Trailer Aid

[Mike Lewis]

Last Thursday I carelessly made a turn while pulling my trailer and hit a broken curb. The curb cut and flattened one of my tires. Changing the tire was made much easier by using a Trailer Aid. I recommend one of these to anyone with a dual-axle trailer.

[cpaharley2008]

I have been carrying one for years, glad to have not to use it.........

[DWM3]

We have the taller TrailerAid, and fortunately have not used it for a flat yet. But it does work really well for tipping the trailer a bit when we dump the tanks. Really helps get the gray tank emptied faster and more thoroughly.

[sleepy]

Yes, we have one and have used it- on a remote logging road- I had the tire changed in about 20 minutes. It is a very worthwhile piece of kit.

My only concern was that it barely lifted the tire, clear of the ground.
Though it was enough to pull the tire off.

[skiman]

I used ours to repack bearings. It dig into driveway asphalt. Put a piece of scrap plywood under and that helped.

[DanK]

I just purchased one , west marine has them as a Cloe out item for $26.99 .

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by sleepy

Yes, we have one and have used it- on a remote logging road- I had the tire changed in about 20 minutes. It is a very worthwhile piece of kit.

My only concern was that it barely lifted the tire, clear of the ground.
Though it was enough to pull the tire off.

Andy: Are you aware of the Trailer Aid Plus? It gives you 1" more lift. Might be helpful especially if you are off road and it wants to sink into dirt. Suppose you could also put a sturdy piece of wood under the standard Trailer Aid for support and extra lift.
https://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Aid-T...001V8UKBY?th=1

[JeffinBC]

I thought you could do the same thing with your Anderson or Camco levellers? Are they not tall enough?

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by JeffinBC

I thought you could do the same thing with your Anderson or Camco levellers? Are they not tall enough?

I think the Trailer Aid would be inherently safer based on its design but you can supposedly get 4" lift using the standard Andersen Leveler and chock - they sell it as part of their mini jack kit:
https://andersenhitches.com/collecti...ire-change-kit

They also sell a rapid jack kit that gets you up to 5-3/4":
https://andersenhitches.com/collecti...ire-change-kit

[Mike Lewis]

BTW- I had some difficulty finding a new Goodyear trailer tire when this happened. The incident occurred while I was leaving Warner Robins, Georgia on the way to Savannah. I had a set of Goodyear Marathons (now obsolete I guess) on the trailer and wanted a Goodyear tire as a replacement. The local Walmart Superstore had only Carlisle trailer tires, so I bravely traveled to Savannah without a spare.

The Goodyear shop I stopped at in Savannah had no trailer tires and had been told by the factory that no more would be produced this year. Their current tire is Endurance. They called around and found me one at a Mavis tire shop nearby. So folks may have problems finding replacement tires for their Escapes. There may be a thread on this already.

[HABBERDABBER]

I have a superabundance of wood scraps, a bandsaw and the moxie to make my own Trailer Aid. But what I need are the dimensions of the device. Height, width, radius of curve, length, any and all dimensions. I could buy one, return it after ciphering it, but.......if anyone here could HELP ME, I would appreciate it.

I can't, and won't help myself. I'm a tinkerer. I got the coin to buy one, but also have the time and desire to cobble something of my own making.

MAYDAY! Help me. Por favor.

[AKCamper]

i use ours to do brake adjustments. I think mine is the plus, it’s yellow

[CharlesinGA]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

BTW- I had some difficulty finding a new Goodyear trailer tire when this happened. The incident occurred while I was leaving Warner Robins, Georgia on the way to Savannah. I had a set of Goodyear Marathons (now obsolete I guess) on the trailer and wanted a Goodyear tire as a replacement. The local Walmart Superstore had only Carlisle trailer tires, so I bravely traveled to Savannah without a spare.

The Goodyear shop I stopped at in Savannah had no trailer tires and had been told by the factory that no more would be produced this year. Their current tire is Endurance. They called around and found me one at a Mavis tire shop nearby. So folks may have problems finding replacement tires for their Escapes. There may be a thread on this already.

I am actually shocked that the Marathons have held up. They have been out of production for some time, and are noted for being a very high failure tire. The Endurance has a very GOOD reputation so far and you really need to look at getting rid of the Marathons ASAP. Keep checking around, the Endurance is out there, you just gotta find them.

Charles

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by JeffinBC

I thought you could do the same thing with your Anderson or Camco levellers? Are they not tall enough?

Originally Posted by rubicon327

I think the Trailer Aid would be inherently safer based on its design but you can supposedly get 4" lift using the standard Andersen Leveler and chock - they sell it as part of their mini jack kit:
https://andersenhitches.com/collecti...ire-change-kit

They also sell a rapid jack kit that gets you up to 5-3/4":
https://andersenhitches.com/collecti...ire-change-kit

We originally purchased an Andersen Rapid Jack. Used it for spinning wheels to check for bearing play, and to dump the Bigfoot at dump stations.

With the Bigfoot we were using Leggo blocks and the Andersen Rapid Jack for leveling.

When we purchased our Lance 1995 we purchased an Andersen Camper Leveler, cut the front shorter to use between the tires, and then use with the Rapid Jack for leveling. Been working perfect for the one time camping with the Lance and the three years we've owned the Escape 5.0. We get double duty out of the Andersen Camper Leveler.

Enjoy,

Perry

[Carmel Clown]

I've had one for years too. Only had to use it once with my horse trailer to replace a flat tire. It was strong to hold up my trailer with the horse still inside! Was funny to see Mel stick his head out the window to see what was going on.

[sleepy]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Andy: Are you aware of the Trailer Aid Plus? It gives you 1" more lift. Might be helpful especially if you are off road and it wants to sink into dirt. Suppose you could also put a sturdy piece of wood under the standard Trailer Aid for support and extra lift.
https://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Aid-T...001V8UKBY?th=1

Thanks for the reminder- I went and checked and I do have the plus model, and I found it just worked. I also have a 2x6 to give it some more lift. Of course I only added that after the initial flat. (ha!)

I have a 2014 5.0 ta with leaf suspension. I wonder if the spring axle sags lower when the 'lifted' wheel is up on the trailer aid (vs a torsion axle)

[sleepy]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

I have a superabundance of wood scraps, a bandsaw and the moxie to make my own Trailer Aid. But what I need are the dimensions of the device. Height, width, radius of curve, length, any and all dimensions. I could buy one, return it after ciphering it, but.......if anyone here could HELP ME, I would appreciate it.

I can't, and won't help myself. I'm a tinkerer. I got the coin to buy one, but also have the time and desire to cobble something of my own making.

MAYDAY! Help me. Por favor.

Just my experience:
I made one but was not happy with it- I used 2x6 on edge and screwed them together. Plus I put several across the bottom to act as grips. The homemade one was heavy.
Mine went into the woodstove.

YMMV.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by sleepy

I have a 2014 5.0 ta with leaf suspension. I wonder if the spring axle sags lower when the 'lifted' wheel is up on the trailer aid (vs a torsion axle)

That’s the issue. Many complaints about the Trailer Aid not working with the droop of leaf spring suspension. Some reviews say that the mfr has told them it’s really only for torsion axles. Glad you improvised and it works for you.

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by sleepy

Just my experience:
I made one but was not happy with it- I used 2x6 on edge and screwed them together. Plus I put several across the bottom to act as grips. The homemade one was heavy.
Mine went into the woodstove.

YMMV.

A solid block of wood would certainly be heavier than an injection molded plastic piece. I was imaging a hollowed out Trailer Aid, either by design or "lightening" holes of the wood, plywood where it's appropriate, solid wood where it works.

I got nothing to lose, except for scrap wood. If it doesn't meet my needs, no wood stove
here, but a campfire conflagration is backup.

All I need are some dimensions. Guess I'll need to cipher my own.

Thanks for. your input.

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by DanK

I just purchased one , west marine has them as a Cloe out item for $26.99 .

Online or at a store? I checked West Marine online and didn't find any on closeout. I'm in the area of a retail store.