Trolly jack advise?

Donkster

Donkster

Joined
Oct 23, 2017
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Cambridgeshire
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51,073
MH
Burstner 747 - 2
Exp
Since 2007
I thinking of buying a low profile 2.5 ton trolly jack for a 5.3 ton Motorhome?
Question:
Would a 2.5 ton jack be adequate enough to change a tire. As I’m not lifting the whole motor vehicle. Maybe a mechanic can help recommend one and are others carrying them. Yes I’m in the AA but want to do it myself.
 
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Phill D said:
Re short answer is yes, but a trolley jack is heavy and bulky, whichever one you choose.
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The one I’m thinking about buying weighs 33kg but I’m not as strong as I used to be 🤨 I’ve waited a long time abroad for help! In the past. So buying one makes it possible easier for me including putting the tyre back underneath on the framework again. I will also be taking weight out because it’s replacing two jacks on account of being very low at the front and height needed at the back.
How many other’s are carrying a trolley jack ?
 
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I carry 3 bottle Jack's. The original iveco 3 tonne , a 5 tonne and a 10 ton . I reckon all 3 of them together weigh less than 33kg. And take up far less space. The iveco one is quite short and dumpy so if I can't get the larger one under initially I use that one to lift the van a bit then put the larger jack under to raise it to the height I need. And of course having 2 Jack's under it is safer than one.

I wouldn't want to carry a large trolley jack with me , too big and cumbersome
 
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First have a good look at where you would fit the jack, front and rear. Then of course with the flat tyre how much lower would it be. Then consider waking up on a grass field with a flat. If the ground is soft you also need space to fit a spreader under the jack. I could never find a truly low profile bottle jack so need to start with the OEM scissor jack to get space to fit the bottle jack.
I am seriously considering one of those airbag jacks, inflated from the exhaust.
3444-draper-inflatable-car-jack.jpg
 
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I don't think the 2.5t low profile will be up to it and it will not lift that high either. I carried a bottle jack, before installing hydraulic jacks.

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I carry a low profile high lift trolley jack rated to 2.5 tonnes and it came in very useful in Ireland a few years ago. I don't bother with an axle stand as I'm not working under the vehicle, just changing the wheel. I do put the wheel I take off under the edge of the van though just to limit how far it can fall.
2.5 tonne should be plenty as that's nearly half the weight of the van and you're only lifting a quarter of it. It's useful to carry some blocks of wood to help with the height of lift if necessary.

Edit : I just checked and it's actually a 3T jack from screwfix.
 
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Look at load rating of tyre this is probably 116 or so with a carrying capacity of 1250kg , you are picking up
that much weight approx not the weight of the whole or half the van to change a wheel so a 2.5 ton jack is adequate . the jack weight is about 15kg , you need to add the weight of decent wheel chocks , and possibly a good solid wood block to use to remove dead lift space to get guaranteed range of lift to clear road to fit the fully inflated tyre . you need also to check if you have enough clearance to get under lift point with flat tyre
 
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68c said:
First have a good look at where you would fit the jack, front and rear. Then of course with the flat tyre how much lower would it be. Then consider waking up on a grass field with a flat. If the ground is soft you also need space to fit a spreader under the jack. I could never find a truly low profile bottle jack so need to start with the OEM scissor jack to get space to fit the bottle jack.
I am seriously considering one of those airbag jacks, inflated from the exhaust.View attachment 914205
Click to expand...
I have used the exhaust bags. They aren’t very stable when inflated, think of standing on a football. They will work well on soft ground though.

A low profile trolley jack won’t be suitable for a motorhome IMO. Decent ones are very heavy and cumbersome.

Bottle jack would be my preference backed up with axle stands.
 
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Headrush said:
I do put the wheel I take off under the edge of the van though just to limit how far it can fall.
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Problem with that is that the sideskirts and lower cills on vans are not structural so would collapse when the van lands on the wheel. This only works if you put it under the axle, but believe me it is bloody difficult to get to a wheel on the floor under the axle when the new wheel is back on. Carry a folding axle stand is my advice
 
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Burstner 747-2 jack up points front and the two back ones.
IMG_3437.jpeg
IMG_3437.jpeg

IMG_3436.jpeg

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Googlebot said:
Bottle jack would be my preference backed up with axle stands.
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On a Ducato with the standard Fiat chassis, if you use a bottle jack on the rear jacking point, where then is the best place to position the axle stand?
The actual axle will be too low, so I assume it would be under the chassis?
 
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I’m in two minds really but for now have decided to use my two hydraulic jacks and ramps if needed to gain height. I also have the scissor jack, but will be adding something to place the jack on in softer ground.
I appreciate all comments. Thank you 🙏 And axle stand
 
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ontheroadagain said:
On a Ducato with the standard Fiat chassis, if you use a bottle jack on the rear jacking point, where then is the best place to position the axle stand?
The actual axle will be too low, so I assume it would be under the chassis
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Is there not room next to the jack point? Looking at the picture I added.
 
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ontheroadagain said:
On a Ducato with the standard Fiat chassis, if you use a bottle jack on the rear jacking point, where then is the best place to position the axle stand?
The actual axle will be too low, so I assume it would be under the chassis?
Click to expand...
To change a wheel with a bottle jack I never bother with an axle stand. . I'm not going under the vehicle. I've never had a bottle jack give way. I have had a trolley jack start to go down though as the weight is cantilevered ..whereas a bottle jack is direct .

If need be the removed wheel can be stuck under the van till the new one is fitted
 
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Trolly jack on soft ground you need a sturdy piece of sheet material to stand it on bigger than the base of the jack as they roll a bit when lifting.
Watch the cheapo Chinese ones SOME overstate the lifting capacity by a fair margin

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Donkster said:
I’m in two minds really but for now have decided to use my two hydraulic jacks and ramps if needed to gain height. I also have the scissor jack, but will be adding something to place the jack on in softer ground.
I appreciate all comments. Thank you 🙏 And axle stand
Click to expand...
A couple of blocks of scaffolding board is ideal for placing the jack on . Can also be used to level the van if required instead of ramps. And not very heavy
 
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I did notice they move a bit, yes I definitely decided to stay with hydraulic jacks
 
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When buying a bottle Jack make sure it is a 2 stage on with the extending screw top. I have an IVECO 4.5 ton bottle Jack scaffold board or similar to gain extre height. For extra safety II use the issue scissor Jack when height is reached.
 
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Carry trolley jack, 1/2" impact gun and torque wrench.
 
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