Electric "Swing-away" tongue jack

[wavery]

I don't know if this interests others or not but I had a couple of unique issues that I solved with one installation.

I made this mod a couple months ago but I hesitated posting it until I used it a few times.

My 1st problem was that I didn't like the center-tongue mounted jack that was installed on my trailer because I couldn't open my tailgate without hitting it. I resolved that issue several years ago by installing a swing-away jack. Then, I decided that cranking up our 500# tongue weight with a manual jack was getting old so I started shopping for an electric jack........ low and behold...... I came across an electric swing-away jack. That killed 2 birds with one stone......

The jack is simple to mount on most trailers, with 4-bolts and fits almost any frame (Our frame is 5" x 2").  It was a pretty tight fit on my TrailManor due to the front slide-out but that isn't an issue on any other camper that I am aware of. The jack is rated @ 1500# but I wouldn't recommend it for anything much heavier than 500#. The jack itself is VERY robust but the motor isn't IMO....... It is a bit noisy too. It cranks my trailer tongue from the ground to the top of the stroke without stopping but it is slow and it seems to struggle a bit at times.

Here is the tricky bit.....It doesn't hard-wire to the camper's electrical system. It has it's own cord and it plugs into the tow vehicle's trailer harness outlet. If you try to run the jack without the TV engine running, it may blow a fuse (it did on mine). It works great with the engine running though...... I would say that the motor is more of a 13.5v motor than a 12v motor. It comes with a flat 4-pin connector which is kinda silly because a 4-pin TV outlet does not have a proper 12v charging line and that is a MUST. So, plan on purchasing an inexpensive 7-pin trailer connector and wiring it in (10-minute job)...... that is, assuming that you have a 7-pin outlet on your TV....

Bottom line..... I give this thing an 8 out of 10 (so far). I've used it on 2 camp-outs now and quite a few times in the garage...... so far....so good.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/350497211882?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

[Oz and Us]

My 1st problem was that I didn't like the center-tongue mounted jack that was installed on my trailer because I couldn't open my tailgate without hitting it.

Was the tailgate hitting the manual tongue jack's handle or the jack shaft itself?   It's not uncommon for the handle to be in the way and for me replacing the manual tongue jack with an electric tongue jack solved that issue nicely because the head on many if not most electric tongue jacks can be rotated, which is often enough to provide the clearance necessary.  That said, that swing up electric tongue jack does look like a great solution for those who can't solve this issue any other way.

[rjniles]

I have a electric swing away tongue jack that is a lot cheaper and more versatile

[wavery]

My 1st problem was that I didn't like the center-tongue mounted jack that was installed on my trailer because I couldn't open my tailgate without hitting it.

Was the tailgate hitting the manual tongue jack's handle or the jack shaft itself?   It's not uncommon for the handle to be in the way and for me replacing the manual tongue jack with an electric tongue jack solved that issue nicely because the head on many if not most electric tongue jacks can be rotated, which is often enough to provide the clearance necessary.  That said, that swing up electric tongue jack does look like a great solution for those who can't solve this issue any other way.

My t/gate hit the jack itself. I could only open the t/gate about half way. Now, I can lower it all the way and slide out my bed-slide about 3'. That really helps get suff out of the back because we have that camper shell.

I have a electric swing away tongue jack that is a lot cheaper and more versatile

I tried the electric drill (20v Craftsman lithium-ion with 500 inch # of torque). It wouldn't budge my 500# tongue wt. but almost broke my wrist trying...... besides, you can't buy a decent electric drill for the price of the electric jack @ $150....