The time will come

[Russellvh]

Thinking ahead to changing a tire on my 5th wheel on the side of the road. My unit came with no jack. I do have a 4 way lug spinner. What do you carry to be ready for the inevitable? Is a bottle jack sufficient and stable enough?

 

[sanda]

Bottle jack and some 2x's. Verify everything will work with a dry run before actually needing it.

 

[Ben]

I have one of these.

Sorry for the large picture don't know how to shrink it. Anyway had a flat of the 5th wheel we had and it didn't quite get it up high enough, had to finish with a bottle jack but if I place a 2X6 under it would have been easy. Lot easier than jacking.

 

[Gizmo]

I have one of these.

Sorry for the large picture don't know how to shrink it. Anyway had a flat of the 5th wheel we had and it didn't quite get it up high enough, had to finish with a bottle jack but if I place a 2X6 under it would have been easy. Lot easier than jacking.

I you going to use one of these make sure it will work with your RV. I had one but there's enough flex in the suspension that it couldn't get the tire off the hub.

 

[Rich W.]

Bottle jacks are good but have a small footprint and are not very stable and have a tendency to tip over which is usually not helpful. So if you are going to use one, as I do, make sure everything is plumb and level and well supported, and that the trailer can not move. Also you might want to consider a 1/2” drive cordless impact. Makes quick work of it and when you are on the side of the road, the less time spent with your back to traffic the better.

And on that note, a stack of mini cones (cheap by the dozen on Amazon) or some other high visibility warning device other than road flares (I carry them but it would be my last choice) is a really good idea, coupled with a lookout who is watching traffic and not you. The tendency is for your helper to look over your shoulder, but you need to instill good traffic watch discipline - your lookout ignores you and watches for hazards.

Lastly, if you have room for it and you can find one with enough lift capacity, I really like traveling with an aluminum floor jack when towing a trailer. That and the cordless impact makes very quick work of the whole affair.

I had to do this on I-5 once by myself (did I say lastly?) with very little shoulder, and lots of fast I-5 traffic a few feet from me, and was glad I was well equipped to do it quickly, pit crew style. And then of course I got reamed by a rip-off tire shop in Patterson on a Sunday and wished I carried two spares, so there’s that too.

 

[GeorgeD]

Thinking ahead to changing a tire on my 5th wheel on the side of the road. My unit came with no jack. I do have a 4 way lug spinner. What do you carry to be ready for the inevitable? Is a bottle jack sufficient and stable enough?.

I haven't had to do it yet either and hope I don't! But I carry one of those roll your wheel on it and a 10 ton bottle jack and several two bys, at least six inches wide. I also carry a scisors jack. I also have a extended length handle for the bottle jack so I don't have to crawl under it very far.