How to Jack Up a Boat Trailer?

Lifting your boat trailer is necessary for conducting tire changes, brake repairs, wheel bearing maintenance, and other critical upkeep tasks.

However, jacking up a trailer must be done with care, using the proper tools and techniques, to avoid safety hazards or damage. This guide will walk through the necessary preparations, step-by-step process, and best practices for safely jackin.

Why Jack Up a Boat Trailer?

Jackinrowing your boat trailer is the only way to access elements like the tires, wheels, axles, springs, fenders and lights. This allows you to fully inspect the trailer structure and perform important maintenance for safe towing. Some common reasons to jack up your boat trailer include:

• Changing a flat tire
• Replacing deteriorated tires
• Packing, inspecting or replacing wheel bearings
• Adjusting brake components or the brake control system
• Checking the trailer frame and suspension for rust, cracks or other deterioration
• Replacing corroded lights or wiring

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Safety Considerations

When lifting a boat trailer, safety should always be your top priority. A loaded trailer can weigh thousands of pounds, making the process dangerous if something were to fail or slip while jacked up. Potential hazards include:

• The trailer rolling or slipping while lifted: Always chock the wheels, use jack stands and ensure solid, level footing.
• An overhead falling hazard: Check for power lines, building eaves or tree branches above the trailer.
• The trailer jack, stands or blocks failing under load: Use rated equipment sized for your trailer weight. Stack concrete blocks with care.
• Injury from getting under an unstable raised trailer: Never get underneath a trailer supported only by a jack! Use jack stands or other supports.

Tools and Materials Needed

Having the right gear ensures the trailer can be lifted properly and safely. The basic equipment needed includes:

• A hydraulic trailer jack or tongue jack, rated for your trailer weight, used to raise the coupler/hitch end of trailer
• Jack stands x 2, with saddle tops to contact frame, also rated for full trailer weight
• Wheel chocks for the trailer wheels not being lifted
• Concrete blocks, optional for additional stability
• Basic hand tools like wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, gloves and safety glasses

Other specialty tools like a torque wrench, bearing packer or repacker may be needed to actually perform maintenance tasks once raised.

Locating the Trailer Jack Points

To safely lift the trailer, the jack and jack stands need to connect to solid structural points intended for jacking on the frame.

Look for Manufacturer’s Labels

Check the inside of the trailer tongue or main beams for metal plates or stickers indicating the dedicated jack points, like small dimples, stamped arrows or messages like “Jack Here”. Use these reinforced points specified by the manufacturer whenever possible.

Identify Structural Components to Support Weight

For trailers without labeled jack points, locate a sturdy cross member, trailer tongue weld joint or part of the frame that can handle the entire weight at that corner.

Side trailer frames may work better than narrow bumper assemblies or external hangers. The frame should have a flat contact surface vs. curved cross-section.

Preparing the Trailer and Area

Taking safety precautions before attempting to jack up the trailer prevents accidents:

Park Trailer on Level, Firm Ground

Position the trailer on ground that is as level and flat as possible, ensuring the weight will be evenly dispersed as it is lifted. Softer soils may allow sinking or rolling. Concrete or pavement provides the best foundation.

Chock Trailer Wheels

For additional safety, sturdy wheel chocks immobilize the wheels staying on the ground at ~45° angles to prevent unintended movement. They also stabilize on slopes.

Ensure No Obstructions Overhead or Underground

Check around and above the area carefully for any power lines, overhanging branches or building projections that could be safety hazards before raising the trailer. Also scan for sprinkler lines or shallow utilities below grade.

Positioning and Stabilizing the Jack Stands

With preparations complete, the trailer is ready to be lifted:

Place Jack Stands Under Jack Points

Frame contact pads on jack stands need to perfectly align with jack points on trailer to disperse weight properly without bending or crimping the frame material.

Ensure Stands Are on Solid Footing

Make sure jack stand bases are both situated securely on concrete pads, pavement or compacted soil after repositioning – and that the ground is still roughly level.

Raising the Trailer

Take careful precautions when operating the jack:

Use Trailer Jack to Lift One Side at a Time

Raising just one side of the trailer initially makes it easier to control, assess stability and place supports. Attempting both sides together adds complexity and safety considerations.

Lift Slowly and Check Stability

As the trailer jack extends, continually verify the base pad and/or wheel chocks are solidly in place by wiggling jack and trailer by hand to test – adjust as needed.

Repeat on Other Side

Once one side is raised and secured on stands, reposition the jack and repeat the process for the other side until the trailer frame is safely supported on both ends at the desired height.

Performing Trailer Maintenance

While securely jacked up, a variety of inspection, maintenance and repair procedures may be performed:

Change Tires or Wheel Bearings

With easy access, worn tires or bearings can now be replaced as needed to restore safe operation.

Inspect Structural Components

Examine trailer frame, springs, hanger welds, hardware and more for corrosion, cracks or damage while visible. Address any issues found.

Conduct Other Maintenance as Needed

Electrical, lights, brakes and more can be accessed or tested with the wheels now safely off the ground.

Lowering the Trailer

Reverse the steps with the same precautions:

Carefully Reverse Raising Procedure

All movements must be performed slowly and steadily to prevent shifting or dropping as weight is lowered onto supports.

Lower One Side Fully Before Other Side

Keeping one end still fully raised helps avoid unintentional tipping stress on frame as other side takes weight.

Ensure Trailer is Level on Ground

Double check that trailer is uniformly supported once completely lowered onto wheels before shifting or driving.

Securing Trailer and Removing Supports

Final steps secure the site and prevent mishaps:

Unchock Wheels

Remove all wheel chocks blocking the tires or axles.

Store Jack, Stands and Blocks Properly

Ensure all gear like jack, jack stands and concrete blocks are cleared away into safe storage areas.

Safety Best Practices

Employing further safety measures enhances capacities for secure DIY lifting:

Use Jack Stands Rated for Trailer Weight

Stands must support both axle and tongue trailer weight capacities to avoid failure leading to accidents.

Check for Stability While Raised

Shake the trailer with downward pressure before working underneath to test, and reinforce with blocks.

Avoid Getting Under Raised Trailer

Never place any body parts underneath a trailer supported only by a jack which can collapse! Use stands.

Conclusion

By using solid placement on level ground, properly distributing weight with quality jacks and stands at reinforced points, and taking deliberate precautions, you can now safely perform critical trailer maintenance yourself for more convenient upkeep and savings versus paying a dealer mechanic.

Just be sure to invest properly in equipment rated for your total trailer load, maintain vigilance about stability at all times, and fully secure the raised trailer before working underneath. Follow this guide for confident DIY lifting results when you need your trailer off the ground.

FAQs

What size/type jack stand is needed?
Use 3-ton/6,000 lb jack stands able to independently support the fully loaded boat trailer’s tongue weight and total axle weight.

How much clearance is needed?
Around 18 inches is ideal for providing enough access for tasks like bearing repacks or brake service while keeping the center of gravity low.

Can I rotate tires with trailer jacked up?
Yes, just a few inches raised allows manually rotating the tires, but ensure the full rating of the jack, secure the trailer on stands, and chock wheels.

Is it safe to get under a jacked-up trailer?
Never get or reach underneath a trailer lifted only with a jack that can suddenly collapse! Use sufficiently load-rated jack stands securing the frame properly first for safety.

What precautions should be taken when jacking on a slope?
For slight slopes, position the trailer perpendicular, apply more wheel chocks, and reinforce multiple jack stand and block points. Avoid uneven jacking altogether on hills over a few degrees.