Trailer Jack

dennisdl · Post by **dennisdl** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:59 am

The bolt-on type of jacks that are being referred to are shown at
http://www.shelbyindustries.com/trailerjacks.html
I think the one on our trailers is like 5754A...

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:38 pm

ALX357 wrote:ok, i'll let you keep your nose wheels since so many of you like them.
and as soon as i changed mine to a plate i would need to roll it instead.
since the wheel is interchangable, might make a plate and try it while keeping the wheel.

AXL,
Guess you COULD make one, but Champion Trailers will sell you this one for ten bucks.

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 1:09 pm

mike uk wrote:Ah. We call that thing the "jockey wheel". A "jack" is used to raise the trailer - either scissor jack, trolley jack or bottle jack.

And so ... capitalizing on this thread's title, and agreeing w/ Mike's interpretation ...

Trailer Jacks? For all my recent work on hubs, tires and brakes, I've been using a "baby" one-ton hydraulic floorjack (maybe 30 inches in length, 15" in lift?). I've been using a 2x6 flat beneath the floorjack, plus a 4x4 (on its side) under the trailer frame, so I effectively have the floorjack between two wood buffers. Otherwise it's reach is inadequate, but I'd not want the jack sitting directly on asphalt anyhow. This floorjack came in a nice plastic rotomold case and was only about $35 from Costco, IIRC. I keep it in the pickup bed whenever I'm towing, but it's kinda bulky. It has been adequate, but it is time to replace this old jack. I'm wondering what other methods or equipment are being used for jacking the trailer's STERN ?

Jacking Techniques? I like to use wood buffers as described above. Beyond that, this is my process for safely jacking & supporting the boat & trailer. I'm interested to hear constructive criticism and alternates, please?

1. I've been jacking the trailer directly on the frame, just aft of the fender.
2. I always break-free the lugnuts with trailer mostly on the jack, tire just touching.
3. Then I jack enough to clear the tire and settle the trailer onto two jackstands (also stowed in pickup bed).
4. I've been placing one jackstand just afore the fender, other one just aft, both adjusted to just meet the frame.
5. Finally, I bleed the jack so that the weight is about evenly split (?) among the jack and the two jackstands.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 3:09 pm

I lucked out.

The stock jack on my 2002 VW Eurovan (my tow vehicle) turns out to nicely fit under the beams on 2002 trailer and nicely lifts a wheel on the trailer with the boat on board.

I keep lumber in the van for jacking on soft ground, etc.

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:29 pm

I've never seen the factory jack in my Sierra

... hmmm. Just guessing that it's a scissor-style. I'll have to do some research on that.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:47 pm

My two cents on your technique Frank, with the caveat that I am not an expert on this of course. I jack up the boat each winter for storage and pull the wheels off, and then again to adjust the brakes each Spring - but thats done with the boat off the trailer.

1. I've been jacking the trailer directly on the frame, just aft of the fender.
I do same
2. I always break-free the lugnuts with trailer mostly on the jack, tire just touching.
I always break them with full weight on the trailer tire. I remove all but two nuts, see below.
3. Then I jack enough to clear the tire and settle the trailer onto two jackstands (also stowed in pickup bed).
I jack up until I can remove the last two nuts, remove the wheel and then lower onto the jackstand in its lowest position. Im trying to keep the trailer as low as possible for stability.
4. I've been placing one jackstand just afore the fender, other one just aft, both adjusted to just meet the frame.
I just use on on each side, behind wheel.
5. Finally, I bleed the jack so that the weight is about evenly split (?)
among the jack and the two jackstands.
I take the jack out - I trust the stands much more than a jack which can fail, or can roll out its position.

Chip Hindes · Post by **Chip Hindes** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:24 pm

For those of you who can use the stock jack from the tow vehicle under the axle (as I could) you might want to check to make sure you can get the jack under the axle when the tire is flat.

My stock jack worked fine with all the wheels at full height but when I got a flat, turns it was a good 1" too high to get it under the axle. Also it didn't have enough extension to jack under the frame rails.

Happened to have a piece of 2x6 and pulling the flat tire up on it got the axle just high enough to get the jack under it.

Since this happened I've gotten a nice two speed scissor jack which works when the tire's flat as well.

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 1:37 am

Catigale wrote:The stock jack on my 2002 VW Eurovan (my tow vehicle) turns out to nicely fit under the beams on 2002 trailer and nicely lifts a wheel on the trailer with the boat on board.

I keep lumber in the van for jacking on soft ground, etc.

I checked today Stephen. The Sierra has a bottle jack under its folding rear seat. It's only ~7" and extends to 17". It's probably adequate for Chip's suggestion, but I'll need to check for the axle height @ flat tire?

One complication of jacking the axle is that it's a longer reach to get the jack under there, and longer extensions to operate the jack. An advantage though is that axle has more beef than anything else on the trailer. (Mine is the 2x3 rectangular version).

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 3:49 am

I havent checked that Chip - thanks for the post.

Pretty sure Im ok, but would rather find out now than.....later.

The Eurovan jack point and the trailer beam are very close in height IIRC so I think Im ok.

Oh well, I have Trailerclub PLUs coverage too, from boat US...

Chip Hindes · Post by **Chip Hindes** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:14 am

It is a longer reach, but the folding crank on my scissor jack is designed for this; extended it's nearly six feet long.

mike uk · Post by **mike uk** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:43 am

Chip: Do you have a website link or brand name for your scissor jack. I'd be interested to see what it is (two speed, extending handle - sounds good).

Catigale: When you refer to jackstands do you mean the height adjustable tripod things? Theyre presumably perfect for the job but bulky to carry round?

Also, I wonder what should be the lifting capacity of the jack and stands? Im not sure of the actual weight of my tow car but its probably not much different to the trailer and boat weight so I guess the bottle jack from the tow car is OK for the trailer and boat. Presumably the loads (either on the jack or on the jackstands) are only ever about half of the total weight of trailer and boat (because the other half of the load is on the wheel on the ground). So one ton jackstands would probably suffice?

I have used the bottle jack once under the trailer frame (with a small block of timber). It worked OK but was extended quite a long way and I was a bit unsure of its stability. The axle on my UK trailer has rubber suspension trailing arms and I think the axle possibly sagged even less than a leaf spring set up but I didnt measure the height when lifted.

Lots of questions! I would be very interested in peoples views.

Regards
Mike

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 11:30 am

Thats right Mike. See Jack Stands

They are too bulky to carry around, but the intent is to use them when you are working on trailer brakes or wheel bearings or the like, on a firm level surface.

For changing a tire (that's tyre where you are Mike) you crack the nuts, remove all but two, jack up, wheel off and new wheel on as quick as you can. You NEVER go under anything (car, trailer, semi truck) on a lift jack.

Egg on my face - I went looking for a scissor jack at ADVANCE AUTO (our local purveyor of fuzzy dice, etc) and was told no one made them any more due to liability....but of course the web pops up Scissor Jack.......was I getting a line handed to me or what??

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Trailer Jack