Jacking up a trailer

[MillWeld]

I looked at videos about adjusting trailer brakes and one of them (How to Adjust Trailer Brakes - 5 Easy Steps) said in writing on the screen at 1:55 minutes to never jack on the axle - use the frame. Why? I have always jacked on the axle very close to the drum. I have seen other videos that jacked on the axle, too. What gives?

 

[old and tired]

Remember, not everything on the internet is correct. I always use the axle...

Wonder what others will say....

To confirm that I lift on the axel right where the saddle clamps / U bolts are... Not on the pipe itself.

 

[sea2summit]

Well, when you have a loaded goose neck on three 7K axles and you jack one up you're putting up to a 21K load on one axle/set of springs. Check how much compression is already on the system then decide if you want to add compression do to your task, unloaded single axle trailer no problem, loaded dual axle trailer probably not a good idea.

 

[MillWeld]

I have two 7K axles and I jack them up at the same time and side to adjust brakes when the trailer is empty. (I put a bar under the axles right at the brake drum and put a jack at the midpoint of the bar and lift. This gives easy access to make adjustments.)

 

[jaxs]

Anyone that believe's everything on the web and specifically u-tube is fact should take a break. Anyone that thinks the jack is supporting the intire load when one wheel is lifted shouldn't attempt checking air in tires much less change tires or adjust breaks. Doesn't matter anyhow because I don't use a jack if trailer is loaded. I pull tire next to one I'd like raised onto a leveling block. Before pulling onto block I place a spacer between equalizer and frame to limit spring travel.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Torsion axles do not spread the load like some leaf spring setups do. Heck, many leaf spring ones do very little to spread the load. So jacking up a axle can easily put more of a load on one axle end than intended.
On the other hand I would be surprised if a person was trying to adjust their brakes on a heavily loaded trailer.

 

[jaxs]

Explaining static vs dynamic load is above my pay grade but I know the differece and the difference is huge for trailers. Axles are rated at dynamic load which mean's it will support far more than rated load while parked. Placing jack on frame rather than axle is foolish and dangerous. Increased distance between floor and contact point on load make's trailer unstable and subject to falling off jack. When vehicles came with bumper jacks it was common hearing of people injured or killed when vehicle fell off jack. Now we have Farm,aka Hi-Lift Jacks that raise by frame and are known to be dangerous due to instability.

 

[Deere Dude]

IMHO jacking on a axle where the u-clamps are connected won't hurt anything.

My concern is jacking on the tube in between clamps could bend the tube and cause all kinds of problems with tire alignment.

 

[4570Man]

I lift on the axel right where the saddle clamps are. The biggest reason I do it that way is it only has to be lifted an inch or so to gorge tire off the ground. If you’re lifting on the frame you have to lift several inches.