Safe jacking points dual axles

[htglaser]

What sort of jack do you take with on trips? Floor jacks are large. Bottle jacks smaller and lighter, but need something to raise them up.

[Marcm157]

Originally Posted by htglaser

What sort of jack do you take with on trips? Floor jacks are large. Bottle jacks smaller and lighter, but need something to raise them up.

I take 2 Bottle Jacks with some 4 x 4 blocks as cribbing... I do have an aluminum floor jack with a removable handle but even I think that's overkill and I am a doomsday prep for anything kind of guy...

[Marcm157]

Originally Posted by htglaser

What sort of jack do you take with on trips? Floor jacks are large. Bottle jacks smaller and lighter, but need something to raise them up.

I take 2 Bottle Jacks with some 4 x 4 blocks as cribbing... I do have an aluminum floor jack with a removable handle but even I think that's overkill and I am a doomsday prep for anything kind of guy...

[wordsmyth]

Bumping an oldie here after using search ... I'm glad I found this discussion as I might have just run a floor jack underneath the axle and done damage that further thins my already hidebound wallet!

Now to my question: What rule of thumb applies to for choosing a bottle jack with sufficient weight capacity to lift the tandems off the ground on one side at a time?

Thanks in advance,

Rick

PS via edit: the GVWR on my 224BH is 5600 lbs.

[Route 66 Traveler]

I use a Harbor Freight 20 Ton bottle jack because it has a longer extension than the smaller jacks. I still need to add a block or two under the jack to reach the bottom of the frame. Once raised I used jack stands under the frame as an added precaution.

An added tip....loosen the lugnuts just a bit before raising the wheels off the ground.

https://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton...ack-56736.html

[wordsmyth]

Originally Posted by Route 66 Traveler

I use a Harbor Freight 20 Ton bottle jack because it has a longer extension than the smaller jacks. I still need to add a block or two under the jack to reach the bottom of the frame. Once raised I used jack stands under the frame as an added precaution.

An added tip....loosen the lugnuts just a bit before raising the wheels off the ground.

https://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton...ack-56736.html

Roger that. Thanks.

You didn’t note the weight of your trailer. In round numbers, is the GVWR 5,000 or 7,500 or 10,000lbs?

I’m trying to get a perspective on how much jack to purchase to lift (one side of) my ~ 5,000 travel trailer.

[bdreinv]

Just double weight jacks are pretty reasonable these days. Sleep better at night! lol

[Route 66 Traveler]

Originally Posted by wordsmyth

You didn’t note the weight of your trailer. In round numbers, is the GVWR 5,000 or 7,500 or 10,000lbs?

My trailers max GVWR is 7700 pounds. So far I never come close to that. Loaded for a months trip with clothes, food, and 65 gallons of water my CAT scale weight was 6875 pounds. I bought the bigger bottle jack for is jacking height, not it's weight rating. Just a little bit of over-kill.

[wordsmyth]

Originally Posted by Route 66 Traveler

My trailers max GVWR is 7700 pounds. So far I never come close to that. Loaded for a months trip with clothes, food, and 65 gallons of water my CAT scale weight was 6875 pounds. I bought the bigger bottle jack for is jacking height, not it's weight rating. Just a little bit of over-kill.

10-4. I can see that. There's an inevitable bit of lag between lifting a vehicle of any type and getting stationary jack-stands in place, so overkill is good when you are basically depending on an O-ring to keep your trailer from rolling over towards you.

I have a couple of 8"x8" blocks that I use with screw type leveling jacks for on site set-up that will double for a jack-base. The next time I'm in town I'll swing by HF and take a look.

Thanks again!