The Boating Forum - Triple axle tire change question

OK-
Finally broke down and bought a trailer for my 31' Jupiter. Got to thinking about the easiest way to change a tire on the road. Do you guys use a hydraulic jack, one of those rolling jack stands or what? What's the easiest "tool" for doing a quick change?

Thanks,
Tom.

Just had to suffer through this in 106 degree misery! The next day, I went home and bought a small floor jack. It's a crappy deal at best. I only had the truck's scissor type jack and had to jack it twice because I couldn't get under the axle first. Make sure you have a couple of one foot sections of wood blocks, a 2X10" and 4x10" for cribbing if you need it and to put on softer ground if you're working off the shoulder. LUCKILY, I did have a really cool expandable lug nut wrench because the factory goobs had obviously used a 450ft/lb Ingersoll Rand to put the lug nuts on!!!! I also had an old army blanket in the truck. Invaluable! My Mechanix gloves were a blessing too! Ahhh, I made it home.

I also have this to say: Check your boat's weight ON THE TRAILER, and full of fuel, water, gear etc. Check your tires. My boat and trailer were a good 1000lbs over the rating for my tires combined rating!!! I can hardly believe that the factory did that. They are replacing them with the proper ones now.

2002 Trophy, 2002 GMC Sierra 4x4 Crewcab 4X4

You may be able to fashion a small ramp out of a thick block of wood. I have done this on smaller trailers and it seems to work ok with torsion axles. For example take a 6"H x 6"W x 12"L block of wood. Saw about 6" off the 12"L at 45 degrees. Then you can place it under one of the good tires directly above or behind the flat. Move forward or backward to elevate and it may give you enough clearance to remove/replace the flat. Obviously this assumes your torsion axles are properly sized and not already partially absorbing the weight of the boat.

fish-on, that's an EXCELLENT idea! Even if you didn't get it up high enough, it'd help immensely by taking the load off. I've got just the 8x12 beam in the back yard for the job! Thanks!

2002 Trophy, 2002 GMC Sierra 4x4 Crewcab 4X4

Use a hydraulic ram type jack(bottle), that will handle the weight. They are small enough to keep in the truck or car. pretty cheap at Walmart or Sears.
It works fine I used on my tandom trailer, but I have torsion axles not springs, so srings could cuase a clearence problem. If so you might be able to pick a spot close to the axles on the main frame. As far as the base I use a small piece of 1/4 plywood cut larger then the base.

[This message was edited by KevinM on 10-03-03 at 01:14 PM.]

[This message was edited by KevinM on 10-03-03 at 01:16 PM.]

[This message was edited by KevinM on 10-03-03 at 01:17 PM.]

Someone did a survey on this question a year or two ago and the overwhelming favorite was a floor jack. A bottle jack that is big enough for the job may be too tall to fit under the axle of a flat tire, and the base is so small that you almost always have to use a block of wood, which takes up more space, although the axle on a triple may not drop as far if the tire goes flat.

Fish On has it. Wedge blocks work great. Never used them for a triple but they work on tandems. Even when they have duels http://thehulltruth.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

That is a great idea Fish On, I had never thought of that, plus it eliminates the whole hassle of the jack. I would still carry a floor jack as a spare but I am going to give that a try.

Kirk

www.geocities.com/reel_time_fishing_team/ (http://www.geocities.com/reel_time_fishing_team/)

Been there done that. A floor jack works best but too big & heavy to carry around. A bottle jack is next to nothing because it takes a lot of jacking and usually sinks into the ground. Best bet: Get yourself a bunch of 2x6's, 8's, 10's or 12's and just put them ahead or behind a good axle(s) and pull the trailer up on them. You will be changed and gone before anyone else can get their's jacked up.

01 Pursuit Express 3000

Bottle jack will not sink into the ground if you cut a piece of 1/4 inch plywood larger than the base of the jack

Thanks guys. I have a small floor jack but am a little worried about the weight. I am at 11,800 pounds total. The wedge sounds like one hell of a good idea. I do have torsion axles and the quick release wheels.

Thanks again,
TB

Smart Idea

Using the blocks to change the tire is smart, real smart! THANKS

http://tht.sunfx.net/auguste/x10_smaller.jpg

Miss-Be-Haven

" The only boat without a ding or four, is the one that never gets used!!! "