy.

[thelastplace]

I've said it a thousand times and I'll say it again. AAA Plus RV. Stop being cheapskates and spend the money. They change your tire, they bring you gas and when needed they will tow your RV 10000 miles (as in unlimited mileage). It's about a $120 a year and you can use it for your dinghy as well. Why do people insist on doing things the hard way. It doesn't prove your smarter, only cheaper.

And I say again... I do NOT, nor have I ever, work for AAA. It's a 'no-brainer'.


But the true travelers are they who leave for leaving’s sake
Saying continuously, without knowing why: ‘Let us go on’.
Paraphrased from Baudelaire’s ‘The Journey’

[frankdamp]

High-load Jack stands, after you've run the levelling jacks as high as they'll go. Then you need about a 15' long torque wrench to get the lug nuts undone. After that, you'll need a forklift to pick up the wheel and tire. Then you have to reverse the process to get the RV back on its wheels.

Roadside service is a lot cheaper, and doesn't put your middle-aged body at risk (damn-near 70 in my case). Thanks to the PO, I do have a spare wheel, with the OEM Ford-supplied 2001 tire on it, but I couldn't lift it, even before I had lumbar surgery for a herniated disk.

Even without roadside service insurance, I sure wouldn't tackle it myself.

With the utilisation most Rvs have, rotating the tires doesn't do squat. They'll die of old age long before the tread wears out, so whay bother.

[GSGracie]

Appreciate the ideas expressed. I am in New Zealand, so AAA isn't a lot of use to me - the callout would take too long and the mileage cost would be prohibitive. Our AA (same as AAA I guess) puts a limit on vehicle callouts of 3.5 ton, so they are not much use to me. I have a spare wheel and although I have only had the coach less than a year, I have already had call to change a tyre. You are right, it is a beggar of a task, but given the alternative of staying put, I am just trying to cover bases.

I used the levelling jacks to raise the wheel, but apparently I shouldn't have, so I am just canvassing for alternatives. My real concern is that a bottle jack has a pretty small footprint, and is not inherently stable, unless on concrete or hard seal.

[KIX]

GSGracie,
We're in the US and have a Road Service plan in case of a flat but in your case I would not hesitate to use the coach's levelers. I have hydraulic levelers and in the instance of catastrophic failure on the heaviest axle it would probably cause damage to the valance of the coach. But, I would not need to place any part of my body under the coach to remove or remount a tire. In the wheel well, yes but not under the coach. Levelers are designed to support the weight of the "corner" they lift. Just don't put your body under the coach when on levelers.

[Midniteoyl]

Quote:

Then you need about a 15' long torque wrench to get the lug nuts undone. After that, you'll need a forklift to pick up the wheel and tire.

No, no, and no...