levelling up with twin rear wheels (1 Viewer)

[Ian-n-Suzy]

Hi,

What is the general consensus re levelling up (yellow fiamma jobbies), with twin rear wheels.

Is it safe to have just one rear wheel supported or do we need to invest in another set to use a ramp for each rear wheel on the side that needs levelling?

If you had to use just one ramp, is it better on the inner or outer wheel?

Thanks

 

[CazPaul]

I usually try to turn it around so that the front wheels are used.
It doesn't seem right just using one chock with the twin rears does it.

 

[Larrynwin]

With the RV I had in the avatar I carried two sets of blocks and supported both wheels.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[funflair]

I will refrain from mentioning Hydraulic? On the subject of yellow ramp I have seen them sitting with one wheel on the ramp but I wouldn’t do it.

Martin

 

[shawn&emma]

Same as @Larrynwin for us, enough ramps/blocks for both sets of rears if needed.

 

[Ian-n-Suzy]

Thanks for the replies.

It's left to right I needed to level so would have needed front and rear. I refrained from doing it as I only had the 2 ramps.

I'll put another set on before the next outing.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[tonyidle]

I level on the outside wheel only. I can't imagine any problem caused by doing so.

 

[pappajohn]

I would say a single ramp should be under the inner wheel.
Logically, this is the wheel surrounding the bearings and hub in the same way a single wheel does whereas the outer wheel is put on 'backwards' and is outboard of the bearings and hub putting a lever moment on the axle.
In reality, it will make no difference... You aren't going to bend the axle stub or collapse the bearing by placing under the outer wheel.
If it did you would cause damage every time you accidently drove the wheel up a kerb at an angle.

 

[shawn&emma]

I would say a single ramp should be under the inner wheel.
Logically, this is the wheel surrounding the bearings and hub in the same way a single wheel does whereas the outer wheel is put on 'backwards' and is outboard of the bearings and hub putting a lever moment on the axle.
In reality, it will make no difference... You aren't going to bend the axle stub or collapse the bearing by placing under the outer wheel.
If it did you would cause damage every time you accidently drove the wheel up a kerb at an angle.

I prefer to use ramps/boards on each wheel because I would have thought that if like in our case the van is pretty much to max weight most of the time to have all the load on one tyre can not be good. More so if I'm parked up for longer periods.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[tonyidle]

I would say a single ramp should be under the inner wheel.
Logically, this is the wheel surrounding the bearings and hub in the same way a single wheel does whereas the outer wheel is put on 'backwards' and is outboard of the bearings and hub putting a lever moment on the axle.
In reality, it will make no difference... You aren't going to bend the axle stub or collapse the bearing by placing under the outer wheel.
If it did you would cause damage every time you accidentally drove the wheel up a kerb at an angle.

The inner wheel is installed 'dish outward' and the outer wheel 'dish inward'. The centre line is where the wheels meet or (near enough) the hub mounting face. You're correct though about the lever effect. As you suggest riding a kerb would have more effect (and the vehicle loading the outer wheel on a bend an even greater effect) than using a ramp under one wheel. The reason I use the outer wheel is because it's easier than using the inner wheel.

 

[CazPaul]

The inner wheel is installed 'dish outward' and the outer wheel 'dish inward'. The centre line is where the wheels meet or (near enough) the hub mounting face. You're correct though about the lever effect. As you suggest riding a kerb would have more effect (and the vehicle loading the outer wheel on a bend an even greater effect) than using a ramp under one wheel. The reason I use the outer wheel is because it's easier than using the inner wheel.

Yes but mounting a kerb etc is only for a second or 2, parking on the chocks maybe for a week or more.

 

[Ranger]

It depends on the weight and length of stay. We use Millenco triples and place it centrally under both wheels therefore protecting the hub and halving the weight on each tyre but I wouldn't be comfortable doing it on a 7 or 10 ton vehicle.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Eggs]

I got a mate to cut me a 'wedge' out of Greenheart timber that I can roll both wheels onto if needed.

 

[pappajohn]

The inner wheel is installed 'dish outward' and the outer wheel 'dish inward'. The centre line is where the wheels meet or (near enough) the hub mounting face

Agreed, but the offset on ALL six wheels is the same or you would need more than one spare so the center line of the inner wheel has to be nearer the hub and bearing, as are all single wheels, than the outer even though both are on the OUTER face of the hub.
As I said, you aint going to damage anything no matter which wheel you use.

 

[pappajohn]

Yes but mounting a kerb etc is only for a second or 2, parking on the chocks maybe for a week or more.

You still won't damage anything.... It could take many weeks just to deform the tyre.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

Anyway, the OPs last question was...

If you had to use just one ramp, is it better on the inner or outer wheel?

Not specifically is it better to use two ramps.
My answer was obviously to the last question.

 

[tonyidle]

Agreed, but the offset on ALL six wheels is the same or you would need more than one spare so the center line of the inner wheel has to be nearer the hub and bearing, as are all single wheels, than the outer even though both are on the OUTER face of the hub.
As I said, you aint going to damage anything no matter which wheel you use.

You're correct of course - I hadn't considered the spare issue . And I completely agree with your last statement.

 

[pappajohn]

You're correct of course - I hadn't considered the spare issue . And I completely agree with your last statement.

Thank you.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[funflair]

You're correct of course - I hadn't considered the spare issue . And I completely agree with your last statement.

Actually a lot of vans on the IVECO chassis have alloy wheels on the front and a matching alloy trim on the rear steel wheels so they are not interchangeable as the alloy does not have the offset dish, the spare is steel and you need to fit a spacer to the front hub to use it, you will also find that the rear hub bearings protrude through the centre of the rear inside wheel so that the combined load of the two wheels is pretty evenly loaded on the bearings.

Martin

 

[Macca1954]

Used to use commercial vehicle lifts on trucks and buses only ever sat on the outside wheels bus is about 8000 kilo as is a tractor unit never done any damage so can’t see the problem. Stick em on the outside

 

[tonyidle]

Actually a lot of vans on the IVECO chassis have alloy wheels on the front and a matching alloy trim on the rear steel wheels so they are not interchangeable as the alloy does not have the offset dish, the spare is steel and you need to fit a spacer to the front hub to use it, you will also find that the rear hub bearings protrude through the centre of the rear inside wheel so that the combined load of the two wheels is pretty evenly loaded on the bearings.

Martin

Mine's a Merc chassis and as yet I haven't taken any wheels off but close examination of the rears (when I was struggling to check pressures) suggests they have a large inset/outset to place the load on both wheels equally about the mounting flange. If (as I assume) the same wheels are on the front (and it appears that they are) then I also have to assume the flange has additional depth, or a spacer, to place the tyre centre line over the bearings.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}