Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

minuteman62-64

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Apr 12, 2011
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I've had my boat for many years. Haven't used it recently and used it lightly in the past. Now getting the boat and trailer back in operating condition.

I was just thinking, while contemplating the trailer renovation, that I've never had a flat on a trailer tire. How do you guys go about jacking up the wheel to change a flat tire? Are there special trailer jacks? Use the jack for the tow vehicle? Or, is there some slick way of using the jack on the wheel at the front of the trailer to raise one of the wheels?
 

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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May 24, 2011
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49,038
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

7 out of 9 users liked it. Make that 8 out of 10, because I had no problems the two times I used it. By myself.
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
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Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,762
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

It all depends if it will fit under your axle, if it will lift the axle high enough, and if you have a solid enough surface to use it on.

You can use the jack from the tow vehicle, if it will fit.

Or you can find and haul another jack that will work.

The key is to try it before you need it.
 

riptide09

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Sep 11, 2009
Messages
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Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

I got a scissor jack at Wal*Mart for less than $20 and it works great. I grabbed a lug wrench for a couple of bucks at the local junk yard. I mounted them to my spare tire with a couple of big tie straps and then I put an oversize tire cover over all of it.
 

jayhanig

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Jun 27, 2010
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Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

I learned the hard way about crappy OEM jacks included with your vehicle. Since then, the first thing I do when I get a new vehicle is equip it with a hydraulic floor jack. They are just SO much easier to use than a scissors jack. I've never tried one of those rollup types the other guys have written about.

In any case: leave the trailer hooked to your truck so it won't roll off on you. I keep a piece of 2X6 board; maybe 2' long in the back of the truck for those times when the road surface is soft and place it under the jack so it won't sink into the ground. Finally, I always buy a X shaped tire iron to replace the packaged L shaped OEM iron... they're just a lot less trouble to use. If your lug nuts are real tight, add a 2' length of pipe big enough to fit on the lug wrench as a cheater bar.

Finally, loosen all of the lug nuts just a little BEFORE you raise the trailer. You don't want to have to put so much torque on a lug nut that you jerk the trailer off the jack. As always, if you're working around the garage and have access to jack stands, use them too. They are always more stable than just the jack.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

I just use the sissor jack from my truck and it works just find for me. I know it it always there when I need one. :cool:
 

Fishing Dude too

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May 13, 2011
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1,035
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

On one trailer I have a jack from a model t which works well, the other has a jack from a mid 60's ford van whitch work really well. The one from the ford van has a long handle that folds in 1/2, have a 4 way for the lugs in the back of the truck.
 

Fed

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Apr 1, 2010
Messages
2,457
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

I use a pressurized can of stop leak stuff and it's saved me a couple of times.
If that doesn't work then it's back to the standard car scissor jack for me.
I've managed to use the car spare as a trailer spare by fitting a very low profile tyre to it.
 

BRICH1260

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Jul 6, 2011
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1,384
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

I recently bought one of those yellow drive on ramp style of jacks. Havent had a chance to use it yet, knock wood. But i found the hard way that a bottle jack may not fit under the axle after you have had a flat.
 

tswiczko

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
838
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

Hydraulic_Bottle_Jack_425_0_1286898075.jpg
Works on the truck and trailer
 

Home Cookin'

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May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

those roll-back jacks may be good for small boats but they scare me with anything of size.

Now that few cars have those bumper jacks, almost any scissor or bottle jack from your vehicle will work. More important is to have the lug wrench, since your tow vehicle is specific to it. I don't think you can beat the 4-arm lug wrench. I just leave it in the boat at the bottom of a locker in the bow.

Like a car, good idea to practice once at home to know what works.
 

riptide09

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 11, 2009
Messages
297
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

The best way to never have a flat is to always have a functioning spare tire, jack and lug wrench.
 

BatDaddy1887

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 18, 2009
Messages
463
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

+1 for Jayhanig.....the floor jack is the only thing I found that works the best. My rig is so doggone heavy, the scissor and bottle jacks were a joke. Also, make sure you don't lift from the axle as you may bend it. I guess it all depends on the weight of your rig which jack you use. I also buy tires that are way over-rated for my rig for peace of mind. Practice, practice, practice, and may the gods of road-rubber be with you.
 

hawilson2

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 22, 2004
Messages
125
Re: Dumb Question on Fixing a Flat

I use the jack that came with my F150. I do carry a spare piece of wood to act as a base for the jack in case I have to jack it up on grass on some soft surface and to raise teh jack closer to the trailer axle.
 
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