Correct way to jack up a trailer

[rob_and_trish]

To go along w/ that other thread below - what is the correct way to jack up a trailer? (Where do you put the jack?)

Knock on wood I have not had to worry about doing it yet - but would be good to know in the event of having todo so.

Also - does a standard lug wrench fit the tire bolts?

(Just an fyi - I have a dorsey trailer - dont have the owners manual)

[walkers2rad]

If you get one of those 4-way lug wrenches you cant go wrong, one of them will fit it. Get the overall longest one you can cause those nuts tend to stick pretty good because of the water and potential for rust.
Dorsey has a web site http://trailersbydorsey.com/ and you can download a pdf of all the parts on your trailer among other things.
If you need to jack up the boat higher than the stock jack to drain your boat completly the best place would be the square center tube that runs down the middle. The farther back you get you will get more lift you will get with out running out of jack. If you put a piece of cardboard on the jack you will prevent scratching your trailer and it will lessen the chance of it slipping once the angle increases. As soon as the prop guard hits the ground you dont want to go any further.
Ray

[raythompson]

You can jack your traile up to replace the tires by jacking under the axle or near the spring mounts. You can use a shorter jack and will not have to jack as high if you jack under the axle.

A lot depends on what you have to do. I have had to replace an axle and both springs on my old trailer. In those cases I had to jack under the trailer frame as close to the center between the spring mounts as possible and still allow me to work on the axles. Of course I used jack stands before crawling under the trailer but it was still not an easy feeling.

A shop jack, the kind with wheels and a long handle works the best. A three ton or better is highly recommended. They are easy to get under the axle and jack the trailer up. They are also very stable.

[talltigeguy]

My lug wrench for my tow vehicle did NOT fit the lug nuts on the trailer. Luckily the wrench kit that I have for my prop puller had a socket the right size. The interesting thing is that the lug wrench was the right size but the bolts on the trailer are too close to the hub for a standard lug wrench to fit on. I have an Extreme trailer. That's something else for everyone to check on their trailer.

To get the nuts off of the spare tire is yet another size. Check that too.

[byron/prestige trailers]

Truthfully there is no vehicle jack specifically made for your trailers' frame or axle. Most tow vehicle jacks will be shakey at best, and worse on uneven terrain.

If your Dorsey has trosion axles, the best and safest way to jack your trailer up, is by using no jack at all. Just take three pieces of 2x6, cut 15", 18", & 21" long; stack'em and butt all on one end and screw them together, to build a small ramp. Lossen the lug nuts, and pull or back the good tire up on this ramp. The bad tire will come off of the ground, making the changing quick.

This gives you solid support while changing the tire and reduces your time by as much as 50%, which tremendously reduces your exposure to traffic.

If your trailer has a spring axle system, this method will not work because the equalizer will not allow the bad tire to suspend.

Oh ! If you have a single axle trailer, this method is ineffective. LOL !!!

[TeamAllen]

That's a great idea with the block of wood. I have always seen this simple jack in Overton's catalog. It seeems like it would scratch the paint on the trailer, as it pivits into position. And I'm not sure of the stability? It would work for the single axle trailer though. It costs $25.

[dogbert]

I had a blowout this weekend and broke my tow vehicle jack. Fortunately, Walmart had both a 2.5 ton hydraulic jack and a radial trailer tire for my trailer. Not a good feeling when you need a tire at 6:30 pm on a Saturday. Of all things, I was coming home from the Tige Reunion in Austin, TX.

[Stoneman]

Unfortunately I have plenty of experience with this...three different flat tires in two different trips and my tires were only two years old and had very low milleage...I can only guess they rotted from the inside out, because of the fact that the boat was stored (by the previous owner) in the Arizona heat and it did'nt even matter that they were covered. Anyhow I also have an Extreme trailer and although the lug wrench that came with my GMC Yukon was difficult to use (the beauty ring on the trailer tires/axel gets in the way) it did fit. I also used the jack from the Yukon, placed where the axel and spring meet. I too also found that the nuts on the spare tire are a different size than the lug nuts...lucky for me I had a socket set in my boat (by the way I broke that socket wrench trying to losen the tire lug nuts...forcing me to make the lug wrench work!!) As if that was'nt fun enough...two flats in one trip and only one spare, but that's a whole different story!!!

My suggestion...keep an eye on your tires...you may want to get new ones just to be safe. Lose the beauty rings...they only get in the way. Buy yourself a high quality breaker bar and socket...keep it in the boat...just in case!! Oh and if you ever find yourself on the side of the road with your second flat in less than an hour (at night in the middle of nowhere) keep reminding yourself of how much fun your having!!!!

[raythompson]

Originally posted by tweirich
...radial trailer tire for my trailer...

Make sure that is a trailer tire, not just a radial tire. Dual axle trailers require stiffer sidewalls and passenger car tires will not last long. They will get you home in an emergency but should be replaced with true trailer tires.

[poohpotta]

I'm glad I purchased a spare from my dealer, I always take along my 3-ton floor jack on long trips.

[dogbert]

Walmart has radial trailer tires. I needed a 205/75 R14 for my Roadmaster.

The guy at Walmart also told me that you should start replacing tires after 6 years regardless here in Texas. I store my boat inside my garage so sun exposure wasn't an issue either.

[raythompson]

Originally posted by tweirich
Walmart has radial trailer tires. I needed a 205/75 R14 for my Roadmaster.

Great. My local Walmart did not have any trailer tires in my size when I encountered a flat while at the ramp. I got a passenger tire so I could get home. I replace that with a Goodyear to match the other tires. It was $120.00 for the new trailer tire.

[dogbert]

Ok, next question, do you replace the tires with all of the same kind? If you have two of each, is it better to put them as pairs on each axle or pairs on each side? Also, do you ever have to rotate them like a car?

Inquiring minds want to know

[raythompson]

Originally posted by tweirich
Ok, next question, do you replace the tires with all of the same kind? If you have two of each, is it better to put them as pairs on each axle or pairs on each side? Also, do you ever have to rotate them like a car?

Good questions. I would keep the same tires on each side so the load is distributed evenly. Better is to have all the same tire but you knew that.

As for rotation I would say not. If you have substantianally uneven wear then there is something wrong with the trailer that needs repaired. You probably do not put enough miles on the trailer before dry rot starts to set in to make it worthwhile. If you have nothing to do I guess you could do the rotation. I would rotate on the same side so that the directional rotation of the tire does not change.

Just my guess. I am open to differing opinions, especially from those with real experience.