Class B Camper Van Tire Change & Jacking Basics

Safety first — and this one is not a formality

A loaded Class B camper van can weigh several times what a car weighs, and it does not distribute that weight the way the base van did. Lifting one incorrectly, or in the wrong place, is genuinely dangerous.

Your chassis manufacturer's current owner's manual is the authority on approved jacking points, required jack capacity, wheel and tire procedures, torque specification and safety precautions. Our video shows how we approach it on our own van. It is not a universal instruction set, and nothing here replaces your manual or a roadside assistance professional.

Decide in advance whether you will do this at all

For many owners the right answer is to call roadside assistance, particularly on a highway shoulder. Knowing your coverage, your policy number and your realistic wait time is a useful part of the preparation even if you never lift the van yourself.

Where a tire change makes sense is somewhere safe, level and away from traffic — a driveway, a campground site, a wide pull-off — with daylight and time on your side.

Think about this before you need to

• Does your van carry a spare, and do you know where it is and how it comes down?
• Is the jack that came with the vehicle rated for your loaded weight? Many owners carry a heavier-duty floor jack instead.
• Where are the approved lift points for your chassis, and are they reachable past the coach's skirting and tanks?
• Do you have the right lug wrench or socket, and a torque wrench to finish the job correctly?
• Do you carry wheel chocks and something to spread load under the jack on soft ground?

Non-negotiables whenever a van is lifted

• Level, firm ground only. Never a slope or soft shoulder.
• Chock the wheels that stay on the ground before lifting.
• Never put any part of your body under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• Loosen lug nuts slightly before lifting, and torque them properly once the wheel is back on the ground.
• Re-check torque after a short drive, and check the spare's pressure before you rely on it.

Watch the video, then read your manual

The video at the top of this page shows the process on our van with a floor jack, which is useful for seeing how much room and setup the job really takes. Then confirm every point against your chassis manufacturer's current documentation for your model and year.

This article is a draft pending editorial review.