Flat tire? Don't waste your money on this.

[jtboney]

I bought one of these primarily for my 18' tandem axle equipment trailer but planned on having it when I pull the Jayco as well.

Long story short, it DIDN'T WORK. I even put a piece of 2"x6" under it raising it another 1 1/2" still didn't work. After I bought mine I found this review on the Amazon site. Wish I had read it first and like the reviewer I wish Camco would include that in their description.

"Ordered and received this product for my 39 foot 5th wheel that has leaf spring tandem axles. It didn't work. Called the manufacturer (Camco), and they say it won't work on leaf spring suspensions.(which is 98% of most trailers). They say it will ONLY WORK on TORSION TYPE suspension. ***Wish they would have mentioned that in the product description.****"

[RedHorse1]

I bought an Anderson Rapid Jack and found it would “almost” get the tire off the ground. I hit on the idea of using some 2x4 cribbing that I carry to get a little extra lift. Works for me.

[Shorty Cox]

Strange, I used mine twice Aug 8th this year on my leaf spring tandem axle. Lifted the flat tire high enough to change out.

[Siamese]

I'm sticking with my bottle jack for that. Little heavy, but works.

[norty1]

It depends on the weight, size of the tires, etc, etc. It's good to test it before rather than when you need it. A lot of times a 2x8 board under it will slide when you try to pull up in it.

I would also be concerned with overloading a torsion suspension putting all the weight on one component of it.

[stateboy]

I have one. I opted for the taller one (thicker layer of rubber on the tire rest surface). It worked fine for me when I moved to each tire to elevate the one next to it to remove the tire to grease my bearings. I also have the leaf springs. It must vary based on what norty1 said in post #5.

[Atlee]

I have a 2017 Jay Flight 23RB with tandem axle leaf springs, and my Trailer Aide works fine. I've had to use it a number of times. Hasn't failed me yet.

Originally Posted by jtboney

I bought one of these primarily for my 18' tandem axle equipment trailer but planned on having it when I pull the Jayco as well.
Attachment 54241
Long story short, it DIDN'T WORK. I even put a piece of 2"x6" under it raising it another 1 1/2" still didn't work. After I bought mine I found this review on the Amazon site. Wish I had read it first and like the reviewer I wish Camco would include that in their description.

"Ordered and received this product for my 39 foot 5th wheel that has leaf spring tandem axles. It didn't work. Called the manufacturer (Camco), and they say it won't work on leaf spring suspensions.(which is 98% of most trailers). They say it will ONLY WORK on TORSION TYPE suspension. ***Wish they would have mentioned that in the product description.****"

[ttavasc]

I picked up the Andersen Rapid Jack when we moved up to a tandem axle camper. In testing it at the house I found that it worked fine by itself when it was under the front axle but it needed some extra cribbing below it when it was under the rear axle. I suspect some of that may have to do with whether or not you are completely level or perhaps a little nose up/down. Just to be safe I do carry some extra cribbing to accounts for the unknown.

[GL243]

I bought the "plus" model (~ 1 inch higher lift). Worked on the first wheel that I tried it on while greasing wheel bearings this year, which is the only situation I've tried it in, but then would not lift any of the other 3 wheels high enough to clear the ground. I ended up putting some 2X6 pieces cross-wise under it, and had to drive one or two steel stakes into the ground at one end of the Trailer Aid to keep it from sliding, then got it to work. Since then, however, I've gotten a 6 ton bottle jack, and use a set of Camco leveling blocks (https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Levelin...S3PWDD0MEMPGHT) to position the bottle jack on and get it high enough to jack up the frame. I use one of the leveling blocks on top of the jack saddle as the small hole in the center of each block is the right size for the saddle to fit in, and the block then stabilizes the jack saddle as it contacts the frame. This works more reliably and safely than the Trailer Aid, in my opinion. Oh, and I agree wholeheartedly that the Trailer Aid is a waste of money.

[norty1]

If you on the side of the road, it will sink in the dirt.

[TxLoser]

I’ve got one of these too....in my attic. Mine smells like a camp fire and has never been in my trailer. I’m guessing it was fail for someone else as well.

[Route 66 Traveler]

Originally Posted by norty1

If you on the side of the road, it will sink in the dirt.

I have one as well...also have Good Sam Roadside Assistance, so if I'm "on the side of the road" I will call them first. They haven't failed me yet. I did try the Trailer Aid after I bought it, but it was on my concrete driveway.


Even a bottle jack won't work on loose dirt, that's why I also carry a few 2x6 boards with me as well.

[DonaandDon]

Agreed. I too have suffered the humiliation of attempting to use this too.

[RedHorse1]

I suspect the equalizer may play a part in how much lift is needed to get the adjacent tire off the ground. Mine is the CRE 3000.

[Big1]

I was looking at that for a while but I figure that I can use my lego's block and set them up as high as I need to, I did had to do it once.

[RedHorse1]

Originally Posted by Big1

I was looking at that for a while but I figure that I can use my lego's block and set them up as high as I need to, I did had to do it once.

I’ve done that and it works but discovered either the 5th is too heavy or my legos are too wimpy. I have about 10k# on the wheels so lifting one tire says I’ve got roughly 5k# on the neighboring one. Crushed one of the legos.

[Chopperdoc]

I was just about to leave the campground on our last trip and found a flat. The site was so sloped that the weight was off the passenger side of the camper; I didn't notice it was flat until I put the weight back on it. I carry a battery impact driver for lug nuts. And i used the leveling jacks to lift the tire. Had to put some cribbing under the jack to get it to lift high enough. worked like a champ all complete in 30 minutes.

[JesseS]

Originally Posted by Chopperdoc

I was just about to leave the campground on our last trip and found a flat. The site was so sloped that the weight was off the passenger side of the camper; I didn't notice it was flat until I put the weight back on it. I carry a battery impact driver for lug nuts. And i used the leveling jacks to lift the tire. Had to put some cribbing under the jack to get it to lift high enough. worked like a champ all complete in 30 minutes.

I also used my leveling jacks, they are rated at 12K lbs each, so with only about 6K on the axle I felt a 50% safety margin was good. I have extra large jack pads for stability and it worked fine.

[Tireman9]

This thread points out the importance of testing and confirming that your "Emergency" equipment will actually do what you expect on your RV.


Doesn't make any difference if it is an extension cord or "X" wrench to get the lug nuts off a wheel if you get a flat. It's ALWAYS better to learn how to use the tool and to confirm you have the strength and knowledge to actually use the emergency device.


I remember when I first started to drive my dad told me that before he would lend me his keys, I had to use the factory "lug nut bar" to loosen the nuts. Then figure out how to assemble the "bumper jack". Get the spare out of the trunk, remove the tire from the axle then put everything back where it belonged. I probably spent a hour working on it the first time but I did learn how to do every step correctly. ( he let me know if I was doing something wrong and in an unsafe manner ).

[AndyHetzer]

This forum is great, lots of great tips from great members! After 30 yrs of driving and 8+ yrs with a camper had my first flat repair.

I too had one of those ramps that should have elevated the flat tire but it didn’t lift high enough and needed to use my bottle jack to lift another couple inches. Was able to change tire in about 15 minutes but as other folks said, good to be prepared ahead of time. Also liked the idea of using the Anderson levelers, even with some extra boards so will try that method if there is a “next time”.