Dead tounge lift.

[fusedlight]

I had just dropped the hitch on the ball and hit the UP switch to pull up the base. Dead. Very, very, dead. So I took it all apart and pulled it off the tongue. Tomorrow I replace it with a manual crank. *sigh*

[fusedlight]

But wait... there's more. The trailer place found that are brakes are falling apart. Oh well. Better to find out now than half way down to New Orleans in a couple of weeks, eh? Waiting to find out what other wonderful things are discovered.

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by fusedlight

I had just dropped the hitch on the ball and hit the UP switch to pull up the base. Dead. Very, very, dead. So I took it all apart and pulled it off the tongue. Tomorrow I replace it with a manual crank. *sigh*

--------------------------------------------
It may be to late, but did you verify that there was 12VDC at the motor wire?????

[fusedlight]

Yup. I did "due diligence" before I yanked the beast. I checked voltages at all appropriate points, and then bypassed the switch and did a direct connection. On further thought, even if the motor WAS good having a mission-critical part rely on something that might fail in the middle of nowhere (ie. battery) is not a good idea. I suppose that if I was somewhere and it all had crapped out I could have done just what I did...pull the unit. I've now eliminated that source of possible error.

I guess what I've learned after a year and a couple of months is what to worry about, and what not to worry about.

[David B.]

I have a hand crank top winder on our Scamp. I removed the crank handle and welded a 3/4" nut to the top. I use my electric drill to raise/lower the tongue, and if the drill should fail, I can use a ratchet or a hand crank to manually do the job.

[fusedlight]

Originally Posted by David B.

I have a hand crank top winder on our Scamp. I removed the crank handle and welded a 3/4" nut to the top. I use my electric drill to raise/lower the tongue, and if the drill should fail, I can use a ratchet or a hand crank to manually do the job.

I was thinking of doing something similar.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by fusedlight

I suppose that if I was somewhere and it all had crapped out I could have done just what I did...pull the unit.

I thought that even in unmodified form, all of these power jacks had a hand crank just for this purpose... no need to pull the unit for any kind of power or motor failure.

Even the cheapest power A-frame jack at eTrailer (MaxxTow Electric Trailer Jack - A-Frame - 18" Lift - 3,500 lbs MaxxTow Trailer Jack MT70147) lists

Manual override handle included in case of power failure

[fusedlight]

Nope. No auxiliary crank. Bummer.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by fusedlight

Nope. No auxiliary crank. Bummer.

Well, at least you do have the option of replacing it with a power jack which does have a manual override, so you can have both power and reliability... if the power feature is of value to you.

[Gina D.]

My trailer came with a power jack..that works! I never thought I would go out of my way to install one before..but if this one shuffles off this mortal coil, I most certainly will replace it. I never want to Crank Crank Crank again..

Mine is ancient, but it has an emergency hand crank on it. I have the manufacturers tool, but it looks like a good socket and bar would work just as well.

[fusedlight]

Just used the crank. No Big Deal. Hey, my sweetie says I need to exercise!