Jacking fifth wheel

[Jbgarrison6]

Manual for the dexter/lippert axles on our fifth wheel says not to jack camper using the axles. Says jack using the frame. Figured jacking close to the u-bolts shouldn't hurt. Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[team bradfield]

I'm not gonna say its ok, but i always used a block of hardwood and spanned both ubolts and jacked there, this was before I read not to do it, oops!

 

[Jbgarrison6]

I'm not gonna say its ok, but i always used a block of hardwood and spanned both ubolts and jacked there, this was before I read not to do it, oops!

Seems to me that jacking by the frame would be worse.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Seems to me that jacking by the frame would be worse.

Have the same opinion! Think the warning is due to the hollow axels. I jack at the spring mount for the axel,not on the axel itself.

On the frame I would use two jacks at the shackles to distribute weight. That is how I repacked the bearings on my friends silver liner.

 

[RVThereYet]

If not required to crawl under the RV, I would use the leveling system to raise a tire off the ground.
I know manuals says not to do that but as long as you are not removing both tires on one side at the same time, what can it really hurt? The jacks are built to lift the weight. Sounds like a lawyer thing to cover them. I'm sure that there are some, shall we say "folks", that would crawl under and remove both tires.
I just call that the thinning of the gene pool!!
Happy Glamping!!

 

[redbaron]

When changing axles you have no choice but to use the frame.

I did this with 4 people and 4 jacks positioned on either side of the axles (forward and behind ) while leaving landing gear down.

After each jack had some weight on it, we then used one jack to lift each axle just enough to remove the tires. After all 4 tires are off, then blocked the frame in 8 places (4 per side) and lowered to blocks.

Reverse when done.

One person can do this, just more excercise.