Trailer flat tire

[Ynot Alaska]

What do you guys have for changing a flat tire on your trailer? How do you safely raise the trailer?

[fisher99]

Originally Posted by Ynot Alaska

What do you guys have for changing a flat tire on your trailer? How do you safely raise the trailer?

I primarily use the Andersen Rapid Jack (I also use the Andersen levelers for leveling). But I also carry an aluminum floor jack as a backup. Along with some short lengths of 2x6 and 2x10 in case the ground is too soft for the jack.

[ttavasc]

Similar to fisher99 I use the Andersen levelers and carry an Andersen Rapid Jack. I've found the Rapid Jack works well when you are on level ground but not so well if the trailer tongue is a bit below level. So I also carry a 6-ton bottle jack and a pair of jack stands for safety when using that. Once you decide on tools and method(s) I highly recommend practicing them a time or two before hitting the road so you know what to expect in that unfortunate instance as it will almost certainly be under less than ideal conditions....

[MarCatRV]

I had to change a flat tire in AK this past summer. I left the trailer hitched and chocked the truck tires. I carry a 6-ton bottle jack and have (4) Bigfoot outrigger jack pads. I used the jack pads to raise the bottle jack to raise the trailer at the frame. If needed, I could sandwich Tri-Lynx stabilizer pads in between the jack pads for additional height. The bottle jack can also be used on our 1 ton truck vs the cheap factory jack which the Anderson product can’t be used on. The Anderson jack was tempting but not necessary and I did not want to give up storage space but it’s certainly faster.

[Yosemite77]

Breaker bar, torque wrench, impact wrench, bottle jacks and Safe Jack extension kit. I also carry a tire patch kit and air compressor.

[jleonard]

I have one of those lifting wedges and also a bottle jack and blocks. Also, a battery-operated impact wrench and torque sticks.
Also carry a breaker bar, just in case it needs persuading.
AND a bright green safety vest, road flares, etc.
I hope I never need them.

[farmboy555]

Milwaukee M18 1/2” impact, 1/2” breaker bar & bottle jack

[fisher99]

Originally Posted by Yosemite77

Breaker bar, torque wrench, impact wrench, bottle jacks and Safe Jack extension kit. I also carry a tire patch kit and air compressor.

Good addition. I was just thinking "lifting equipment" when reading the OP's post but yes, I also a large 4-way wrench, DeWalt 20v 450 ft/lb battery impact driver (with impact sockets and extensions), torque wrench, compressor, and tire plugging kit, and a DeWalt 20v LED work light, in addition to the Andersen RapidJack and the aluminum floor jack.

What I don't have, but am currently researching, is a good set of bright LED "road flares". Currently leaning towards either the 1TAC lights or TOBFIT lights. If anybody here has any experience and recommendations I'd like to hear them.

[carybosse]

I would add a piece of pipe for a cheater on that breaker bar.

[Tightwadted]

Like many others have said: Breaker Bar, impact sockets, cordless driver, torque wrench, 8 ton bottle jack, 2x8 blocks, i'd take an aluminum floor jack, except it takes up too much room. that bottle jack takes very little room!

[JIMNLIN]

Originally Posted by Ynot Alaska

What do you guys have for changing a flat tire on your trailer? How do you safely raise the trailer?

I use my old truckers special 12 ton shorty bottle jack with a 10" X 10" base for side of the road use.. I bought the jack years ago when I towed GN trailers for a living.
It came with a U shaped adapter that cradles the axle tube on std leaf spring suspensions.
Simply place the jack under the axle tube next to the U bolt and lift one end of the axle just enough to get the spare tire on. No need to lift the whole side of the trailer....will not bend the axle ...nor with it crush the axle tube.

If you have the torsion axles then you need to jack from the frame
. Those squre torsion axle tube are just thin tubes and can bend or crush.

I use 4 way as it fits all my trailers with different size axles/lug sizes on the truck and trailer.

If I'm home I back the trailer onto the concrete slab next to the house and use my 3.5 ton floor jack under the axle tube next to the U bolt. Simply raise one end of the axle enough to change the tire.

Which ever method you go with make a dry run at home. Out on the side of the road far from home or help isn't a good place to find the method didn't work.

[Parafango]

Originally Posted by fisher99

I primarily use the Andersen Rapid Jack (I also use the Andersen levelers for leveling). But I also carry an aluminum floor jack as a backup. Along with some short lengths of 2x6 and 2x10 in case the ground is too soft for the jack.

I have a thought about the rapid jack and want to bounce it off of the group.
Lets say the loaded trailer weight is 10,000 lbs for even numbers.
if evenly split between all 4 tires, which we all know it isn't, but for discussion lets say it is, is 2500lbs per tire.

If I use a rapid jack to lift one tire, theoretically, that puts the entire weight of one side of the trailer on the tire on the rapid jack, which for discussion would be 5000 lbs. The good year endurance E range tire is rated for 2830 per tire.

To me, this seems like a lot of stress on one tire while the rig is lifted to change the flat tire.

Am I missing something where the weight on the tire doing the jacking doesn't matter?

[john1981]

i carry one of those craftsman mechanics tool sets, a 4 way, a torque wrench, and when i had a tt i carried a small floor jack. the 5th wheel will easily get a side off the ground with the leveling jacks. you only need to get the one wheel off the ground to change the tire. if you were really in a bind you could run one wheel up a ramp to pull the tire.

[hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by Parafango

I have a thought about the rapid jack and want to bounce it off of the group.

Lets say the loaded trailer weight is 10,000 lbs for even numbers.

if evenly split between all 4 tires, which we all know it isn't, but for discussion lets say it is, is 2500lbs per tire.



If I use a rapid jack to lift one tire, theoretically, that puts the entire weight of one side of the trailer on the tire on the rapid jack, which for discussion would be 5000 lbs. The good year endurance E range tire is rated for 2830 per tire.



To me, this seems like a lot of stress on one tire while the rig is lifted to change the flat tire.



Am I missing something where the weight on the tire doing the jacking doesn't matter?

Yes, you are missing something.

That weight is not transferred to the other tires, it is transferred to the jack.

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