Power Tongue Jack FAILED

[jimrosed]

This past weekend while setting up at the campground our travel trailer fell to the ground with a loud crash!!!! Luckily my process is to put in the x-chocks before unhooking. No one was hurt and no damage to our TT - just scared my daughter and I as well as all our neighbors for a couple sites around.

I searched this forum and didn't find similar posts. My question is whether the occurrence is common or if we have a major defect with the power tongue jack and I should be contacting the jack manufacturer rather than using my extended warranty. The jack is manufactured by Stromberg Carlson and has a 3500 lbs capacity. It was factory installed on our 2011 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8312SS.

Any input would be appreciated!!!!

[Grizzlygibbs]

How exactly did it fail? As in fail that it no longer works?

[jimrosed]

Originally Posted by Grizzlygibbs

How exactly did it fail? As in fail that it no longer works?

It no longer works. Even with the manual over-ride(crank on the top) it doesn't extend or retract.

[Grizzlygibbs]

And it fell to the ground?

[kandl]

Originally Posted by jimrosed

My question is whether the occurrence is common or if we have a major defect with the power tongue jack and I should be contacting the jack manufacturer rather than using my extended warranty.

If the jack collapsed, I'm thinking major defect. I'd exercise the extended warranty option and let the dealer deal with the jack's manufacturer. Same jack on our rig and it's been fine thus far but I kinda hold my breath a little when it's in use because I'm not getting endeared to LCI components.

All the best,

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by jimrosed

.

I searched this forum and didn't find similar posts. My question is whether the occurrence is common or if we have a major defect with the power tongue jack and I should be contacting the jack manufacturer rather than using my extended warranty. The jack is manufactured by Stromberg Carlson and has a 3500 lbs capacity. It was factory installed on our 2011 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8312SS.

Any input would be appreciated!!!!

Actually there are many posts about the Lippert jack being faulty and others have had theirs crash. I had one on my 2011 Flagstaff that was very loud and had started making grinding noises, right before I replaced with a Barker brand jack very recently.

Here are a few, and as you read thru the posts, you will see how many have had problems with their Lippert/LCI jack:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...1-a-17769.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ved-22257.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ack-39123.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...nty-43229.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ack-36781.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...one-26580.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ack-24586.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...jack-9821.html

[crunchman12001]

I am always afraid of the power jack failing too. When my Husky is extended all the way, it sure can get wobbly. I bought a pair of heavy duty jack stands that I place under the tongue to catch the trailer if it does fall. How did you get the tongue high enough to get it back on the truck?
Were you in the process of raising or lowering or did it fail when just sitting?
Do you have pics of the failure?
crunchman

[cecilt]

They are junk jacks. We have a 2012 8312ss as well. First one failed in less than 1 year. I replaced it under warranty with same jack. It also seemed to act funny within a few months and I did not trust it. Bought a Barker 3500lb VIP jack and have had no issues in almost 2 years and over 100 nights of camping.

[OldCoot]

We still don't know what failed on the jack. Could have been the weld around the mount, inside screw, post bent, would help to know just what failed on the jack.

[John4th]

Great. I have one on my trailer. Just what I want to read (can you sense the sarcasm?).

[Bryan2503S]

Originally Posted by JohnIII

Great. I have one on my trailer. Just what I want to read (can you sense the sarcasm?).

X2, going to have to keep a jack stand under it now as well.

[DDC]

I did not know they could collapse, isn't it a worm gear system? My 3500 Barker failed last month but it was the main gear and it is plastic, looked it up on their web site and the cost was about $48.00 plus shipping then I noticed TSC had them on sale for $149.00 so I just replaced it, might end up getting the gear and keeping it as a spare. If it collapsed because the worm nut was worn out I'd be p$&:? at them.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by DDC

I did not know they could collapse, isn't it a worm gear system? My 3500 Barker failed last month but it was the main gear and it is plastic, looked it up on their web site and the cost was about $48.00 plus shipping then I noticed TSC had them on sale for $149.00 so I just replaced it, might end up getting the gear and keeping it as a spare. If it collapsed because the worm nut was worn out I'd be p$&:? at them.

Don't think it's a worm gear, most are bevel gears, one on the motor and one on the screw.

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by wmtire

Actually there are many posts about the Lippert jack being faulty and others have had theirs crash. I had one on my 2011 Flagstaff that was very loud and had started making grinding noises, right before I replaced with a Barker brand jack very recently.

Here are a few, and as you read thru the posts, you will see how many have had problems with their Lippert/LCI jack:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...1-a-17769.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ved-22257.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ack-39123.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...nty-43229.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ack-36781.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...one-26580.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ack-24586.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...jack-9821.html

I had the exact same LCI (Stromberg Carlson) jack, same grinding noise after a couple of months, and the motor just stopped working. VERY hard to crank it up and down with the manual override. Very difficult to work with LCI to get it resolved. Ended up like you, replacing it with a Barker which has served well for years.

[DDC]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Don't think it's a worm gear, most are bevel gears, one on the motor and one on the screw.

The barker I have is an acme type thread.

[08flagvlite]

My 08 Flagstaff with a Lippert tongue jack has been good to me so far.....(knock on wood), but I will replace it with a Barker 3500 when the thing dies. Just a matter of time, I guess. Randy

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by DDC

The barker I have is an acme type thread.

The acme thread is for strength and turned by the bevel gear on top or the matching gear on the motor.

[YoungKopernik]

I saw one fail aswell, the gears just went out.
My sister has a 2010 28BH TT (not by ForestRiver), while disconnecting from her TV, on level cement at our house, she did the foot push/wiggle to dislodge the ball and it did. Her foot was left on the bumper and continued to jack up. The jack sounded low on power and then it just dropped CRASH BOOM BANG…THUD, 3 inches from her foot. I just stood dumbfounded I think she wet herself; camper just sat there on the bumper. Thank goodness we hadn’t pulled the truck out. Thank goodness nobody was hurt.
I am a sticker on safety and always talk to my kids where danger lies and where you should not be this was a perfect time to reiterate. This one has given me a few nightmares.
How do they rate these jacks? All that I found are called 2500#-5000#. Here is my issue: what does your tongue weigh 400#-600#? so ya I don’t get it, sisters jack was a 3500#.
The jack manufacture didn’t even question it and sent out a new one but it was going to take 7-10 days. She didn’t want to wait and wasn’t sure putting the same one back on would be smart. We put on a Husky 4000# it was recommended by a nearby trailer shop and it looks great, more robust. Yes, I now have an extra jack.
I don’t know how you could prevent this, jack had only been used maybe 30 times. Trailer shop we dealt with says there is no real maintenance(no-grease, no-adjustment,..)just keep it clean.

While stabilizers could have saved this I don’t know how to logistically do any thing differently. I always do the same thing with my camper: jack up off ball, pull truck out, jack up or down(to level) and then put down stabilizers.
Be Safe
John

[BeagleIL]

This has me wondering if following my Equalizer instructions puts undue stress on the jack. They clearly state when hooking up to couple and lock the trailer to your ball and then use the jack to lift everything to make installation of the bars easier. So not only do you have the tongue weight of the trailer, but you are also working against the weight of the truck.

[tanddc]

I do the same thing with my Blue Ox but on it you should only go up to level and therefore not lift any on the TC. Are you sure the Equilizer isn't the same?