Tire changer ramp

I experienced a catastrophic blowout, in May, which caused $1400 in damage. My Lynx blocks did not have enough "lift", and I had a tough time changing the tire. After that experience, I searched for an alternative, (without spending $$$), and found this:
http://www.cowboyshowcase.com/tires.htm

I had to add one more layer of 2x4s, to get the tire clear off the ground. Works great, and I had all materials on hand, so it was "free".

good idea. I'm going to give that a try this weekend.

P S
Regarding my Lynx Levelers...I really like them, except I would have needed 2 sets, to get the lift, I needed. This ramp thing is one piece, no unpacking, stacking, repacking. Just set it, and move the trailer on it. It is a bit heavy, but who cares. We campers are a hearty breed......aren't we?

I carry a 6-ton bottle jack and have tested it. No problem. On the plus side, it takes up less space than the tire ramp.

Been there; done that, but now I carry a plastic card and have some other young buck do it...

John & Connie,
Our thoughts exactly, let someone else do it.

mbatte, do you have the Equa-flex suspension?
Jim

Carry a 8 ton jack to use as needed.

John - We do the same. Got a card and let some young buck do that.

The problem I have with getting some youngin' to do it is sitting on the side of the highway waiting for hours for the youngin' to show up.

I'd rather pull it up on my Jiffy Jack or Trailer Aid ramp, change the wheel and be gone down the road before the youngin' can get around to finding his truck keys.

We have little vacation time and I'll not sit and waste it waiting on someone else.

Maybe someday, when everyday is Sunday...

You retired guys and gals have it made. You all have deserved so I say enjoy it!

Scruffy has changed many a tire in his younger days. Yep, now that he's retired, he has earned the privilege of having someone else do the work - especially when the temps are over 100.

Tater

Bottle jack is a much better option. Ramping one tire might be fine for a car trailer or horse trailer, but not a 12,000lb 5'er. Running one tire up a ramp to lift the other axle is putting alot of overloaded stress on everything including but not limited to, axle stub, bearings, tire, wheel, leaf springs, u-bolts, ect.

I use a bottle jack if I can get to a parking lot off the hiway.
If I'm stuck in the emergency lane I use my blocks.
Get it done quick and get out of harms way.
I have the ezflex and the blocks did fine picking up the other axle.
The last flat I had was on drivers side and on the interstate.
There's a huge pucker factor when your butts hanging out inches away from a 18 wheeler.

Mopar_Earl wrote:I can use my Level-up to lift the wheels off the ground or my bottle jack that I keep in the basement. Guess which one I'll use?


Earl

That's a no brainer, use the bottle jack. It would suck to have your trailer up for a tire change when that Level-up system fails and leaves you stuck.

Really, I'm just jealous.

87CrewDually wrote:Bottle jack is a much better option. Ramping one tire might be fine for a car trailer or horse trailer, but not a 12,000lb 5'er. Running one tire up a ramp to lift the other axle is putting alot of overloaded stress on everything including but not limited to, axle stub, bearings, tire, wheel, leaf springs, u-bolts, ect.

I have to agree with that logic.

I'll use my ramps. You guys can lay under yours beside the busy highway with a bottle jack if you want to.

I'm much more concerned with my safety than any or all parts of the trailer.

I'll agree with you MountainMan. My best friend's dad was killed when his car fell off a jack. Such a tragic and preventable accident.

Tater

Safety can be improved by: Using the Jack to raise it and then put blocking under the rail so it cannot fall. Make sure you have the other side chocked so it cannot move.

I agree. I never get under the trailer for any reason when changing a tire or checking bearings.

Glen Schumann wrote:Safety can be improved by: Using the Jack to raise it and then put blocking under the rail so it cannot fall. Make sure you have the other side chocked so it cannot move.

I wish my friend's dad had taken these precautions.

Tater

mbatte wrote:P S
Regarding my Lynx Levelers...I really like them, except I would have needed 2 sets, to get the lift, I needed.

Never thought of that, I have three sets of the Ramble leveling blocks, that should get me the height I need. I'll have to try the next time I get the fiver out of storage.

Admin wrote:There's a huge pucker factor when your butts hanging out inches away from a 18 wheeler.

That's no lie!!

TC

Reply to Jim:
No, Sir, I don't have the Equa-Flex.

Comment: I, too, have a bottle jack, and was uneasy, using it. An 18 wheeler makes a lot of wind....shakes the trailer. This could cause the axle to slip off the jack, and now, we have a big problem. Also, Al-Ko axle folks say to jack frame, not axle. (even Discount Tires did not have a jack that could raise the trailer, following the instructions to jack on the frame.)
Yep, the wooden ramp is heavy, constructed of odd pieces of wood I had laying around, but it will do the job. I packed all 4 wheel bearings, and this method of jacking, was the fastest, easiest, and safest way, that I have ever attempted. Hey, it was almost FUN!

When I had a blowout coming back from the keys, I ended up using the same blocks that I made to go under my front lift jacks and the rear stabilizers jacks. Just loosen up the lug nuts before pulling up on the blocks.