UHaul CT 13 Tire Change question... - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-06-2013, 05:46 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
D Davis's Avatar
 
Name: Diane
Trailer: Casita, previously u-haul ct13
Virginia
Posts: 1,020
UHaul CT 13 Tire Change question...

Would someone please advise me as to where to place a jack for tire change. I carry a small Hydralic jack, and want to be able to change my own tire if need be. Thanks
D Davis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 06:09 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Brian B-P's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler (B1700RGH) 1979
Posts: 5,002
I would think this would be in the service manual... and manuals for the CT are available in the Document Center (Fiberglass RV - Document Center - U-Haul)
Fiberglass RV - Document Center - U-HaulRepairManual... but no, it has lots of detail on work they know needs to be done on these trailers, but no general service information.

For a normal trailer, this would be in the owners manual; however, the manual which U-Haul made for renters says - not surprisingly - to call for assistance.
Fiberglass RV - Document Center - UHaul Camper User's Guide

In general, the idea is to jack on the frame (not the axle tube) immediately behind (not in front of) the wheel. The U-Haul frame is not box tubing like most other eggs, so it may be a good idea to look for a specific reinforced jacking point in roughly that area of the frame. The biggest trick is to get the jack to lift without slipping on the frame...
Diane, do you mean that you have a bottle jack, or a service (floor) jack? They typically have different styles of lift pad. A service jack is more commonly used for this sort of job, but a bottle jack is more commonly carried in an RV (in part because it is smaller).
__________________
1979 Boler B1700RGH, pulled by 2004 Toyota Sienna LE 2WD
Information is good. Lack of information is not so good, but misinformation is much worse. Check facts, and apply common sense liberally.
STATUS: No longer active in forum.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 06:23 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Brian B-P's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler (B1700RGH) 1979
Posts: 5,002
Also, I recall various people talking about the tube frame that they think U-Hauls have... but U-Hauls don't have tube frames. I don't think you want to jack on the round steel tubing that you see around the bottom of the trailer - that's just "nerf bars" to protect the body. The real frame is in two straight pieces, further back under the body. Sorry if this is obvious to you - it isn't obvious to others.
__________________
1979 Boler B1700RGH, pulled by 2004 Toyota Sienna LE 2WD
Information is good. Lack of information is not so good, but misinformation is much worse. Check facts, and apply common sense liberally.
STATUS: No longer active in forum.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 06:41 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
D Davis's Avatar
 
Name: Diane
Trailer: Casita, previously u-haul ct13
Virginia
Posts: 1,020
Brian, I have a bottle Jack. Did not want to harm the trailer and the top of the jack is quite small so do you mean behind the wheel? Following the axal? Still not exactly sure where to put the thing Duhhh...
Also does anyone know how often you should change out the tires to new ones. I heard about every three years.
D Davis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 06:59 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Brian B-P's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler (B1700RGH) 1979
Posts: 5,002
Quote:
Originally Posted by D Davis View Post
Brian, I have a bottle Jack. Did not want to harm the trailer and the top of the jack is quite small...
Yes, that's the challenge of a bottle jack. The top is a little disc, usually with teeth so it will grip, so you need to be careful to put it against a flat enough surface to it doesn't slip, and a strong enough part so it doesn't dent the frame.

Quote:
Originally Posted by D Davis View Post
... so do you mean behind the wheel? Following the axal?
Yes, far enough back to not have the axle bracket in the way (which is not very far back with the original U-Haul axle mounting), and further back than the centre of the wheel (so that the trailer tends to tilt forward onto the tongue jack, not back, for stability). Does that make more sense?

Quote:
Originally Posted by D Davis View Post
Also does anyone know how often you should change out the tires to new ones. I heard about every three years.
That's another topic which will likely launch a long and tedious debate. I would only suggest replacing a three-year-old tire with lots of tread if I made my living selling them. Two years would be even better, in that case...

Six years seems to be the commonly cited and reasonable rule of thumb. I don't see a need for replacement that frequently, but that's only my personal opinion.
__________________
1979 Boler B1700RGH, pulled by 2004 Toyota Sienna LE 2WD
Information is good. Lack of information is not so good, but misinformation is much worse. Check facts, and apply common sense liberally.
STATUS: No longer active in forum.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 07:30 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,413
I have a couple full size service or floor jacks and have jacked right at the axle bracket with no problem. Also have a couple of the small sized service jacks from Sears which are rated at 2 tons and work good if on a hard surface. Not too expensive and often on sale. More stable than a bottle jack too, but I do have some of them also although seldom use them. Sometimes Sears will sale price the service jack with a couple jack stands, not the greatest stands but better than nothing, but only useful if on hard pavement. For on dirt large wood timbers like 6 X 6 or larger is best. Don't use concrete blocks, they can break or crumble. When you have a wheel off, even if you are putting another right on, you want something under the vehicle or trailer in case the jack slips or fails.
mary and bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 07:30 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
D Davis's Avatar
 
Name: Diane
Trailer: Casita, previously u-haul ct13
Virginia
Posts: 1,020
Got it! Thank you so much Brian from Alberta!
Bob, Thank you for the advice also! I kinda was thinking ...if I hit the road what would I need to do the job. Maybe triple A, HA!
D Davis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 07:41 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Jared J's Avatar
 
Name: Jared
Trailer: 1984 19' scamp
Kansas
Posts: 1,610
I jack right on the arm of the axle. You don't have to lift the trailer much to get the wheel off.
Jared J is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 11:52 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Brian B-P's Avatar
 
Trailer: Boler (B1700RGH) 1979
Posts: 5,002
Glad to be of assistance.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared J View Post
I jack right on the arm of the axle.
This makes sense, but whether or not you can get the jack under the arm depends on the size of the jack base, the spindle length, and the tire width. The arm angle matters, too... up angles wouldn't work so well. Of course you need to be able to reach behind the wheel and crank/pump the jack under the trailer; probably not so difficult for higher trailers, but more challenging with the low riders. And of course it's not recommended by the axle manufacturer, but it should be fine with the right jack (including the right shape of the saddle on the jack). It's easier with a beam axle... and still not recommended

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared J View Post
You don't have to lift the trailer much to get the wheel off.
Right - if you jack right at the hub, you only need to lift enough to compensate for the tire compression, because the suspension stays compressed by the load of the trailer. Of course, it's not as stable because the trailer can still move on the suspension.
__________________
1979 Boler B1700RGH, pulled by 2004 Toyota Sienna LE 2WD
Information is good. Lack of information is not so good, but misinformation is much worse. Check facts, and apply common sense liberally.
STATUS: No longer active in forum.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2013, 05:35 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,413
If you have AAA it is very inexpensive to add the RV option, about $20 for me. And Good Sam sometimes has a good deal on their road service. I just got it for 15 months for $79. When I was working I did plenty of road calls, but with a fully equipped service truck, now I'll let someone else do it for me.
mary and bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2013, 08:08 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
mmeyer's Avatar
 
Name: Michael J
Trailer: U-Haul VT
Indiana
Posts: 505
Registry
I use a hydraulic scissors jack I bought at sears years ago. It has a larger base and larger head. If the CT frame is anywhere similar to the VT you can set the jack about 1 foot under the outside edge of the trailer right in front of the tire and be under the frame flange which is over 2 inches wide at that point to jack the trailer up. With that width a bottle jack will easily match up. I would use a piece treated deck board about 16" long to go under the base as a stabilizing support.
Michael J.
mmeyer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2013, 09:47 AM   #12
Member
 
Name: Pete
Trailer: U-Haul 1986 -- got it 7/2013
Virginia
Posts: 41
Registry
Jacking a U-Haul camper

The guy I bought my U-Haul from had had a couple of adaptors made up to help the hydraulic bottle jacks hold position on the round tubing. They also distribute the weight nicely.

Basically, they're half-cylinders of thick-walled stainless tubing, with stainless nuts (big enough bore for the pistons on the bottle jacks) welded on the outside. You slip the adaptor on top of the bottle jack and then slide it under the tubing.

They originally were supposed to serve as auxiliary levelling jacks, but he claimed to have used them to change tires too.

Pete
Pete Hein is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2013, 10:03 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Thomas G.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 5,112
I use a bottle jack on the flat part of the longitudinal frame member just behind the axle. In the illustration this is near #15 or #6.
Attached Thumbnails
UHaul Frame.JPG  
__________________
UHaul and Burro owners, join the UHaul Campers on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/529276933859491/
Thomas G. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2013, 10:18 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,413
I welded a V shaped piece on to a couple of those screw type trailer supports to use as stabilizers for the front of the trailer when set up in a campground. Had to shorten the screw jacks. This is not the answer to the original question but Pete's response reminded me of these so I thought I would mention it
mary and bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
uhaul


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How to jack up a 13' scamp to change a tire? chse Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 3 05-17-2013 02:50 PM
UHaul CT Spare Tire Jane SC Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 17 02-02-2012 03:55 PM
Know how to change a tire..... Flygal General Chat 5 07-31-2010 11:37 AM
Need a UHaul Tire Rim? Kevin A Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 1 05-29-2007 06:17 PM
Oil change, tire rotation, other maintenance General Chat 0 01-01-1970 12:00 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:08 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.