When you jack up the trailer to change a tire should you place it under the axel or part of the trailer. I tried using my 2 1/2 ton jack and know luck. What size jack should I get? Boat and trailer about 6k


Thanks

mark

Get a 6 ton bottle jack, and a couple of jack stands. Jack up using part of the frame close to the axle, set a stand under it, and then repeat for the other axle, if needed. Do not rely on the jack alone to keep the trailer up. I did that for several years, but the first time the jack slips or fails, you could be in trouble.

Your jack should be fine. Put it under the axle near the tire you are trying to raise. You can even use a pice of 2x4 and put it right under the U bolt mounting plate. You should only be raising that tire at a max of 1000. pds or so. Providing your 4,500 pd jsck is in proper working order, it will be fine. I use my 2 ton all the time on mine, weight is the same as yours. Listen to JM, use stands ALL the time....

Thanks Guys, I have never had any problems put I may be towing a little more this summer.

I use two bottle jacks, place one under frame in front of tires and one under frame aft of tires. I pump up the jacks together so trailer raises evenly. Now I can get at all tires and not worry about all the weight bearing down on one point. Always worried me using one jack. But, I've never heard anyone damaging anything using just one jack.

If your doing more towing and want to be ready... besides a spare, have a set of bearing packed w/grease and ready to install. Some guys even have a whole new hub with bearings installed..... I'm going to do that with next trailer....

Good luck!

In that case, a bottle jack is great.

If you have tandem or triple axles, I recommend using short boards or landscape timbers (mine are 4" tall) to place under the good tires. Pull the trailer up on to the boards with the good tires and then the flat tire is easily jacked up while the other tire(s) support most of the load. Just got to remember to take the boards with you when you travel.

Thanks I will get a bottle jack also.

If you jack it up under the axle, you will have much less jacking to do. You don't have to decompress the spring (more travel).

Why put it under the frame and have to lift the trailer and boat until the axle is unsprung?

Under the spring and just gotta lift it just a bit. Only lifting the same amount of weight that the tire is carrying. You aren't moving the load to the remaining wheel. Same load weight.

Torsion axles are almost impossible to lift the 1 wheel only. Frame lifting in that case. A block of wood under the good wheel willl help.