Jack

[Crows Nest]

Hi. Checked with ETI about changing flat tire. They suggested a 2 ton bottle jack and a jack stand set on the frame between the wheels. I’m concerned about the difficulty of getting both devices into that narrow space. Any thoughts on this device:
Powerbuilt 2 Ton UniJack Combination Hydraulic Bottle Jack / Jackstand in 1 Unit, Compact, Portable, Wide Base, for Unibody Sedans, CUVs, SUVs, Cars, - 620470

 

[brroberts]

Never used one, but I haven’t heard anything but good comments about them.

 

[Thane-ESC]

I like mine but it is pretty bulky so I do not take it anywhere, it is also fairly wide. The scissors jack for my Sequoia is big enough for my 17b. I don’t carry a jack stand for doing a roadside tire change.

 

[Crows Nest]

Perhaps ETI’s response was a liability CYA. Let’s see, trailer attached to truck with three other wheels on the ground. Scissor jack seems like it’ll be fine. Thanks. You just saved me some money!

 

[Perry Butler]

The Escape 19 is a dual axle trailer. Years ago we chose to buy one Andersen Rapid Jack and one Andersen Camper Leveler for our camper(s). They can be used together to level your camper as well as the Andersen Jack to change a tire. By buying both and not a second Andersen Leveler, you will not have to carry a bottle jack, saving space and money.

Bottle jacks have been know to tip and drop the camper/auto. You don't get to choose where you have a flat. Plus, the Andersen Jack is much more stable than a bottle jack.

Food for thought,

Perry

 

[Crows Nest]

So the levelers have enough lift to change a tire? Our 21NE is also dual axle.

 

[Centex]

.... Any thoughts on this device:
Powerbuilt 2 Ton UniJack Combination Hydraulic Bottle Jack / Jackstand in 1 Unit, Compact, Portable, Wide Base, for Unibody Sedans, CUVs, SUVs, Cars, - 620470

Not sure that'd always allow the jack handle to be oriented for good access while the 'stand' is also aligned under a good point on the frame?

I use a (floor)jacks + stands when doing wheel maintenance at home; like Perry I carry a ramp / blocks to place under the good tire for needed lift when traveling. YMMV.

 

[jnfrombigt]

With that combination if you have the saddle aligned with the frame you would have to operate the lever from underneath the trailer. Not good. I use a bottle jack with a saddle adapter. The adapter I use is a Safe Jack. They're a bit pricy but there are less expensive options out there. If I'm doing something that involves getting under the trailer I also use a jack stand. I've had no problems with that combination.

 

[Ron in BC]

A jack isn't required at all on tandem axle trailer. I use one of my 2 x 8 levelling blocks. It has a half inch piece of plywood on one side for a total lift of 2". Enough to lift the wheel to be removed off the ground.

Ron

 

[Crows Nest]

Looks like it’s time to do a driveway test and find out for myself! Thanks everyone

 

[brroberts]

The EZ Jack is a bit taller than the Rapid Jack. It still might not be enough. I carry a bottle jack and wood blocks in the truck, and use them when I service the trailer so I know they work.

 

[Perry Butler]

So the levelers have enough lift to change a tire? Our 21NE is also dual axle.

We had no problems getting our 2013 Cougar, 2003 Bigfoot, 2014 Lance, 2018 Escape 5.0 or our current 2016 Bigfoot off the ground, and with an inch or so of room to spare.

We also use the Rapid Jack when dumping at a dump site with negative grade.

Food for thought,

Perry

 

[GinoandLinda]

I carry a bottle jack. If I can get the job done with levelers, I’d go that route. Best to have multiple options because flats happen in multiple scenarios.

 

[Iowa Dave]

We roll with a pair of Anderson levelers, some treated lumber 2x.s and a 4 ton bottle jack. I’ve used them all on the driveway with success but sometimes you have to change a tire in more difficult conditions. At home, when I’m rotating tires I use a floor Jack and jackstands .
Some of my tools are dated but I can trust them all because I’ve repeatedly used them all.
Wouldn’t say I’m old but in 1970 I changed a tire on a dirt mountain road at 11:00 PM on my 1950 F-1 pickup slightly “ahem” under the influence with a Model T Ford jack and a couple random rocks for levelers. Carried three spares that summer. Rita held her foot on the brake the whole time because there was no parking brake but I did chock the other three wheels with firewood.

The jack needed lubrication and was squeaky. As I got the tire up in the air I sensed something over my shoulder as I lay in the dirt. Something was watching me. I raised my arm so I could see. It was a coyote about 10 feet away, he’d come to investigate the squeaks as an easy meal. Nope, the sqeaker was considerably out of his weight class and he vanished into the black Idaho night. I was younger then.
Iowa Dave

 

[rcsb]

The Escape 19 is a dual axle trailer. Years ago we chose to buy one Andersen Rapid Jack and one Andersen Camper Leveler for our camper(s). They can be used together to level your camper as well as the Andersen Jack to change a tire. By buying both and not a second Andersen Leveler, you will not have to carry a bottle jack, saving space and money.

Bottle jacks have been know to tip and drop the camper/auto. You don't get to choose where you have a flat. Plus, the Andersen Jack is much more stable than a bottle jack.

Food for thought,

Perry

I just used the RAPID JACK a few weeks ago on a return trip from Canada where I had my right rear tire lock up in a parking lot as I was pulling away from a parking spot in a shopping mall. The RT rear passenger brake (Dexter) imploded internally & locked up the wheel causing it to skid 30 yards before I noticed.

This RAPID JACK was a MAJOR SAVE on time, convenance & SAFETY for us, I was back on the road in 40 minutes after I removed all the brake internals & greased the bearings & reinstalled the brake hub only & wheel to continue my trip home (300 miles) with no further issues. I disabled the entire trailer brake system as I didn't trust the other 3 brakes until I could tear them down & inspect them all (I replaced the damaged brake, hub & wheel bearings when I got home & inspected the other 3 brakes, they were good).

I didn't think I would ever use the Rapid Jack but had it with me just in case, what a godsend! Both my Dexter axles, brakes & bearings were new from the Dexter factory & had a total use of 6k miles & 7 months since new, I replaced both my axles in Dec 2023 due to the original Dexter axles installed at Escape were bent & wearing out the tires on the edges prematurely.

 

[rcsb]

Hi. Checked with ETI about changing flat tire. They suggested a 2 ton bottle jack and a jack stand set on the frame between the wheels. I’m concerned about the difficulty of getting both devices into that narrow space. Any thoughts on this device:
Powerbuilt 2 Ton UniJack Combination Hydraulic Bottle Jack / Jackstand in 1 Unit, Compact, Portable, Wide Base, for Unibody Sedans, CUVs, SUVs, Cars, - 620470

I use the same Powerbuilt jacks, but 3 ton version that you are looking to buy. It works awesome lifting up at the frame in between the 2 axles as you can see in my photos while I was replacing both my old axles (2021 mfg date) last year due to unusual excessive outside tire wear, I installed 2 new (2023 mfg date) axles from Dexter.

I slide the jack in from the rear to align with the frame along with some wood on top of the jack with plenty of room (I do have the factory trailer lift option). The jacks do have a safety lock & they have a wide base for good stability.

I've also removed all 4 of my wheels at the same time with these 2 jacks supporting the trailer while the tire shop replaced all 4 tires in a single visit, then reinstalled all 4 wheels at the same time.

Since I bought my jacks a few years ago & it's the 3 ton version, you might want to check your 2 ton jacks collapsed jack height to make sure it will fit under your trailer frame rails.

 

[HarleyD]

Dexter replacement

After damaging 3 tires on different axles with approximately 20,000 miles, I lost all confidences in Dexter products. My trailer guy works with Dexter axles, but for 30 years has worked with Rockwell and has had much better experiences with their products. He is replacing ours now and we should have it back in a week or 10 days. The Rockwell kit is $200 per axle cheaper than the Dexter 2 axel replacement.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Roc...zMjI4ajBqMTWoAgiwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[jjdeluca]

Interesting that there'd be that much of a difference between the two brands, as it appears that Dexter is the parent company of Rockwell American.
https://www.dexteraxle.com/Company/...rican will operate as a division of Dexterter

 

[Rossue2]

It is the M&A (mergers & acquisitions) world with so many types of businesses. How many competitors has Dometic swallowed over the last ten years? Atwood was one of them and one of their products- an A-frame coupler which was very good & made in the USA is no longer available.

Dexter bought Redneck Trailer and now Rockwell. Lippert has bought many competitors as well, including Hehr Windows.

Airxcell bought Maxxfan. When these things happen two things often result: higher prices & lower quality.

 

[Mike G]

I have some doubts about running one wheel onto some ramp or blocks to raise the other wheel off the ground. Here's my thinking.
1. It is said that placing a jack under a torsion axle can bend the axle.
2. The jack would be closer to the center line of the axle than the wheel, meaning the jack has less leverage force on the axle than the wheel, so the jack would place less stress on the axle than the lone wheel could.
3. Therefore it seems to my mind that raising the trailer by supporting one wheel would have a greater risk of bending the axle than raising the trailer by jacking that axle; since the latter is advised against, why not the former?

I'm no engineer, so maybe I'm not visualizing the jack problem correctly. Can anyone enlighten me?