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Having an electric jack for trailers will make life easier for you if you have to hitch and unhitch it all the time. Trailer support jacks are easy to install and have a vast improvement over manual crank jacks.
Additionally, tow jacks often come equipped with LED lights that can be helpful when at night, saving you a lot of time.
In this guide, you’ll get in-depth information on how to install an electric tongue jack on a trailer. Read on to learn more!
1. What is An Electric Trailer Jack?
2. What to Consider Before Buying a Tongue Jack
A trailer jack is a device that works by raising a trailer and stabilizing it to be hitched to a vehicle when towed. The jack is one of many hitch accessories available for towing. The figure below is an example of an electric tongue jack.
Trailer tongues attach directly to hitch jacks, which are the long beams that extend from the front of the trailer. There is a metal base or even a wheel attached to the bottom of the jack, which is attached vertically to the beam.
An electric tongue jack does the essential job of lifting and lowering the front of your trailer. This allows you to connect and disconnect it to/from your tow vehicle.
Here are the benefits of an electric trailer jack.
When you use an electric jack, you will be able to hitch and unhitch your trailer more smoothly and simultaneously, saving you time. With electric jacks, you can create a precise and efficient process.
Lifting something manually could result in a dangerous situation. Using an electric tongue jack, your trailer is supported from the ground, and less strain is placed on your body.
The trailer’s jack can be raised much higher with an electric lift than it could with manual methods. With this, you can connect your trailer to your vehicle more easily.
Here are the factors to consider when looking for the best electric trailer jack.
Your trailer owner’s manual will give you an idea of what is available in terms of an electric tongue jack. Your rig’s gross weight rating can be found in that manual.
Calculating your trailer’s tongue weight will tell you how much lifting power you need. This typically accounts for 10-15% of the trailer’s total weight.
A trailer lift jack that can support 600 to 900 pounds will be needed, for instance, if your trailer weighs 6,000 pounds. A larger capacity jack will be more durable and last longer than one with a smaller capacity.
Always pay attention to the materials and methods used in the construction of your jack to prolong its lifespan. Jacks that are sealed and welded should be used. Water damage will be prevented when electrical components are protected from the elements. You should also make sure that it is weather resistant. Another critical feature to have is corrosion protection.
In addition, you should remember that your jack can be exposed to flying dirt and debris as you drive. As a result, it should also hold up to small rocks and other stuff that hits the jack on the highway.
If you are replacing an old RV jack with a new electrical model, you have the option of either doing the installation yourself or hiring someone capable of doing the job for you.
Due to this, you will need to think about how easy (or how difficult!) it will be for you to install the new jack on your rig.
The installation can be bolted on or welded on. A welded solution is often the best option when you want a permanent solution. With bolt-on methods, U-bolts are used and can be removed. Before you start shopping for a jack, you need to determine which solution is best for your situation.
You should know that the best electric trailer tongue jacks will come with all the software and hardware required to install them.
It is easy to find affordable electric trailer jacks for use with your RV, travel trailer, or 5th wheel.
The price range of a quality electric tongue jack starts at over $30 and goes up to over $240. If you’re looking for a quality electric RV jack while also being affordable, our recommendation would be to identify a model between $120 and $200.
You may pick between two tongue shapes: straight or A-frame. The form of your trailer’s front frame will decide which one you require. Match your trailer’s form to the appropriate jack. An A-frame jack is required if the front of your trailer is A-shaped.
A manual override crank is included with certain electric jacks. This may appear to be a pointless function at first, but when the battery in your jack dies, you’ll immediately realize its importance. It’s an important backup function to have so that you’re never caught off guard.
You’ll have to make yet another decision. Are you looking for a side crank, a top crank, or both? There is no right or incorrect answer; it is entirely dependent on your particular preferences. If you want total control, choose a model with both, and then select which is better when you’re ready to use it.
On the market, you’ll discover three different types of electric trailer jacks. Let’s take a look at each one and talk about their benefits and drawbacks.
Smaller trailers with a single coupler arm often utilize this style of jack.
They’re usually bolted or welded to that arm and have a pivoting design that allows them to swing up and out of the way when you’re hauling your trailer.
Although these jacks normally have a smaller lifting capability, certain side-mount jacks can lift heavier trailers.
The majority of the jacks in our reviews are A-frame jacks.
They bolt into or weld behind the trailer coupler and are designed to be permanently installed on A-frame trailers.
Electric RV jacks of this sort are the most prevalent, and they have enough lifting capability for most travel trailers.
While not all A-frame jacks have this feature, the better versions have a drop-leg design that allows for a faster setup.
Of the three primary jack kinds, this one has the largest lifting capacity.
They typically have capacities ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 pounds and are powered by electric motors.
The main disadvantage of this type of jack is that it is usually more expensive.
An electric trailer tongue jack is much easier to install and has several advantages over hand crank trailer tongue jacks. Here are the steps for installing an electric tongue jack on a trailer.
If you have purchased the correct size hitch jack, it should be easy to install.
A-frame trailer jacks usually have tubes with a diameter of 2.25 inches.
A trailer tongue jack with that diameter is the best on the market. For special sizes, you might require a traditional power jack.
Electric trailer jacks are available for 3,500 to 5,000 pounds, so there is one to fit any size and weight of pull trailers. Tongue weights should not exceed 15% of your trailer’s gross weight.
First, unhook your trailer from the car and elevate the front end of the trailer with a manual hand jack. Drop the side stabilizing jacks as well for more stability if your trailer has them.
To make the trailer safe, chock your wheels and use the brakes.
After you remove the weight from the trailer’s front jack, you should start unbolting things. Avoid using the front stabilizing jacks for this.
Using a hitch reduces the trailer’s weight and increases its stability.
To remove the manual jack, we’ll need to utilize jack stands to hold the front end of the trailer tongue. Lower the manual jack gradually until the trailer is resting on the jack stands. On either side of the trailer A-frame, you may utilize two support stands.
Remove the three bolts holding the manual tongue jack in place once the trailer has fully lowered onto the jack platforms. Don’t throw away the bolts; you’ll need them again. These bolts have a diameter of 3/8 inch and a length of 1 inch.
Trailer jack replacement is straightforward because it’s simple to remove an old jack from an a-frame trailer. All you need to do is remove the mounting bolts.
Depending on how much rust is on your bolts, you might require a rust penetrant to loosen them first.
Place the electric tongue jack into the existing hole after unpacking it. Make sure the jack controls are pointing the truck outwardly. Grab a socket set and use the included star washers to secure everything. The neutral earth connection for the jack is provided by these washers, which cut into the metal.
A second support plate must be installed under the tongue jack. On uneven ground, this prevents it from turning sideways. This support plate will be seen on the majority of modern camper trailers and caravans. If yours hasn’t been installed yet, you’ll need to have a new support plate made and welded in place before using your new heavy-duty electric trailer jack.
You’ll need to align the mounting plate of the electric jack for the trailer with the holes already on your trailer’s A-frame after removing the old jack.
You should face the power jack’s electrical housing forward or sideways if that’s an option.
One reason why the head should be turned laterally is to create space for your truck’s tailgate.
On some truck models, the hitch space is limited, or the tailgates are taller, meaning the electric tongue jack can occasionally interfere with the operation of the trailer hitch.
The process of mounting the tow jack is now complete if a 7-way plug powers it. For an electric trailer jack with just double open wires, you’ll need to crimp on an eyelet terminal by the battery.
Generally, wires are 10-12 gauges, and eyelets are 5/16 in diameter.
To connect the electric tongue jack to your trailer, either locate the electrical joint under the trailer tongue or connect it directly to your battery once you’ve installed the eyelets.
It is simple to connect; remove the rubber protector to facilitate the bolting in of your wires. Ensure that the right cables are connected to the correct location. Hotwires should be connected to hot wires, ground wires to ground wires.
With it connected, the power should be turned on by a button on the jack. If the jack’s foot can be moved upward and downward by using the up/down button, you are all set.
If your electric tongue jack stops working, don’t panic; it may be due to a power outage or because it’s clogged. Here is how to handle the situation:
On the side of the old jacks is a little valve. To hold it, you pull and twist it. This relieves pressure and allows you to work by hand. Then you insert a tool such as a pipe into the jack’s little handle on the other side. To lower or raise the jack, you push and pull left and right.
A manual override cap is found on modern jacks. You’ll discover a nut if you remove the tiny rubber stopper on top. After that, take a crank handle and hook it into place. Slowly turn the jack clockwise or counterclockwise to extend or retract it.
Based on this guide, you should be able to determine which electric trailer tongue jack you need. Beware of cheap electric jacks that contain faulty internal gears and no waterproofing. You should always evaluate the lift capacity, durability, ease of installation, and the price of a tongue jack before making a decision. TOW-MAX is an excellent electric trailer jack supplier.
Our trailer parts expert will answer your inquiries within 12 hours.
Tow-Max is a trusted supplier of trailer parts in China, known for its huge variety of products and one-stop services. We have been supplying customers from Australia, South America, the USA, and the Middle East. Our business partners are located in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Mexico City, Dubai, etc.
No.163-1, Shang yang Road, Dongqian Lake Industrial Zone, Ningbo, 315121, Zhejiang, China
+86-574-8786-2718
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