I’ll walk you through how to properly and safely jack up a tandem axle step-by-step, in detail:
🛠 What you’ll need:
- A heavy-duty bottle jack or hydraulic floor jack (rated for your trailer’s weight)
- Wheel chocks
- Lug wrench (for tires)
- Jack stands (very important for safety)
- Wooden blocks (optional for soft ground)
- Gloves and safety glasses (recommended)
🚨 Safety First:
- Always park the trailer on a flat, solid surface (like concrete or compacted gravel).
- Never rely on the jack alone to hold the trailer — always use jack stands once lifted.
- Set the trailer’s parking brake (if equipped) and chock the wheels (especially on the opposite side).
How to jack up a tandem axle travel trailer: step by step guide
Prepare the trailer:
Park the trailer securely.
Chock the wheels on the opposite side from where you’re lifting.
(Example: if you’re lifting the left side, chock the right side’s front and rear tires.)
Find the proper lifting points:
Check your owner’s manual first — many trailers recommend lifting under the main frame rails (the thick steel beams running front to back, not the axles!).
Never jack up under the axles or suspension directly unless the axle manufacturer specifically says it’s okay.
Position your jack:
Slide the jack under the frame rail near the tire you want to lift.
If needed, place a wooden block under the jack to keep it steady and prevent sinking into dirt or gravel.
Start lifting slowly:
Pump the jack carefully.
Lift the frame high enough so the tire you’re working on is completely off the ground.
Set the jack stands:
Once lifted, place jack stands under the frame (not under suspension or axles).
Slowly lower the jack so the trailer rests securely on the stands.
Perform your work:
Now it’s safe to change the tire, inspect brakes, etc.
Lower the trailer:
Once finished, raise the trailer slightly with the jack, remove the jack stands, and carefully lower the trailer back down.
Final check:
Remove wheel chocks last after you’re fully done.
Video Guide:
Pro tips:
- If you’re changing just one tire, you usually only need to lift that corner.
- If you’re doing maintenance work on multiple tires (like wheel bearings or brakes), you might want to lift the entire side.
- Some people use special RV tire ramps (like Andersen Levelers) instead of a jack for quick tire changes — you drive the good tire onto the ramp to lift the flat one.
