Trailer Aid Ramp
If you’re an experienced RVer, you’ve probably already dealt with a blown tire. If you’re a new RVer, you need to get comfortable with the idea that you will have to deal with it at some point.
RV tires don’t last as long as car and truck tires. If you have a dual axle RV, make sure you have the Camco Trailer-Aid Plus (I prefer the yellow version) handy because it will make that stressful tire experience more comfortable to address.
If you don’t have it handy, you’re going to be kicking yourself later.
Trailer Aid Plus
As soon as I heard my tire blow, I knew right away what had happened. While I was fortunate not to suffer any significant trailer damage, the experience was not enjoyable.
I had put less than 1800 miles on these tires (pictured below.) I had purchased the trailer used, but it was a 2017 and probably had less than 3000 miles on it. It is certainly less the 5000 miles on it. That is a far cry from the 50,000 miles I had on my last set of car tires.
The tires that came with my Salem would be classified as “China Bombs” in some RV circles. I had not put much stock in the term previously. The funny part was, that I was a little excited to change the tire out.
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Camco Trailer Aid Plus
A few months prior, I had filmed a YouTube video discussing the need to be prepared for a tire blowout, but I had never actually had one. Here was my chance to put my money where my mouth was. You can see the YouTube video here, and read my triumphant blog post on it here. I didn’t realize how hard it was to change my tire without the Camco Trailer-Aid Plus.
Because my trailer has leaf springs, when I jacked up my travel trailer, the leaf springs pushed the axles back down. A single jack wasn’t going to get the job done.
I had to use a combination of the 4-ton hydraulic jack I purchased just for this purpose, as well as the old school crank jack from my truck. Between the two, I got the tire off, and the spare on. A week later, I was recounting my heroics, and someone asked why I didn’t have a Trailer-Aid. A what?
Camco Manufacturing
So it turns out, I’m not the first person to deal with this. Someone smarter than I figured out that if you have a dual axle RV, you can drive the tire that is still good up on a ramp, and it will lift the blown tire off the ground.
I’m not sure if Camco Manufacturing was the first to figure that out, but they make a perfect ramp for getting the job done. In one of my latest YouTube videos, I demo exactly how this trailer ramp works, as well as some other critical tire-related tools you need as an RVer.
It doesn’t hurt to keep the 4-ton jack and other devices on your RV, but you want to add the Trailer-Aid Plus to the mix.
The Competition
Trailer Aid Plus
As much as I think the Camco Trailer-Aid Plus Yellow is the ramp for me, there are other options. The Camco version gives you about a 5.5-inch lift and can handle 15,000 lbs of load, which is more than enough for me. It also weighs only about 5 lbs, so it won’t weigh you down if that is a concern. The price fluctuates, so check Amazon for the current price.
Rhino Ramp
RhinoGear makes a similar product. Here are the RhinoRamps Vehicle Ramps, and you can get a pair of them from Amazon. They may be a good option for a triple axle RV. They can only support 12,000 and weigh in at about 18 lbs.
Trailer Helper
A third option is the Trailer Helper. This all-metal ramp was designed for horse trailers but should handle your RV as well. It is a little more expensive than the other options and weighs in at 17 lbs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as an RVer, you’re going to need to deal with a tire issue at some point. Why not be ready, make your life easier, and pick up one of these trailer ramps that will help you change your flat tire when it happens. These are certainly not the only options on the market, but they work for me and will probably get the job done for you as well.
If you’d like to read a little more on our trailer tire blowout experience, read our blog post on it here.
Don’t forget to check out our Recommended RV Equipment list!
Get a FREE copy of the Go Together Go Far Travel Trailer Hookup and Disconnect Checklist when you sign up for the Go Together Go Far Newsletter!
