How NOT to lift TM off wheels for storage

[TexasCamper]

Yeah, I blew it. Didn't think through this one all the way.

But my intentions were good: I was worried that if I lifted the TM onto four jacks, and they were not completely level with each other, then the frame may contort and during the winter the frame might bend ever so slightly. So I thought storing the TM at three points was better. After all, you've never sat on a crooked 3-legged stool, have you?

For 2 of my 3-point lift, I jacked up the back two wheels and placed a jack on the frame behind the wheel (NOT on the axle, I knew enough not to do that!).

For the last point, this is where I erred: instead of placing a jack at the front, I decided at last minute to keep the weight on my tongue jack. And at the bottom of the tongue jack is that nice detachable wheel, which is some type of plastic. Within two months that little wheel deformed into a nice flat-tire looking wheel. Why did this happen? Since the other two jacks were further back from the wheels, the TM weight shifted more to the front jack. Obviously much more weight than the little wheel could handle.

I haven't operated my electric tongue jack yet, but I sure hope I didn't screw that up.

John

"Wisdom comes from making mistakes."

FWIW, my front wheel is metal. Never seen a plastic one.

Keith

[scrubjaysnest]

our front wheel is plastic also, We use a flat metal pad instead.

[wbmiller3]

Mine is a hard rubbery plastic as well.

Mine is Metal also.

PS: Think I will go down to storae with a hammer and tap on it to make sure.

PSS: Well is my face red---went down with a hammer today and I think it must be plastic of some sort. Sure did not sound the same as when taping on the rest of the housing????

You might consider a jack fot pad. Instead of a wheel you would have a metal plate on the ground. The ones I have seen are about 2x6 inches.

Another alternative is a pair of wheels instead of a single wheel.

I have the single plastic wheel. my is not used during storage because i have the swing tongue.

I sort of did like you. I wanted to take at least some of the weight off te TM tires for the few months of winter storage.

I backed into the garage but stopped short about two feet. I went to the back and set both rear jacks to almost touch the floor. I tried to keep the clearance to the floor equal.

I cranked up the front of the TM with the tongue jack. This is, as you described, a three point system.

I then set both front corner jacks firmly, and as equal as I could. Then the jack pressure was released and the tongue swiveled away.

[Dave99gst]

Ive never bothered to do anything to aid my tires while any of my campers/trailers/cars/sandrails/anything with pneumatic tires have been stored.. NEVER had a problem.

I use 4 aluminum screw jacks ( one at each corner of the frame. I do not totally take the load off the wheels or tongue jack, but just remove partial load. This has worked well for me during the past few years. Also use cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil in glass ashtrays to keep out unwanted critters.

I pretty much use the method described by Wayne. I lower the tongue jack to raise the rear, then lower the rear stabilizer jacks. I then raise the front using the tongue jack and lower the front stabilizers. Then release the tongue jack and swing the hitch away. The TM is sitting on the 4 stabilizers with the wheels about 1/2" off the ground. Seems to work just fine.

Originally Posted by PopBeavers

You might consider a jack fot pad. Instead of a wheel you would have a metal plate on the ground. The ones I have seen are about 2x6 inches.

Another alternative is a pair of wheels instead of a single wheel.

I have the single plastic wheel. my is not used during storage because i have the swing tongue.

I sort of did like you. I wanted to take at least some of the weight off te TM tires for the few months of winter storage.

I backed into the garage but stopped short about two feet. I went to the back and set both rear jacks to almost touch the floor. I tried to keep the clearance to the floor equal.

I cranked up the front of the TM with the tongue jack. This is, as you described, a three point system.

I then set both front corner jacks firmly, and as equal as I could. Then the jack pressure was released and the tongue swiveled away.

Wayne---Winter storage in San Jose CA. Heck you can camp all winter