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02-09-2014, 04:57 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Name: David
Trailer: Scamp
Michigan
Posts: 140
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Swivel Jack Selection
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02-09-2014, 05:31 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
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I presume you've measured the distance from ground-to-tongue and ascertained that this jack is short enough to sufficiently retract. (Just passing on something I learned the hard way when replacing mine and the first jack I bought was too tall.)
That said:
The jack you link to looks like an excellent choice to me. And you might even get lucky with the retaining ring size...if it matches the one you already have, it might mount right on the existing plate, thus saving you the trouble of welding the new plate on.
__________________
............... ..................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
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02-09-2014, 06:50 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,415
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I agree with Francesca, the retracted length, or the length of the outer tube is an important consideration, that I too learned the hard way. I have a replacement on our Uhaul from Tractor Supply that fit the original swivel where the retaining snap ring is. Maybe it's a standard size?? Also consider if you want a solid foot as in the link, or a wheel, and if you want a top or side crank. Be careful with that snap ring, get the correct pliers for it if you can, and be aware there is a lot of tension there, they can slip and fly off.
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02-09-2014, 07:22 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
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An easy solution to jacks that don't retract enough to not drag, is to simply remove the jack. My Hunter Compact-II is very low to the ground and a dragging jack will assure frame damage. I just keep a 9/16" retcheting box wrench handy and remove the jack after hitching. Takes less than 3 minutes to remove or install and there is no low point dragging to worry about.
BTW: I don't like swing-away jacks for anything you are going to spend the night in, to flimsy for moi.
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02-09-2014, 07:36 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,415
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Miller
BTW: I don't like swing-away jacks for anything you are going to spend the night in, to flimsy for moi.
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I agree, that's why I use support stands or stabilizers at all 4 corners
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02-09-2014, 10:20 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
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Per swingaway jacks vs. A-frame:
I much prefer the swingaway since when stowed it lines up with the frame and presents no opportunity for things to "catch" on the foot, as sometimes happens with the up-down only A-frame type jack. See picture below of just such an occurrence reported here in the last few days: the member caught it on a curb of some kind.
Picture source
As for stability:
I tried a wheeled version of the swivel jack and found that it did, indeed, provide a much less stable support when in use than the non-wheeled model. But I have no complaints at all now that I've gone back to the standard, more solid footed support. Nor do I provide any extra support at the front of the trailer.
I will say that my present jack is a Bulldog "swivel" version, which by means of pulling a pin is also entirely removable from the tongue itself. I chose this jack because I'm towing on the ragged edge of too much tongue weight, and depending on propane levels in the tank, the jack itself can be removed and stowed elsewhere, thereby keeping the tongue weight within the rear axle capacity of the car.
__________________
............... ..................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
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02-09-2014, 10:50 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Name: David
Trailer: Scamp
Michigan
Posts: 140
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Fantastic feedback. Thanks to all.
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02-10-2014, 08:39 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,415
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I like the wheel because I can move the camper around easily by hand if on a hard surface. That photo of the bent jack is a good example of one that has too long of a outer tube and extends too far below the A-frame. Francesca is right about the wheel being less stable, therefore my reason for supports at all 4 corners when set up in camp.
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02-10-2014, 11:15 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
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The pic in Post #6, on another Hunter Compact-II, is exactly why I remove my entire jack when towing. I have a 3500 lb front jack and, with two jack stands at the back corners, it is as solid as a rock supporting the trailer when camping.
The Hunter frame is so low (thanks to a 4" drop axle so as to fit in a garage) that you can't get a tongue jack that will retract far enough to clear steep driveways, curbs etc.
BTW: I would never occupy a trailer while on a jack wheel. For the most part they wobble and are cheesy anyway.
When I want to push anything, from my 1200 lb Hunter to a 4500 lb sticky, I rest the jack on a 4 wheel moving dolly and push away. Much easier.
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02-10-2014, 01:27 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Escape 19 and Escape 15B
Alberta
Posts: 523
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If your jack extends downwards too far, 10 min and a sharp hacksaw blade should be able to fix things up nicely.
__________________
Dave W - 2013 Escape 19', 2013 Escape 15B and 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there." - Yogi Berra
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02-10-2014, 01:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice-breaker
If your jack extends downwards too far, 10 min and a sharp hacksaw blade should be able to fix things up nicely.
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That fixes one problem while creating another, a shorter tongue jack.....
I have been in campsites where I needed almost full jack extension to get level front to back.
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02-10-2014, 01:48 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Escape 19 and Escape 15B
Alberta
Posts: 523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Miller
That fixes one problem while creating another, a shorter tongue jack.....
I have been in campsites where I needed almost full jack extension to get level front to back.
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A few wooden blocks of assorted thickness really help.
__________________
Dave W - 2013 Escape 19', 2013 Escape 15B and 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there." - Yogi Berra
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02-10-2014, 03:27 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Name: Alice
Trailer: 2018 Casita SD - Kondo A-Go-Go
Utah
Posts: 502
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I have a flat footed jack on the front of my 13' Scamp. But I swap the foot out for a wheel when I get home so I can push Scamp into the garage. It is a pain (literally) to get down that low to attach the wheel/foot and to line up the holes for the pin. Tried to get a swing away jack with wheel that bolts on to the side, was told it won't work because of the setup for the two propane tanks. Does anyone have a 13', with 2 propane tanks and a swing away wheel jack? I'd love to know what brand/size it is please.
__________________
Alice
KONDO A-GO-GO - I GO WHERE I'M TOWED
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02-10-2014, 03:40 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
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If making the trailer foot "wheeled" just for in-and-out of the garage is your goal, Alice, here's what I do:
I have an old office chair that we scoot around the shop in...when I want to shift the trailer around on the concrete, I take the seat out of the wheeled base and stick a trailer ball in the hole the seat shaft came out of.
Now the tongue is on four swivel casters...I can push my Trillium around the shop with ease on this setup.
Only works on a hard surface like concrete/asphalt, of course.
__________________
............... ..................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
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02-10-2014, 03:50 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,415
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Alice, it may be possible to have a bracket fabricated to allow the jack to swing crossways in front of the tanks rather than along the frame. I also have some problem getting low to the ground with bad back and knees. I carry one of those flat foam knee pads to make it easier.
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02-10-2014, 06:03 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Name: Alice
Trailer: 2018 Casita SD - Kondo A-Go-Go
Utah
Posts: 502
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Francesca: That's a cool solution, but 1. I don't have a spare chair to convert and 2. I'm looking for something fast and convenient.
Mary&Bob: I carry the flat foam kneeler also. It is a big help. But, I need to bend down and around in order to get the pin in the holes lined up to insert the pin. That crinks my neck and causes cramps in my back.
Thinking maybe I can paint locator markings . Will try that and see if it works.
__________________
Alice
KONDO A-GO-GO - I GO WHERE I'M TOWED
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02-10-2014, 06:37 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Name: Mark
Trailer: 1969 Boler (Flat Top)
British Columbia
Posts: 530
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I use this for my foot jack in the garage. The ad says 200lbs capacity but the packaging say 300lbs. Anyway it works great. Wheels swivel for easy manoeuvring. Only 7 bucks!
6 in. Tri-Dolly | Princess Auto
Polyolefin swivel casters with steel wheel bearings
Attributes & Specifications
Type Swivel tri-dolly
Construction Polyolefin
Size 6 (152) in. (mm)
Load Capacity 200 (91) lb (kg)
__________________
Mark
1969 Boler (#183)
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02-10-2014, 06:43 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice-breaker
A few wooden blocks of assorted thickness really help.
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4" of wooden blocks doth not make for a stable trailer on a rough, slanted or gravel camp site. I like the tongue jack firmly imbeded into solid ground... Beside that, it's yet something else to carry.....
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02-10-2014, 06:52 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Escape 19 and Escape 15B
Alberta
Posts: 523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Miller
4" of wooden blocks doth not make for a stable trailer on a rough, slanted or gravel camp site. I like the tongue jack firmly imbeded into solid ground... Beside that, it's yet something else to carry.....
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Don't rely on the jack for trailer stability. Use the stabilizers in the four corners of you trailer instead.
__________________
Dave W - 2013 Escape 19', 2013 Escape 15B and 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there." - Yogi Berra
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