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Old 06-12-2019, 11:50 AM   #1
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Name: Liz
Trailer: 2014 13' Scamp
Arizona
Posts: 10
Tongue jack

The tongue jack that came with my Scamp has a big wheel. It's so big that there's never room between the ground and the jack to attach it. What to do?
Do any of you have this problem also? and have you solved it? I'm finding it such a challenge to hitch up, because I have to get the ball exactly under the cup. If it's even 1/8 inch off, I can't secure it. I figure with the wheel, I'd have at least a little wiggle room, I'd be able to push it over to the right or left if needed.

I'm in my 80s, so I can't possible push it around, even 1/8 inch, the way I see some of the big boys doing.

Please help!!
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Old 06-12-2019, 12:07 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Tent Soloist View Post
The tongue jack that came with my Scamp has a big wheel. It's so big that there's never room between the ground and the jack to attach it. What to do?
Do any of you have this problem also? and have you solved it? I'm finding it such a challenge to hitch up, because I have to get the ball exactly under the cup. If it's even 1/8 inch off, I can't secure it. I figure with the wheel, I'd have at least a little wiggle room, I'd be able to push it over to the right or left if needed.

I'm in my 80s, so I can't possible push it around, even 1/8 inch, the way I see some of the big boys doing.

Please help!!



It's been my experience that tongue jacks for moving the trailer are big waste. I move mine around with a trailer dolly. They're available from Harbour Freight, and other places. Just use google and search. Here's one from Walmart https://www.walmart.com/ip/Trailer-Dolly/51985969?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid= 22222222227044453276&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=87314839 489&wl4=pla-193948364929&wl5=9032968&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl 10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=51985969&wl13=&veh=sem &gclid=Cj0KCQjwxYLoBRCxARIsAEf16-vRJNe3Sr5uMoW3ZLwvjShfK-htB8JXY8OtUHlKIJMXhL1RrSjmkMUaAoXEEALw_wcB

which is like the one I have.


OR this one from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-7022.../dp/B008CE0TN4
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Old 06-12-2019, 12:10 PM   #3
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Name: BucketsGoneWild
Trailer: 2004 Scamp
Arkansas
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I’ve found that if I put a little Vaseline on the ball, it’ll slip in better. Someone suggested soap.
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Old 06-12-2019, 12:38 PM   #4
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Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
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The wheel on my 13Scamp is always left at home.
I only use it rolling the trailer around the driveway and the shop.
When traveling, I remove the wheel and install the foot on the jack.
That allows for plenty of clearance.
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Old 06-12-2019, 12:47 PM   #5
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Name: kenneth
Trailer: x
Georgia
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Close enough

I've found over the years that getting close is close enough when hitching up. Even with a backup camera (which are incredibly useful for that task!) I can still be a bit off. I've found that letting the tongue down onto the ball, even if it's 1/4 inch or more 'off', it will guide itself into place. Helps to have a bit of grease on the ball, for this task and towing in general. You just have to make sure the tongue latch has the ball captured. If it didn't, just raise the tongue off the hitch ball, reset it and lower down again.
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Old 06-12-2019, 01:24 PM   #6
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Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Tent Soloist View Post
I figure with the wheel, I'd have at least a little wiggle room, I'd be able to push it over to the right or left if needed.

I'm in my 80s, so I can't possible push it around, even 1/8 inch, the way I see some of the big boys doing.

Please help!!
This is the question Liz asked, how to get the wheel on to ease hooking up. I've had this problem with my daughter's pop-up camper. My way to resolve it is a little long so I won't mention it. But another option may work. The tube length and distance the jack retracts is different on some jacks. For example if the outer tube of the jack sticks way down below the trailer tongue then the distance from the ground to bottom of the moveable inner tube will not be as much as another jack that the outer tube barely is below the tongue. You can find tongue jacks with different retracted length, etrailer is one source. And then there is the Ultimate Jack where the whole thing can be moved up and down but that may be a different problem.
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Old 06-13-2019, 05:01 AM   #7
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Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
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I’m with Floyd, except with a gravel driveway, I don’t use a wheel at home either. I have a trailer dolly at home and a flat foot on the road.

On the one occasion I wanted to swing the trailer around at camp after unhitching. I removed the LP tank (to fuel our outside kitchen) and was able to lift the tongue enough to slide the foot while my crew pushed. Since it’s only safe to do on a flat, level site, it’s just not that important.
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Old 06-13-2019, 05:20 AM   #8
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While camping I use the BAL Tongue Twister to finesses the receiver onto the ball. Set it perpendicular to the trailer's long axis. Comes with a ratchet wrench. Very easy to move the hitch left and right but you do have to have the fore and aft location close.

Fore and aft-wise, I like to have the hitch a tiny bit behind the ball so that lowering the hitch will tend to pull the trailer ahead a slight bit which makes sure that the receiver under jaw (the part that cups the ball from under the back when you lower the latch) is not trapped and give me the appearance of a false hitch.

I've seen it as low as $35. I'd make sure the wrench was included in the price.

I expect it would be fine to use at home as well.

I put a couple of dayglo paint spots on it because my eyes tend to pass over it when checking the site before I leave. I've left one behind.

Like the others, I move the trailer at home with a dolly.

Edit: altered the picture to show the wrench that comes with...
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tongue twister.JPG  
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Old 06-13-2019, 05:44 AM   #9
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Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
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Tongue jack

That’s cool, Steve, and exactly what the OP needs to gain that few inches or less to hook up. I’ve ever seen it before.
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Old 06-13-2019, 06:11 AM   #10
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Name: John
Trailer: 2019 Oliver Elite II
Texas
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I never used a wheel on a travel trailer, I put them away and when I sell the trailer the new owner gets a new one. I just use a flat plate that attaches to the tongue jack, this plate will let the jack be raised enough and it will not have to be removed and stays on the jack all the time, you get plenty of clearance with the plate and the ground. I also carry with me two 4x4 blocks and this saves raising and lowering the jack so much and I have a power tongue jack.

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Old 06-13-2019, 07:26 AM   #11
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Quote:
I never used a wheel on a travel trailer
i'm not fond of wheels on the tongue jack either. however, when on the road i do carry on in the truck. just in case, god forbid, you need to have the trailer towed. the wheel sure would make it easier to get the thing on a rollback.

p@
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Old 06-13-2019, 07:49 AM   #12
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Trailer: Sasquatch
Montana
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It seems like some couplers are more sensitive than others. I can be almost 1" off, and it will slide down on the ball on its own. I may need to move the truck forward or back to "jar" it on completely so it will latch, but it slides down on the ball without issue.

But whenever I help a friend of mine back up to his trailer, I'm always frustrated with how perfect he wants me to get it. I'll say "close enough!", then he gets out and looks and says "no, that won't work" and starts again. He claims it's got to be right on, or it won't connect.

I was tempted to say that if you've got to be that close, something is wrong. But I guess my coupler is one of the less sensitive ones and allows more margin for error.
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Old 06-13-2019, 07:49 AM   #13
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Name: Liz
Trailer: 2014 13' Scamp
Arizona
Posts: 10
Tongue Jack

Thanks for all the responses - so many possibilities! I'm going to start with the
Tongue Twister Trailer Hitch Alignment Aid.

One question: does it take a lot of strength to turn the wrench? I have the small Scamp, but my arms and hands are not strong.
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Old 06-13-2019, 08:29 AM   #14
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Name: Gordon
Trailer: Scamp
Idaho
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My tongue jack has a 6 inch wheel (not removable). I carry a small piece of plywood and lower the wheel onto that, oriented so that I can move the trailer side-to-side about an inch or so to get the ball lined up. Works for me.


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Old 06-18-2019, 05:02 AM   #15
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Name: John
Trailer: 2019 Oliver Elite II
Texas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patrick crawford View Post
i'm not fond of wheels on the tongue jack either. however, when on the road i do carry on in the truck. just in case, god forbid, you need to have the trailer towed. the wheel sure would make it easier to get the thing on a rollback.

p@
You have made me re-think the wheel, I may now start to carry one.

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Old 06-19-2019, 11:56 AM   #16
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I may be misunderstanding your delimma, but you might consider an "Ultimate Trailer Jack" (Google those 3 words). I got mine from Tractor Supply. It bolts on, or can be welded on (what I've done). You can raise the jack all the way up and then drop it to the ground for unhitching. No wheel to bother with. I had a swing away hitch that was always a problem. This item is the cat's meow!
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Old 06-19-2019, 07:49 PM   #17
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Name: Peter
Trailer: Scamp
Michigan
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Never Miss Hitch

This will help a great deal. https://unclenormsmarineproducts.com...ver-miss-hitch
I use this all the time because it just makes things easier.
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