Greasing wheel bearings, switching tires

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/3277/thread" timestamp="1409846740" author="@fasteddieb"]
[img src="http://s10398.storage.proboards.com/5560398/t/rj0ueuBETdFZC2gcs3xh.PNG"]

That's weird.

I have always jacked up vehicles and trailers by the axle when able. After all, they're designed to support the vehicle, so why the heck not?

Could they really be that flimsy?[/quote]The torsion type axles (I believe all except a few LL toy haulers use them) are just hollow square tubes. They can dent or collapse if the pressure from the jack isn't distributed evenly. The spindle is solid and could be used as a jack point if you can reach it.

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Good advice here. The Dexter axles cannot take the concentrated pressure of a jack on the axle tubes, especially from a small contact area like a bottle jack. Best to stay under the mounting plates and use something to distribute the force. That said, the frame near the axle attachment point should be able to take the force if the jack is placed to simulate the axle attachments.
[/font]

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/3283/thread" timestamp="1409850772" author="@charliem"][font size="3"]the axle attachment point should be able to take the force if the jack is placed to simulate the axle attachments.
[/font][/quote]That last part is the key... unless your jack has a large face then the force may be too focused. That's why I like to use the axle plate to spread out the force. I usually wedge a piece of wood between the bottle jack and the axle bracket to spread it out even more.

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/3284/thread" timestamp="1409851065" author="@tinkeringtechie"][quote source="/post/3283/thread" timestamp="1409850772" author="@charliem"][font size="3"]the axle attachment point should be able to take the force if the jack is placed to simulate the axle attachments.
[/font][/quote]That last part is the key... unless your jack has a large face then the force may be too focused. That's why I like to use the axle plate to spread out the force. I usually wedge a piece of wood between the bottle jack and the axle bracket to spread it out even more.[/quote][font size="3"]Roger that!
[/font]

[vmcmn]

When I  installed the brakes on my 8.1. I jacked mine up using the leveling jacks with a 2x6 pad under each one to give me a little extra lift.Worked just fine,in fact I had it lifted for 2 or 3 days while I worked on running wiring and painting my wheels to match the wheels on my HHR.

[a href="http://s429.photobucket.com/user/HHRnole/media/DSCF1832_zps0927fa12.jpg.html"]

[susieku99]

As far as greasing the bearings, I would think always a good idea, but be sure to clean excess grease. The guys that installed my electric brakes said a common problem they saw was people greasing way more than needed, and all the excess grease going all over the brakes. You can't just give a few pumps and be done. 
I'm no expert but this makes sense to me. 

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/3300/thread" timestamp="1409872294" author="@jimandanna"]As far as greasing the bearings, I would think always a good idea, but be sure to clean excess grease. The guys that installed my electric brakes said a common problem they saw was people greasing way more than needed, and all the excess grease going all over the brakes. You can't just give a few pumps and be done. 
I'm no expert but this makes sense to me. [/quote]The grease shouldn't be able to get to the brakes unless the rear seal has failed. It's not uncommon, but it's more likely if you keep injecting grease and don't repack (which requires replacing that seal). So while there's no harm in a little bit of extra grease, you should still repack regularly (I do it every year, some people do it every 2 years or by mileage).

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/3298/thread" timestamp="1409870489" author="@vmcmn"]When I did installed the brakes on my 8.1. I jacked mine up using the leveling jacks with a 2x6 pad under each one to give me a little extra lift.Worked just fine,in fact I had it lifted for 2 or 3 days while I worked on running wiring and painting my wheels to match the wheels on my HHR.

[a href="http://s429.photobucket.com/user/HHRnole/media/DSCF1832_zps0927fa12.jpg.html"]
This is probably harmless on the smaller QS models, but larger QS models or camplites definitely shouldn't lift the camper with the stabilizers.

[pinstriper]

[quote source="/post/3305/thread" timestamp="1409873650" author="@tinkeringtechie"][quote source="/post/3298/thread" timestamp="1409870489" author="@vmcmn"]When I did installed the brakes on my 8.1. I jacked mine up using the leveling jacks with a 2x6 pad under each one to give me a little extra lift.Worked just fine,in fact I had it lifted for 2 or 3 days while I worked on running wiring and painting my wheels to match the wheels on my HHR.

[a href="http://s429.photobucket.com/user/HHRnole/media/DSCF1832_zps0927fa12.jpg.html"]

[vmcmn]

Guess I'm the stupid one.............

[leslie]

I read the Camplite owner's manual, and it warns to not use the jacks for leveling as you can damage your unit. Something about the frame. I haven't read the manual for Quicksilver, so I don't know how those jacks work. Some of the Camplites have scissor jacks.

[gnies]

It would be nice if someone post picture to show where are the safe point to jack the camplite

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/3312/thread" timestamp="1409926391" author="@paul"]It would be nice if someone post picture to show where are the safe point to jack the camplite[/quote]Here you go:


[attachment id="342" thumbnail="1"]

It's okay to jack on the bracket next to the axle, but don't use the axle itself.

[gnies]

[quote source="/post/3317/thread" timestamp="1409935584" author="@tinkeringtechie"][quote source="/post/3312/thread" timestamp="1409926391" author="@paul"]It would be nice if someone post picture to show where are the safe point to jack the camplite[/quote]Here you go:




It's okay to jack on the bracket next to the axle, but don't use the axle itself.[/quote]
Thank you! Is there enought space there for a regular jack or just for a bottle jack? doesn't seem to have a lot of room. Just wondering because when I had a tent trailer I went to get my tire changed they had does big jack used for car.

[tinkeringtechie]

It's about two inches wide, so some jacks might fit there... definitely not a floor jack though. Most bottle jacks should be fine.