Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Changing Your Trailer Tire without a Jack


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 44
Date:
Changing Your Trailer Tire without a Jack


Just thought I would pass some good advice / information along.  If you need to change your trailer tire due to being flat / blowout / just needs changing for whatever reason.  Use whatever you use for leveling out your trailer with.  Personally, I carry (3) 2"X8"X5' boards for leveling out my trailer but I would believe the big Lego blocks should work too.  So when the need comes to change your trailer tire just put the wood down on the ground and either pull or back up the trailer's good tire onto the wood.  This will only work if you have double or triple axles.  I do carry a jack but have never used it to change a tire. 

So in the end, I hope you never have to change a tire but if you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with a flat tire and cannot get road side assistance this is an alternative. 


__________________
Rollie and Gina & Zoey (ShihTzu), Angel (Maltese) 01 Volvo 770 32K Air Safe Hitch Brake Smart Controller 2009 Excel 36 GKE fifth Wheel All Because Two People Fell In Love


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 770
Date:

Sorry but this does not sound like something we would ever do. We have a weight of 20,000 lbs. jmo
southwestjudy



__________________
Judy & Bob & 2blackdogs
www.mytripjournal.com/elitesuitestravels


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 72
Date:

Yeah, we thought about doing the same thing recently after a few hours on the side of the road but it just didn't sound like a safe thing to do.  Luckily, somebody showed up after 4 hours.

Debbie

__________________
Debbie & Rod
Keystone Everest 344J
Ford F450
http://debandrod.blogspot.com/


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 44
Date:

Judy,

   I'm not sure why you wouldn't do it because weight doesn't matter.  All you are doing is raising the remaining tire higher so you have more ground clearance to install the spare tire since the flat should come off without raising the trailer.  As for as your weight goes you should only have approximately 8,000 lbs sitting on the remaining tire which don’t take me wrong this is double what it would normally see.  Your tire can handle that weight just sitting there while you’re changing the tire. 
   This is only if you have to change your tire emphasis is on "YOU". I would call roadside assistance and have them change the tire since most fulltimers have some type of roadside service.  But, if it was going to take them hours to show up then I would change it myself. 


__________________
Rollie and Gina & Zoey (ShihTzu), Angel (Maltese) 01 Volvo 770 32K Air Safe Hitch Brake Smart Controller 2009 Excel 36 GKE fifth Wheel All Because Two People Fell In Love


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 44
Date:

Debbie,

  It was reading your blog that I thought I would post the information to the forum.  It's safe since you had to ride on the single tire for a few hundred feet after your blowout.


__________________
Rollie and Gina & Zoey (ShihTzu), Angel (Maltese) 01 Volvo 770 32K Air Safe Hitch Brake Smart Controller 2009 Excel 36 GKE fifth Wheel All Because Two People Fell In Love


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 72
Date:

Rollie,

Thinking back on it now we probably should have done just that.  At the time though, it just didn't sound like a good idea.  I just figured it was an omen that someone called us right after Rod thought about doing it himself.  giggle.gif


Debbie



__________________
Debbie & Rod
Keystone Everest 344J
Ford F450
http://debandrod.blogspot.com/


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 544
Date:

Camping World sells a device designed to do this.

You put it next to the good tire on same side as the bad one, drive up on it and the bad tire is lifted up high enough to change the flat.

It's an old RV'er / Trucker trick. I've seen it done several times, never had to do it myself.

I'd guess it's safer than jacking up the axle, I've heard of more people being hurt from vehicles falling off of jacks. In fact my new truck didn't come with a spare or jack, the reason given- GM had to stop providing spare tires on medium duty trucks due to a lawsuit. Now they provide 3 years of roadside service as part of the warranty.

__________________
Larry
"Small House, Big Yard "
7 years to go to FT
Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe Pickup


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1426
Date:

Actually IF you have to do it your self this is really safer than using a jack. IMO

__________________

RVing probably not a reality any more.It was a good time while it lasted.



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1043
Date:

Bear, you are sooo correct there. More people get hurt with jacks than any other. This method is tried and true. It is the safest way to change a tire there is. Jacks require you to expose yourself to traffic dangers and laying on the ground is not fun on a hot highway. Pulling the RV up on a block AFTER you loosen the lugs is safe and it will not fall off. Now you do have to chaulk the tires, but there is no chance of a jack flying out or the coach falling to ther ground. Try it out....pull the tires up on the leveling blocks and you will see it is easy.

Sherri will tell you I don't know much but this I do know....and it works

Joe and Sherri

__________________

 

Joe Sherri and Kris living in a Open Range Lite 308BHS. 2500 Dodge Ram Diesel  http://speedysgreatadventure.blogspot.com/



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 111
Date:

RetiredSailor, that is a great idea, as simple as it is, I probably would have never thought of it and would have been wrestling around with the old jack. I'm a retired Airman, probably explains a lot. Thanks....

__________________
Marty & Roz Hill
A Pair of Kentucky Loafers

'08 Arctic Fox
'10 F-250 PSD
'08 Honda GW


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 111
Date:

Just another follow-up to my previous post, is there any benefit gained from jacking up the camper if it is left sitting for extended periods? Such as over winter? I put it on blocks this past winter, not sure about next winter.....Any suggestions? Thanks Marty

__________________
Marty & Roz Hill
A Pair of Kentucky Loafers

'08 Arctic Fox
'10 F-250 PSD
'08 Honda GW


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 44
Date:

Marty,

  The bear stated previously it's an truckers / rv'er old trick, i watched my dad do it with horse trailers and just never gave it more thought I have only used it on boat trailers and once on a friends fiver that I was moving for him when it had a blowout.  After reading Deb's blog about there blowout and it taking them 4 hours for assistance I just thought I would share some advice with my friends in the event that one day it might come in handy.


__________________
Rollie and Gina & Zoey (ShihTzu), Angel (Maltese) 01 Volvo 770 32K Air Safe Hitch Brake Smart Controller 2009 Excel 36 GKE fifth Wheel All Because Two People Fell In Love


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 544
Date:

A similar trick works for those times when you need to change an outside dual tire on motorhomes or dual wheel rear axle trucks.

Place a board in line with the inside tire only, drive up on it and the outside tire will be off the ground so you can remove it. Be sure to block the front wheels so the truck won't move.

Unfortunately this trick won't work with the inside tire on duals..... 
      if I have to explain why...here's your sign   confused.gif


Everyone enjoy their Memorial Day Weekend, be safe !!!!

__________________
Larry
"Small House, Big Yard "
7 years to go to FT
Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe Pickup


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 72
Date:

You can bet if it ever happens again and it's on a Sunday we'll definitely give it a try.  Thanks Rollie

Debbie

__________________
Debbie & Rod
Keystone Everest 344J
Ford F450
http://debandrod.blogspot.com/


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1438
Date:

In don't understand why anybody would be changing their own tires when the cost of road service insurance is so Inexpensive.

We've had to use our Good Sam Emergency Road Service a few times now and the service has been extraordinary. They call back when they've dispatched the truck to give you an ETA, and even checked back later to insure that they got to us and we were satisfied.

I've read that there are a number of companies and they are all good.
I'm getting to old to keep crawling under there.idea

Fred

__________________
Fred Wishnie

Full time since Feb 06 in Carriage Cameo 35KS3 and Ford F350


“If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever get is all you ever got.”


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 44
Date:

Fred,  I agree roadside assistance is very cheap and good insurance and all the fulltimers I know have it.  But if "YOU" have to change your tire this is a quick and safe way to change it and be on your way if time is a factor.  By the way if we are traveling with or in an RV why are we in a hurry? confused  

Larry,  I agree with if you don't know why here's your sign but on my Dodge 1 ton it will not work not sure about Ford or Chevy 1 tons.  However, it's great for most MDT's or larger vehicles.  Just for info for those wanting more knowledge, most dual wheel axles have nuts holding on the inside tire then the outside tire goes over nuts and gets bolted to it.  To put it real simple each tire/rim is bolted to the axle/hub. 

With all that said I would still recommend that if you have never removed your tires before from a dual wheel axle then call roadside assistance.


__________________
Rollie and Gina & Zoey (ShihTzu), Angel (Maltese) 01 Volvo 770 32K Air Safe Hitch Brake Smart Controller 2009 Excel 36 GKE fifth Wheel All Because Two People Fell In Love


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 544
Date:

I changed a tire once on the 5th wheel instead of waiting for roadside service. It was in Bakersfield CA., it was very hot, the truck began to overheat with A/C on sitting at idle and it would have taken at least a half hour to cool down the trailer. My wife is bothered by the heat and we had two very furry dogs at the time, better suited for artic weather.

The dispatcher said they had a lot of calls and few trucks available (sunday) and it would take a minimum of 60 minutes for them to show up.

I had the tire changed in 15 minutes and we were back on the road headed for cooler climate.

__________________
Larry
"Small House, Big Yard "
7 years to go to FT
Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe Pickup


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 72
Date:

We DO have roadside service but when it happened to us it was 2:00 in the afternoon on a Sunday on Mother's Day and we were in the middle of the Navajo Indian Reservation an hour and a half from Gallup to the south and an hour and a half from Shiprock to the north.  If I had known that it was perfectly safe to do it ourselves we would have instead of waiting FOUR HOURS for someone to come.  hmm

__________________
Debbie & Rod
Keystone Everest 344J
Ford F450
http://debandrod.blogspot.com/


RV-Dreams Community Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 3
Date:

You are write I have done this several times aver the last 9 years it works well. If you carryed 2 ft. block rather than 5' would save backing up space when leveling one sideways between tires stright an the outside. I also carry 2 4X8 about 12in'' long will help

__________________


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 642
Date:

One caveat here on blocking up to change a flat. If you have Mor-Ryde suspension, you will need a BIG pile of boards to get the flat off the ground. Camping world sells a "fix-a-flat device built like a curved wedge. Will raise the flat about 10 inches total. Still won't lift Mor-Ryde high enough. Best bet is a cell phone and road side service. I'm like Fred, only I call it lazy. LOL

__________________
Ken and Fran 2006 Sunnybrook F250 SD CC PSD
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us