How do you lift 15000#
 

The last time I trailered I had 2900# single axel trailer. It didn't take much more than my car jack to lift it. My "new" Formula 382 weighs around 15K wet on the steel trailer. I figured a 2 1/4 T floor jack would lift one wheel. I was wrong. It barely budged it. I looked into bottle jacks but I am concerned that with a flat tire the axel will be to low to use a normal 9" jack. What are you guys using?

Stack of nailed together 2 X 6's will allow you to drive the trailer up and take a wheel off the ground without a jack.

There is also a company that makes a composite "ramp" for that reason. You can also use a curb if you have to.

Thanks guys! That sounds a lot safer than a jack

How about throwing some sand on the ramp and laying a loose piece of wood on top to slide?

Driving on something is a good idea. Or you put wood or whatever under the wheel and let the air out, if all you doing is changing the tire. Lifting the boat/trailer in one spot may "bend" the frame.
Be carefull. I even changed tire on sand. Flat 2X6 under the wheels and just dug out the sand under the "flat" tire.

Good luck.

I like the sand solution:drink:

A 4500 pound jack should have picked up one wheel easily I would have thought given about 2500 pounds per wheel

I bought the jack at a Pep Boys going out of business sale. It was cheap. You get what you pay for. I am absolutely certain that you will bend the frame if you put a jack under one of the rails. I was trying to lift on the axel next to the shakle

take it to a truck stop with an 18 pack of budlite... instant tire change..

My immediate problem is that I have to put brakes and a controller on one of the axels before I can register (inspection by DMV required) the boat and trailer. I have a FWD duelly but I am not sure the grass offers enough traction to pull it up a ramp. Probably give it a try before I resort to jacks though

Do a little shopping. You can find bottle jacks that will fit RIGHT behind the tire, and will lift just the spindle of the tire you are changing, (assuming you have torsion axles). This setup works perfectly. You don't have to lift the weight of the whole boat. All you have to do is lift the spindle against the torsion of the axle. The boat/trailer really never moves (lifts). I will look when I get home for the tonnage of the bottle jack that I use. You are going to have to drive up onto several boards to get the boat/trailer high enough to put the inflated spare back on there.

Also, Home Depot and Lowes sell 12"x12" - 1/4" thick steel plates in the hardware section where they have pieces of diamond plate and the like.

I have 9 of them, and keep 3 with me at all times when trailering.
6 stay at home wherever the boat parks to disperse the weight of each wheel/tire. I put one under each winch stand foot whenever I unhook the trailer with the boat on it. I painted the last one several times, and keep it in the tool box on the trailer. I will usually put it under the bottle jack when changing a tire. I have used this plate to change a tire in wet grass with the boat on the trailer, and it works great.

Great info. I am going to the depot in the morning to get some.

Sydwayz thanks for the input. My axels are on leaf springs. I put the jack just inside the spring shackel. I would have thought the wheel would have lifted but the springs are short and apparently do not have much independant travel.

Do you have a flat or are you looking to get the wheels off to add the brakes? Could you just take it to a ramp and get the boat off the trailer? Bring tools and parts with you...

Otherwise with leaf springs you need to lift the whole side I imagine. Long piece of thick wood and two bottle jacks, between each axle. Use steel plate like Sydwayz says on both the ground and between jack head and wood.

WOW!!! Lift the WHOLE side!!! I think that would take an 8 X 8 to support all that weight and span. You would never get a jack under the board. The axels are on individual springs so hopefully I only will have to lift one wheel. The boat ramp is a fine idea but I have NEVER started a project that didn't take longer than I planned, and didn't need a tool I didn't bring. I think Paradox hole is the best answer but not terribly practical if you are trying to change a tire on the highway. I am going to try a 4T bottle jack. If that doesn't work a friend has a 20T. I am also going to build a ramp. I can't imagine a quicker, easier, or safer solution than that.

5 ton bottle jack at Sam's club, 40 bucks. Simple. Although most of the time driving up on a cut 4x6 with a ramp is what I use. easier and safer, but sometimes it won't work out.

rjr

Try one of these:
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/367430972.htm

You wedge it under the axle, and drive forward and rock the axle up. I'd suggest two of them tacked or fixed together, just for more stability.

I don't think your leaf springs will appreciate being twisted with only one wheel up. If anything, do both sides so the entire axle is raised. What's the axle capacity? Should give an idea which jacks are needed? The first jack didn't work because the axle doesn't like to be twisted and it probably had more weight than you think.

FWIW, a friend has a big cruiser on a 15k GVW trailer with torsion axles. Even with torsions lifting one wheel still puts pressure/weight on the rest of the trailer.

Examples of the plastic deals:
http://www.campingworld.com/browse/s...10867&src=SRQB

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRAILER-AID-...QQcmdZViewItem