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Old 03-26-2022, 07:09 PM   #1
Badd857
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Jacking frame.

Beat me up if you must but has anyone ever placed a car jack under level up jack (obviously contracted) to lift frame to take weight off of wet bolts to service? I know I could probably use the level up jack but instead would just be using this as a lift point. 2018 3130 RE. Thanks
 
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Old 03-26-2022, 07:26 PM   #2
Daryles
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I made a leaf spring jack since you are NOT supposed to jack on the axles.
I have raised mine up on the hydraulic jacks to grease the bearings. Then take the weight off the leaf springs by jacking like this.
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Old 03-26-2022, 08:42 PM   #3
rohrmann
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I've had our rig lifted completely off all four wheels for as long as four days with the Levelup and there was no problem or issues. I did not crawl around under the rig while up in the air, was just doing brakes and bearings. The weight capacity of these jacks is over double the weight of these rigs. The landing gear jacks are rated 14,000 lbs each and the leveling jacks are rated 8,000 lbs each, this per the Lippert site. https://store.lci1.com/shop-by-depar...stems.html?p=4
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Old 03-27-2022, 06:00 AM   #4
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I'd be concerned the jack would put a lateral force on your Level-up jack. I've used the system with zero issues to change tires, even though Lippert recommends against it.
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Old 03-27-2022, 08:18 AM   #5
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My advice is to check the bushings anytime (or periodically) a wet bolt needs to be removed. Often times the bushing is worn out. To accomplish this the leaf spring must be lowered beyond the shackle or at least just enough to change the bushing. This requires raising the trailer then using a jack under the axle to move the spring where needed. The level up system is just fine for raising the trailer using the rear jacks, not side to side.
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Old 04-04-2022, 12:24 PM   #6
182flyer
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Why no jacking on axle?
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Old 04-04-2022, 12:32 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by 182flyer View Post
Why no jacking on axle?
The axle will bend and then your tires will forever be out of align causing excessive wear and may even cause the trailer to not track straight behind the tow vehicle. The axles themselves are not made to support weight. Trailer axles are no-where, even close, in the same ball park as automotive axles.
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Old 04-04-2022, 01:10 PM   #8
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... Yet scores of us have jacked successfully in-between the spring U-bolts without issue of bending anything, messing up camber, and so on. A percentage of the weight of a trailer is sitting on top of the axle (yes I know ... on a spring perch) near the spindle it's entire life, so why would jacking up directly beneath that point be any different as far as weight goes? Most spindles extend a few inches into the axle tube before it is welded to the end, so it's not like your are jacking on a hollow tube. I will agree that jacking up on an axle clear toward the center is really asking for trouble and I honestly believe that's how all this "don't jack on the axle" warning from manufacturers got started. I just couldn't keep it zipped here ...
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Old 04-04-2022, 02:58 PM   #9
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It's not, it's the Tire Jockys that want to stick that big floor jack in the middle of the axle tube and start lifting.
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Old 04-04-2022, 03:10 PM   #10
182flyer
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Ok, thought I missed the memo; been jacking on axles since 2013 on our 40' & heavier Mountaineer. Although, having many different construction trailers over the years, I do jack where spring hangars attach- get as close as possible to wheel.
Thanks for replies; always great stuff.
Jack
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Old 04-04-2022, 03:56 PM   #11
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It's okay to jack at the spring perches.
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Old 04-05-2022, 06:14 AM   #12
DutchmenSport
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Yes, I wasn't clear at all on that. It's jacking in the middle of the axle that can cause the bending. I had a couple different tire stores initially attempt to do just exactly that. I freaked out and stopped them before they actually started lifting any weight.
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Old 04-10-2022, 01:22 PM   #13
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I like your jacking saddle. It looks like an easy to make quick solution. Have you had any problems with the horizontal pieces bending under load?
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Old 04-10-2022, 01:32 PM   #14
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what the heck is a wet bolt?
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Old 04-10-2022, 01:47 PM   #15
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A wet bolt is used to attach your springs to the spring shackles. The term "wet bolt" simply means that the bolt has a grease fitting on it so that the working surfaces of the bolt and the bushing that it passes through can be lubricated. Wet bolts last much longer than spring shackle bolts that are not wet bolts. Wet bolts are the only way to go for longevity and reducing the chances of a roadside breakdown.
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Old 04-10-2022, 01:49 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by chessera2527 View Post
what the heck is a wet bolt?
These are the bolts used for the attachment of springs and suspension components to the frame. They are “serviceable” via zerk fitting IF you can get them to take grease. A couple of mine would not take grease and I had to do some sorcery magic to get them to take the grease. This was the premise of my original post but since then I have found some tricks to access these bolts.
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Old 04-10-2022, 02:22 PM   #17
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Laverdur ... my saddle is made from 1/4" wall 1 1/2" angle iron. It's just wide enough to fit in-between the Ubolts. I just used a piece of pipe that fit my jack post and cut V's in it, then welded the angle in place. Nope the angle doesn't bend. Several years back I borrowed a load cell from work and placed it on top of the jack. I jacked the wheel up maybe 3/4" off the ground and the load cell read @ 2650# on my 3150RL. Lotsa people have in their mind they are lifting way more, but you have to realize you're not lifting much more than the weight that always sits atop that particular tire. Now I will say that "if" you continue jacking that axle up, it will continue to take more load off the other axle and the jacking weight will go up ... but why not just jack the axle high enough to remove the tire??
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Old 04-10-2022, 04:05 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by rohrmann View Post
I've had our rig lifted completely off all four wheels for as long as four days with the Levelup and there was no problem or issues. I did not crawl around under the rig while up in the air, was just doing brakes and bearings. The weight capacity of these jacks is over double the weight of these rigs. The landing gear jacks are rated 14,000 lbs each and the leveling jacks are rated 8,000 lbs each, this per the Lippert site. https://store.lci1.com/shop-by-depar...stems.html?p=4
All legal warnings aside, I too have and will continue to use the levelup to lift the wheels off of the ground to work on them. It saved my a** on the side of the highway when my axle leaf spring decided to fall apart (many more times than once, hence now I have the MorRyde I/S). If the hydraulics were to completely and catastrophically fail at any point, the RV would only fall a few inches. When prudent, I also put wood blocks under the RV frame to prevent a sudden drop.
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Old 04-10-2022, 05:10 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by laverdur View Post
I like your jacking saddle. It looks like an easy to make quick solution. Have you had any problems with the horizontal pieces bending under load?
No, it's very solid.
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Old 02-02-2023, 03:29 PM   #20
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Hello All. Fairly new to the site and owning a Monti so came across this thread and related ones while searching for how-to jack up the trailer - to perform a bearing grease repack and in case we encounter a flat. Thanks for all the insight and being a tinkerer, great to see home-made tools.

On a former trailer, we have used the frame or a ramp to hang one wheel. When replacing tires, on that former trailer, the techs at American Tire used a jack under the axle u-bolts. When leveling the Monti in campgrounds with uneven sites, the auto leveling system has raised at least one wheel on one side of the camper enough (about 1 inch) so the wheel could be hand-turned so can confirm that could work.

FWIW, came across this manual from Lippert on their recommendations for jacking up the trailer to change a tire. See page 23. In general (paraphrasing) it says to use the main I beam; block the jack; chock the opposite wheels; and if connected to the truck, leave it connected and set the parking brake. (Best to read the whole paragraph and warnings.)

https://lci-support-doc.s3.amazonaws...0001573-04.pdf

Will post after the grease repack on method used. Connecting the truck and using jack stands for extra support sounds like the safest thing to do.

Thanks again for all the insight!
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