With our new F-150 came the ability to carry all the gear we’ll probably never use. Of course the only problem is accessing that gear before unhitching since the
Casita jack interferes with Ford tailgate. Knowing this ahead of time and not being prepared to live without a new truck or with this situation I needed a solution.
Since I only have basic hand tools with which to fabricate steel and no easy way to bend or make large holes I concluded that a quick detachable jack system using only off the shelf components that would need minimal modification was the way to go. Welding would have to be subbed out but there would be no expensive outside experimental fabrication.
The resulting mod consists of a flanged female threaded assembly bolted to the trailer and a male threaded assembly welded to the jack. All the fabrication other than welding was done with a vise, hacksaw, files, a HD pistol drill and a few other common hand tools and took about 3 hours.
The system works really well. No tools are needed to set it up or take it down. Because of the straight coupling the jack spins easily down to the stop and because it can be removed from the trailer as soon as it is raised enough for the foot to clear the ground a lot of cranking is eliminated.
The basic bill of materials consists of:
(1) 2-1/2 x 6 sch. 80 pipe nipple
(1) 2-1/2 straight thread ridged conduit pipe coupling
(1) 3/8 pipe half coupling
(1) 3/8 x 3 pipe nipple
(1) 3/8 pipe cap
(1) 2-1/2 USS flat washer
(18”) .063 wire
(3) 3/8 x1 grade 5 bolts & nuts
Total: $45- $50 + Welding: $25
If anyone has any interest in doing this mod I’ll write up detailed instructions and post them.
Pete