Change a tire?

[Jchris]

Have instructions for changing a tire? Yes, I do know what lug nuts are. Your lift, oops, help please.

[reetired]

Trailer or tow vehicle?

[float5]

Single or dual axle?

[Brian B-P]

As with any vehicle, you need to get the tire off of the ground, take off the nuts, swap for the spare, get the nuts back on, and put the trailer down.

Jacking
Like most trailers, Escapes don't come with a jack. The trick is to find one which can safely support the trailer frame (just behind the suspension) without slipping, and lifting high enough. With tandem axles, an alternative is to run the good tire on the same side up on a ramp tall enough to lift the other tire off the ground (so, Escape 19', 21', or 5.0TA).
Chock the tire(s) on the ground so that the trailer won't move when supported by the jack.

Nuts
The wheel ("lug") nuts have a 13/16" hex size. Since the trailers don't have a parking brake, the only ways to loosen or fully tighten them are either to:

1. have the tire on the ground, carrying some of the trailer's weight, so it won't turn; or,
2. use an impact wrench.

Tightening with an impact wrench (air-powered or electric) requires a calibrated torque-limiting device to avoid over-tightening. Most people just finish tightening by hand, preferably using a torque wrench to get the right torque.

[dfandrews]

When installing lug nuts, start all five on the threads, then tighten in a star pattern, in at least two stages: 1st tighten each nut until firmly contacting the wheel, then wrench-tight.

Star pattern:
......1
..3.......4
....5...2

Lower the wheel to contact the ground (keeps it from spinning, and from torqueing the spindle), then torque the nuts, again in the star pattern, until tight.

[bisonbill]

Anyone have any pictures of a dual axle trailer lifted on ramp, or any trailer jacked up showing the jack points?

[drpaddle]

Originally Posted by bisonbill

Anyone have any pictures of a dual axel trailer lifted on ramp, or any trailer jacked up showing the jack points?

I used a ramp so I could adjust the brakes on my 21 a couple of weeks ago. Pix here:Adjusting the brakes on our fiberglass camper trailer for the first time. | Follow Toto.

I bought the ramp on Amazon. You can see it here.

[bisonbill]

Great blog. Thanks. First pictures I've actually seen. Did you use a ramp on just one side, or did you use one on the other side as well?

[drpaddle]

I used the ramp one side at a time. So I actually used it four times -- twice on each side, so I could raise each of the four wheels for brake adjustment. It took about an hour, I think, but that's mostly because I am a rookie with these things. Crawling under the step on the curbside to do the forward wheel was... snug!

Note: I don't think I really needed the jack stands -- everything was very solid and steady with just the ramp (and of course my tug connected to it). But it reassured the spouse.

[Jchris]

Originally Posted by Jchris

Have instructions for changing a tire? Yes, I do know what lug nuts are. Your lift, oops, help please.

It is a single axel