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When I need to remove a wheel, and I'm in the garage, I use a floor jack under the spring plate. This seems like the best place to lift the trailer to me. The only reason I can think of for saying "don't lift it under the axle" is to prevent people jacking up the trailer in the middle of the axle between the left and right wheels. That will not work, but it is how tire shops lift pickups, so it would probably happen, sooner or later if allowed. Putting a block on top of a floor jack is very dangerous at it will roll and spit out the block and drop the load. Not a good plan. When I installed my Heavy duty suspension kit, I placed jack stands under the frame after lifting with the floor jack under the spring plate. This allowed me to adjust the axle up and down as needed during the work and it was very safe with two stands per side. I can hear the trailer creaking a bit when running the jacks down under load. It makes sense because they are applying force behind the rear axle. Jacking under the spring plate for service applies the lifting force exactly where that force comes from normally from the suspension. The jacks are plenty strong enough to lift the trailer, but I see no reason to lift the tires clear off the ground just to level it. It just seems kind of silly to lift the wheels off the ground for leveling, especially since the jacks have play in them and the tires, while still in contact with the ground will make the trailer more stabile. Much better to drive it up onto a some blocks and then fine tune with the jacks. Or drive the high side into a hole and fine tune. Also, these units are "jacks" and not simply "stabilizers". They are jacks that we use to stabilize, but the typical stabilizers cannot be used for jacks. I'm referring to those simple scissors type units that are dropped down at each corner in other trailers. They are not for lifting. So, we have jacks, that we use for stabilizing the trailer AND that can be used for lifting if needed. I would definitely use them to change a tire alongside the road. It was common knowledge (whatever value that has) when I got my Ollie that the jacks were fine for tire changing. Oliver seems to not have their story straight, and it has apparently changed over time. But if there was a real issue, they would make it clear, I'm sure. Or they would upgrade to make it safer. Not bothering to answer tells me, besides being disorganized, that they don't consider it a no no, especially since they used to tout it as a benefit. Bottom line for me: Use the jacks to stabilize or change a tire on the road. Jack it up in the shop with a floor jack under the spring plates below the axle and set it on jack stands under the frame. NEVER use a tall block to extend the reach of a floor jack. NEVER leave it up on it's own jacks and work on it with the wheels off or when going under it. Don't level it at a campsite by lifting the wheels clear off the ground. Common sense must always prevail! Don't rely on Oliver to always give the absolute firm policy regarding these issues. One, they change their story over time and by who you talk to, or they just don't answer. Two, they make blanket statements that don't always make sense. Three, it's up to each of us to be safe and responsible for ourselves. Blaming them for a mishap is not going to reduce the pain.

KountryKamper: According to your July 2017 picture of the steel subframe; the U shaped steel frame looks to be about 12 inches longer than where the spring hangers are installed. On our 2015 Elite II the U shape steel subframe extends about one inches past where the spring hangers are installed. Because of this short distance there is no space where a jack stand could be placed on the subframe when doing maintenance on the wheels.

Just lift the trailer with the jack and put a couple of jack stands under the frame near the wheels. Do your maintenance and then remove them.

I think it is unacceptable that OTT can not provide us with simple guidance for jack placement/use for 1) changing or rotating tires. 2) changing out flat tires. 3) doing routine wheel bearing maintenance. I am taking the trailer to a local shop next week to have the wheel bearings checked/repacked. I have owned my trailer #140 May 2016 and I am baffled that this issue has not been put to rest. I would hope that Jason would take 5 min and update the University regarding this issue. If I don't get some guidance from him, I am going to use some large rubber air bladders filled with helium. Putting them inside the trailer. Lastly. I love my Oliver trailer and consider it to be the best dang trailer I have owned. And I have owned a bunch and this is my last one.

Location is Plain, Washington, near Leavenworth, about two hours NE of Seattle, four hours west of Spokane. It’s a very pretty mountain valley (1800 ft elevation) surrounded by 6000 ft mountains, lakes, waterfalls, endless National Forest roads, and even wineries around nearby Wenatchee. There are portable toilets, but no hookups or potable water taps. The venue is located on a very large grassy field, freshly mowed. A small general store with gas and groceries is within walking distance. https://www.google.com/maps/place/18899-18701+Chumstick+Hwy,+Leavenworth,+WA+98826/@47.7614394,-120.6567033,19z/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x549baa6f13116dab:0x7a03ade9ae415230?hl=en I plan to camp with my wife and Labradoodles at least two of the three nights, We have been once before to this particular event, and it was a hoot, but only if you are moderately interested in overlanding and 4wd travel. It is similar to the amazing Overland Expo West in Arizona (we visited that one twice) but on a much smaller scale, and without the desert flavor or heat. http://www.nwoverlandrally.com/home.html Early (discounted) registration is open through March 31, cost is $240 for a full event family pass (including all kids under 18), plus a 20x20’ camping spot, plus an extra 20x20 one for your Ollie, if you feel you need the room.... which you probably do. That includes access to all events, parties, discussions, movies, vendor displays, technical classes, and organised trail rides for drivers of all experience levels and all 4wd vehicles, stock to heavily modified. Plus they give away a bunch of cool Overland swag every evening at the communal bonfire. http://www.nwoverlandrally.com/register.html I will ask for a pair of tandem spots so I easily park and fit Mouse, the deployed awning, my Cruiser plus maybe a tent for my son if he decides to drive up from Seattle. If any Ollie owners, both local or “passing through”, want to attend, you would be most welcome! Just be prepared to be mobbed by interested visitors. The folks who attend these events really appreciate high tech and high quality construction. I could find out from the organisers if we could reserve a single patch of the field for several Olivers. I just need to know pretty soon. Otherwise we would be spread at random in a very large field... Comments? Anybody interested? https://expeditionportal.com/the-vehicles-of-nw-overland-rally-2017/ For pics and videos, Google NW Overland Rally. Thanks for reading. John Davies Spokane WA

For anyone that is still sitting on the fence regarding whether to attend this year's Owner's Rally, perhaps the opportunity to see one of these yellow cardinals will tip you in the attending direction. Who would have thought that Alabama would have such a thing? Bill http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2018/02/one_in_a_million_yellow_cardinal.html

Here is a good thread, I won’t bother highlighting the points made there. http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?topic=67545.0 One issue with an Ollie is the high frame clearance. Jacking the frame requires a floor jack with LOTS of lift, or lots of blocks placed on top of it’s pad. An extended reach bottle jack might be OK but requires lots of spacers underneath. Jacking under a spring pad is better IMO because it is so close to the ground and a very strong jack point, and it eliminates a bunch of loose stuff that might slip out and cause an accident. You do need to watch for the spring equalizer flipping over with just one tire off the ground. This cannot happen if both are raised by using the onboard jacks. John Davies Spokane WA

Is anyone using the trailer aid in the previous post with a ez-flex equipped trailer?

Agree with Steve, That's how I lift Ollie, too. The method Overland mentioned, should work, too: https://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Aid-Tandem-Changing-Change-Trailers/dp/B000I4JPZE

From the OE West website: “WHY OVERLAND EXPO? One word: Community. Of all the comments we get raving about the quality of classes, instructors, and vendors, one impression strikes people the hardest, and that is the people who come to learn, to teach, and to share. The Overland Expo has become a mandatory calendar event for travelers from all over the world, many of whom schedule trans-continental journeys to coincide with a West or East Expo, to see old friends and meet new ones. Those new to overlanding tell us again and again how welcomed they feel by this community whose reason for being, after all, is to explore, learn new things, and meet new people. It’s why our motto is: Overland Expo—where adventure begins and frindships last.” For someone living in an area with abundant offroad recreation and minimal actual boondocking experience, it is a fantastic way to get educated, learn basic skills, and get acquainted with the overlanding community. Finally, just wandering around looking at all the cool stuff is amazing and lots of fun... John Davies Spokane Wa

I have no problem using the jacks to lift one side, though I wouldn't lift the trailer up on all three. I think it needs one set of tires on the ground to provide lateral stability.