changing a tire / flat?

catndahats · July 2015

Now that we are home, been reading about moving the spare for lots of practical reasons...but HOW do you change a flat on the road? I'm leaving AAA out of the equation on purpose.

I read the owners manual and it says to lower the tongue all the way, remove spare, lower rear stabilizers to the max setting, then raise the tongue as high as possible to raise the wheels and remove the flat tire. Reverse order to complete. Does this sound right?

I'm confused because other recommendations say NOT to use the stabilizers to level the trailer. Can the trailer and stabilizers hold the weight of the trailer while changing a tire?

Any first hand experience?

jkjenn · July 2015

That won't work for the Outbacks.

catndahats · July 2015

jk....how do you change the tire?
if you use a jack, where does it go on the frame or axle?

Verna · July 2015

This is how I would change a tire. I have an 8 ton bottle jack from Harbor Freight. I would place it just in front of the flat, under the frame. NEVER raise the body of the T@B using the axle. Don't let AAA do it either.

Make sure the other tire is chocked, and have the T@B hooked up to the hitch on your tow vehicle.

Loosen your lug nuts, raise your jack, remove the lug nuts, remove the tire, put the spare on with the lug nuts loose, lower the bottle jack, tighten the lug nuts.

Put the bottle jack and lug wrench away, put the flat away, remove the chocks from the other side, verify that everything has been put away. Check your lights to make sure they're working.

Now, slowly pull away, making sure once again you have everything.

I had a blow-out on I-70 at 9 pm on a Saturday night last year, and thank goodness for AAA. The semi truck traffic was terrible with their wind draft blowing, and I sure would not have wanted to use the stabilizers to hold the Silver Shadow in place, and now certainly wouldn't want the same for the T@B.

This is my personal opinion, and yours may vary.

jkjenn · July 2015

I have not had to change a tire, but would put it under the frame.

USWildflowers · July 2015

While I agree with Verna and Jenn that I would prefer using a jack under the frame, I know from personal observation at the factory that the rear stabilizers will hold the weight of the T@b while BOTH wheels are off the trailer.

catndahats · July 2015

many thanks! I think I would do the bottle jack route under the frame if the time arises....and it is cool USWildflowers that the stabilizers will hold the trailer. We are very grateful for this forum as new owners, and hope to be able to contribute more as we gain experience.

ChanW · July 2015

Yes catnda, I've used the stabilizers as they describe in the manual. It worked ok.

What Verna mentioned, about semis hauling by, is a good caution, and I'd also avoid getting into the Tab while it's up.

Others have stressed leaving the tab connected to the (braked) tow vehicle for safety, and that makes sense too.

Never jack under the axle. The axle is a hollow eccentric tube, and has the spring suspension inside it, which could be crushed by jacking under it.

jkjenn · July 2015

ChanW said:

Others have stressed leaving the tab connected to the (braked) tow vehicle for safety, and that makes sense too.

How would that work? Does that work with the tongue and stabilizers fully extended?

Verna · July 2015

It will work with the stabilizers on one side extended far enough to slide the tire off. It won't work with the tongue all of the way down. I'm still thinking of a flat tire beside the Interstate and all of the wind from semi trucks. Although Little Guy has given the instructions to use all 4 stabilizers to take both tires off of the wheels, I sure would not be comfortable next to an interstate in this position.

Cyclonic · July 2015

As with Verna and Jenn, I would prefer to use a jack. But, if for some reason one is not available, in a pinch the stabilizers will hold the weight of the T@B. You don't use them to level the unit because you are moving around in them and the weight shifting can damage them or cause them to fail with you in it, which would be very bad.

jdargis · July 2015

Anyone with an 07 or newer Jeep Wrangler can use your Jeep scissor jack for lifting the T@B to change the tire, also if you have the spare still mounted in the rear of the trailer, you can use the jack to raise or lower the tire. I just replaced all my tires with radial tires and took them off myself and took them to the tire dealer. Also, serviced the wheel bearings in the process. A hint, buy a cheap floating air mattress and leave it on the package, open it up when your interrupted on your trip to use as a thick ground cloth to lay on, or knell on when working on your car or trailer.

I am also curious how many owners retorque their trailer wheels 50 to 100 miles down the road, after taking delivery of their trailer, or after removing the wheels and reinstalling them? Then again, how many owners own a torque wrench?

jkjenn · July 2015

I have stopped at service stations and they have torqued for free. Most are fascinated enough by the T@b not to mind.

RZRBUG · July 2015

I carry a bottle jack and jack stand in case I need to change a tire. The jack stand is for just in case the jack fails (better safe than sorry). If I'm not on a hard surface, I place some kind of platform under the jack and stand to eliminate sinking or shifting.

I make sure the tires are chocked because it is difficult to find a really flat surface on the frame large enough to put the jack on, so there is the possibility of rolling or slipping. And, try to keep any part of your body out from under the trailer at all times.

Don't have a torque wrench, so just tighten hard as I can, alternating from side to side.

Verna · July 2015

I bought a Harbor Freight torque wrench, but I have to admit that I haven't taken it out of the package. I want to read the instructions because my former neighbor told me I should retorque it, but he always did it for me. By the way, what is the amount I should torque my wheels?

How many got their T@B tires balanced when they got their T@B or new tires? I'll raise my hands. My neighbor's auto repair place did it for me. All 3 of the tires.

jdargis · July 2015

I believe the torque setting is 85-90 ft lbs.

Verna · July 2015

Thank you. 90 lbs is what I remember for my Silver Shadow.

sabel · July 2015

We have an Outback and the side frames are slightly tapered so I don't think a bottle jack would work. Risk of jack sliding off of frame. The rear frame is the only one thats flat.
Guess we'll cross that bridge when we're forced too.

Nomad · July 2015

Just for reference - When I had the bearings greased, they put jacks under the frame in back where the spare is (mine isn't but you know where I'm talking), jacked it up, took the tires off and did their thing. They left it attached to my TV.

RZRBUG · July 2015

Verna said:
How many got their T@B tires balanced when they got their T@B or new tires? I'll raise my hands. My neighbor's auto repair place did it for me. All 3 of the tires.

Put on new radials this Spring. Tire place wasn't going to balance (trailer tires?), but I insisted.

twocutes · July 2015

jdargis - Thanks for the note about the Jeep Wrangler jack. I was wondering if it could serve dual duty.

Mouseketab · July 2015

Verna said:

I bought a Harbor Freight torque wrench, but I have to admit that I haven't taken it out of the package. I want to read the instructions because my former neighbor told me I should retorque it, but he always did it for me. By the way, what is the amount I should torque my wheels?
How many got their T@B tires balanced when they got their T@B or new tires? I'll raise my hands. My neighbor's auto repair place did it for me. All 3 of the tires.

I didn't have them balanced originally, but have had new tires put on twice now and the shop balanced them each time.

Mouseketab · July 2015

We have jacked up the T@B to replace the stabilizers, and I understand the concepts, but honestly, I'm gonna call Good Sam (I know you said to not put that in the mix)

catndahats · July 2015

just a follow-up to my original question: Spent yesterday going through systems on our T@B, removed the spare from the rear and decided to store it under the rear sofa for the time being. We will never use that storage space. It was easy to remove, but I shiver to think about doing this while laying on the side of a highway. Crawled around under the camper looking for where I would place my jack in the event of a flat on the road, and realized there is not a good (ie: flat or wide) support position to use my bottle jack on the frame. However, there is a silver/aluminum? looking strip of "L" shaped iron about 6" long above the axle attached to the frame, but not sure if that would support the trailer while changing a wheel. I have a scissor jack with a larger flat surface that may get stored inside with the spare just in case.

A nice factory modification would be a dedicated metal tab welded to the frame on each side of the frame to support a jack.

Nomad · July 2015

Here's where they jacked when I got my bearings packed...They left it attached to my TV...

catndahats · July 2015

thanks PX ... a picture speaks 1000 words.
love this forum!

wooper · September 2019

For those who recommend placing the jack just in front of the tire under the frame...is there no concern of damage from the weight to the frame?

pthomas745 · September 2019

There are jacking points,

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/8314/jacking-points-on-tab-320-s

changing a tire / flat?

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