Tandem Axle Tire Replacement

[UPCamper]

Currently in a discussion with a coworker regarding the best way to change a blown tire. What do you people do? Jack the frame, blocks under the good tire, that volcano looking tire jack thingamajig, Lynx levelers, make the DW bench press the axle?

More specifically a road repair.

[Jagiven]

If I can pull the good tire up on to a few blocks, then place the jack under the frame, to get that last bit needed.

[RedHorse1]

I can lift a tire by using Lynx blocks. Haven't had to do this roadside to change a tire (yet) but it seems very stable.

[UPCamper]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

I can lift a tire by using Lynx blocks. Haven't had to do this roadside to change a tire (yet) but it seems very stable.

How many blocks do you think it would take you? With these MOR/RYDE suspensions, I hear there is a lot of play before the other tire leaves the ground.

[Paintinfool3]

I have always used a bottle jack and block but it gets sort of dicey if the side of the road is gravel or grass, my jack started sinking into the ground one time while I had the wheel off ... talkin about moving fast to get it back on and a couple of lugs started ... I say it depends on the situation ... I think Anderson has a deal you drive one tire onto to change the other if its a tandem ... but I would be worried about it moving then too ... roadside changes stink period

[RVhiker]

Originally Posted by UPCamper

How many blocks do you think it would take you? With these MOR/RYDE suspensions, I hear there is a lot of play before the other tire leaves the ground.

I have 15" tires on an Eagle fifth wheel. For my trailer, it takes a 4 high stack of Lynx levelers to raise one wheel high enough to change. My trailer has a Mor-Ryde CRE 3000 equalizer

I think that using the Lynx levelers makes sense on soft or uneven ground. If I have a stable, hard surface I'll put a bottle jack under the axle at the spring attachment and jack it just high enough to get the tire off the ground. I'm aware that Dexter - who makes my axles - warns against raising an axle to change a tire instead of raising it by the frame. However, it has worked out well for me on two different fifth wheels. When using the bottle jack to change a tire, you are really not raising up the entire weight of one side, rather you are raising just enough against the springs on one axle to get that one wheel up. When I raise up one side entirely, of course I jack up at the frame.

[RedHorse1]

Originally Posted by UPCamper

How many blocks do you think it would take you? With these MOR/RYDE suspensions, I hear there is a lot of play before the other tire leaves the ground.

Yeah, it takes a stack to be sure. Like RV I have the CRE-3000 but I sport 16" wheels. I believe it is a 4 block stack as well. I can't crawl on top of that stack in one jump but make a 2 stack and a 4 stack and it will get up pretty easily.

[William]

I had a blowout last year and I tried pulling it up on a 6 x 6 block still was not tall enough to lift the tire off the ground. I keep an old Chevy bottle jack in my camper with a long crank put it underneath the axle in jacked up the bad tire axle worked quite well.

[Flyrotor]

I think it's more of a personal opinion, as you see here, but my first choice would always be to roll up on blocks to lift the bad wheel off the ground, I have done it before, but never with my camp trailer, rather with utility trailers.

With that in mind, I do carry a bottle jack just in case.

[eldermike]

The first thing to do is get into a safe situation if at all possible. I carry a 12 ton bottle jack
And a stack of cut 2x8 pieces and some cut pieces of 4x4. I jack right behind rear axle on the frame and lift one side. If its interstate drivers side I only use a cell phone.

[Tim L]

RVHiker, I believe the Dexter warning is ONLY for Torsion Axles. You are saying "at the spring attach point" So, you have leaf springs, and NOT torsion, so lifting at the leaf spring perch is fine. FYI

[SecretCoveDave]

eldermike, good advice. Interstate and driver's side......I'm using a cell phone as well!

[Brownie]

Eldermike - Isn't your cell phone a little thin to lift a wheel off the ground?

Actually, that's great advice! I always carry a bottle jack, as well . . . just in case. Had to use it once on my old trailer. Set it on a couple of wood blocks (that I carry for additional height under my tongue jack) and jacked up the trailer by the frame. Haven't had to use it to change a tire on the Eagle - yet. I did use it to get the trailer off the hitch-ball, once, when I'd bent the electric tongue jack and had to replace it. (It's a long story, so don't ask )

[SecretCoveDave]

I think eldermike still has the original Motorola brick maybe.

[nunyadamn]

I always recommend a traileraid ramp. I have changed many a boat trailer tire and a toyhauler tire. Nothing simpler.

[eldermike]

Originally Posted by SecretCoveDave

I think eldermike still has the original Motorola brick maybe.

No mine is in a bag, the brick died on me.