Tools

fairweathercamper · Mar 30, 2007, 08:41 AM

Why carry another jack when you have your leveling jacks?
I also carry 4 - 1/2" thick squares of plywood. I parked my PU next to my house and leveled it to work on it. With the slope from the side of the house I have one tire about 2" off the ground. Plus my hi-lift jack i carry in my truck can certainly handle a PU.

After rereading this, Sounds a little redneckish ugh! :screwy:

wavery · Mar 30, 2007, 10:31 AM

Quote from: fairweathercamperWhy carry another jack when you have your leveling jacks?
I also carry 4 - 1/2" thick squares of plywood. I parked my PU next to my house and leveled it to work on it. With the slope from the side of the house I have one tire about 2" off the ground. Plus my hi-lift jack i carry in my truck can certainly handle a PU.

After rereading this, Sounds a little redneckish ugh! :screwy:

You may want to reconsider using your leveling jacks to jack up the camper.
They are only intended to to keep the camper steady. It's important to level your camper before putting your leveling jacks down. They are not intened to lift the camper, merely support it and keep it steady as you walk around inside.

Jacking up your PU with the leveling jacks can (and probably will) bend the frame on your PU. You might want to pick up a 2 ton, hydraulic bottle jack. You can get them for around $10 and they don't take up much space.

kampingkoge · Mar 30, 2007, 01:13 PM

Quote from: waveryYou may want to reconsider using your leveling jacks to jack up the camper.
They are only intended to to keep the camper steady. It's important to level your camper before putting your leveling jacks down. They are not intened to lift the camper, merely support it and keep it steady as you walk around inside.

Jacking up your PU with the leveling jacks can (and probably will) bend the frame on your PU. You might want to pick up a 2 ton, hydraulic bottle jack. You can get them for around $10 and they don't take up much space.

Where is the best place on a pup to use the jack in the event you need to change a tire? Frame or axle?

flyfisherman · Mar 30, 2007, 02:13 PM

Quote from: kampingkogeWhere is the best place on a pup to use the jack in the event you need to change a tire? Frame or axle?

Gary ~ I know you did'nt ask me, just could'nt help but to chime in (LOL) ...

Use the main frame to jack the camper up ... always. Place the jack (I use a 2-ton bottle jack) just behind the camper wheel if you have the torsion suspension, or just behind the rear spring shackle if they are leaf.

Had some long conversations with the Dexter Axle tech whizz kids (along with the tech folks from Starcraft) on this very subject. I broke a leaf spring tooling down the highway going somewhere between 65 & 70 mph (oh, what fun that was!).
Dexter covered the spring replacement costs (for parts & labor), and they insisted on replacing both; they said when replacing leaf springs that both should be replaced even though only one failed.
But we had a long question and answer period concerning the jacking up of the camper - it was my understanding by what they said (Dexter), that had I admitted to jacking up via the axle they would not honor their warranty. Lucky for me I had read the owner's manual where it states that the camper must be jacked-up via the main frame, very clearly. The Dexter folks told me that jacking by the axle (or spring) would/could damage them.

Fly

Toby · Mar 30, 2007, 10:39 PM

If you were going to replace the tires, as I am hoping very soon, on a jayco is it ok to jack both sides up using your jack and then using blocks for a few hours while I get the new tires on the rims? Thanks Toby.

flyfisherman · Mar 31, 2007, 06:49 PM

Quote from: TobyIf you were going to replace the tires, as I am hoping very soon, on a jayco is it ok to jack both sides up using your jack and then using blocks for a few hours while I get the new tires on the rims? Thanks Toby.

I've done that to my little Starcraft ...
Jack-up one side using the 2-ton bottle jack, slip a jack-stand adjusted to the height right behind the bottle jack and then release it allowing the camper to settle onto the stand. Move the bottle jack over to the other side of the camper and raise it the same height and place another jack-stand and drop the camper on that one.
Got the jack stands at our local Wally-Mart, something like $12.00 for the pair.

Fly

Toby · Mar 31, 2007, 09:12 PM

Thanks for the Tip, soon as I find the tires this week I'll be re-packing bearings and replacing my tires along with any other thing I can think of. Toby.

ranger97 · Apr 01, 2007, 02:17 PM

All good suggestions so far, plus:
Wire
Wire cutters (or better yet, pliers with that capability)
WD-40
Screwdriver with interchangeable bits (Black & Decker makes a nice set of bits in a white rubber type container - check Home Depot)
2 crescent wrenches 1 small to medium, one fairly large (large enough to fit nut on hitch ball)
Small socket set, probably 3/8 drive, with metric and SAE sockets (cheap set can be found @ WallyMart or Harbor Freight for probably < $10.00
50 ft. of 1/4" or 3/8" nylon rope
Tubeless tire plug kit & 12v electric tire pump
Extra fuses
Minimum of a .22 pistol
Small container of contact cement
Probably some other tools as well, but for the moment this is all I can think of.

brainpause · Apr 01, 2007, 05:24 PM

Quote from: ranger97All good suggestions so far, plus:
Wire
Wire cutters (or better yet, pliers with that capability)
WD-40
Screwdriver with interchangeable bits (Black & Decker makes a nice set of bits in a white rubber type container - check Home Depot)
2 crescent wrenches 1 small to medium, one fairly large (large enough to fit nut on hitch ball)
Small socket set, probably 3/8 drive, with metric and SAE sockets (cheap set can be found @ WallyMart or Harbor Freight for probably < $10.00
50 ft. of 1/4" or 3/8" nylon rope
Tubeless tire plug kit & 12v electric tire pump
Extra fuses
Minimum of a .22 pistol
Small container of contact cement
Probably some other tools as well, but for the moment this is all I can think of.

Not one comment, or we'll lock this thread in a heartbeat. Passionate subject.

For any newbies, God, Guns, and Government are sensitive subjects. Please try and stay away. Thanks!

Larry

ranger97 · Apr 03, 2007, 03:09 PM

Quote from: brainpauseNot one comment, or we'll lock this thread in a heartbeat. Passionate subject.

For any newbies, God, Guns, and Government are sensitive subjects. Please try and stay away. Thanks!

Larry

Staying away won't make the need go away.

AustinBoston · Apr 03, 2007, 03:17 PM

Quote from: ranger97Staying away won't make the need go away.

A demonstration of a lack of self control...

Austin

astrowolf67 · Apr 03, 2007, 08:37 PM

For our tools, we pack a cheap box set from Wal Mart (nothing to rebuild anything with, but good enough for fixing anything in the camper), that has basic wrenches, socket set, crescent wrench and a driver/bit set with most any bit one might need. I also have a pair of medium size channel locks, hammer/hatchet, folding shovel, small level, 5 minute epoxy, nylon rope, duct tape, bailing wire, and a pocket multi tool. This tool set evolved over the course of our first two or three trips, and will probably evolve enen more in the future as the need arises.

The single best tool I've used, is a note pad, and pen/pencil. Take it on every trip, and as you come across something you need, write it down, so you can get it before your next trip.

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