Rotate nose jack so tailgate will open

[Cadiz Couple]

The tailgate on my Tundra hits the front barrel of my two-barrelled Rockwood 8310 nose jack. If I can rotate the jack so that the front barrel of the jack is to the side, then my tailgate will open. The three mounting bolts on the jack and threadded bolt holes in the tongue frame "appeared" to be 120 degrees apart, which would make a 120 degree re-mounting of the jack easy---but it turns out that front threaded bolt hole is off from 120 degrees by ~ a couple of degrees---I'm guessing the reason is to be sure that some minimum wage installer would be forced to mount the double-barrel jack with the two barrels lined up fore and aft, so as to look pretty. I want to drill a hole in the jack plate at the 120 degree position for the third bolt to hit the threaded bolt hole in the tongue frame. i don't need the jack to look pretty---I just want it to be functional and not interfer with my tailgate. Any thoughts or advice?

[nal13]

I want to be able to do the same on my mini lite with my Tundra's tailgate as well. I put my 4 wheeler in the box.

[k5rcd]

I bought one of these. It allows me to completely remove the jack assembly in a matter of seconds. Easy to install and works great.

http://jack-e-up.com/

[dwayneb236]

I added a power tongue jack on my previous trailer. I had to turn it 1/4 turn to get it to fit in front of the propane tanks. 2 holes still lined up, one didn't. I just drilled a new hole for it. Worked fine.

[fella10]

Originally Posted by k5rcd

I bought one of these. It allows me to completely remove the jack assembly in a matter of seconds. Easy to install and works great.

http://jack-e-up.com/

x2 their new video shows that now they have a holder for your jack when you remove it, ..... I lay mine in the bed of the truck, its only there while traveling, ....... anyway, two thumbs up for Jack-E-Up

[nal13]

Originally Posted by k5rcd

I bought one of these. It allows me to completely remove the jack assembly in a matter of seconds. Easy to install and works great.

http://jack-e-up.com/

The one problem I foresee, what do you do if you have something like a 4 wheeler in your bed, that you can't take out while the camper is attached, then you have to use the jack to unhook the camper. Can you use your stabilizing jacks to hold the front up?

[KyDan]

Re-drilling the 3rd hole and using appropriate hardware should not be a problem. Wonder about theft with that jack-e-up thing but it's a neat
idea in certain circumstances.

[hdmtnrider]

nal13, It is a definite "NO-NO" IMO to use your stabilizer jacks to hold up the front of ones RV. They are to "Stabilize Only".
As to OP's post, I would just drill the one hole out on the jack enough to get the bolt in and use a little larger washer on that bolt'
Best of luck on your jack mod!

[RSchleder]

I agree, don't have your stabilizing jacks lift or support your trailer. The correct approach is to enlarge the 3rd hole in the jack plate as described above, use a large washer and reinstall the jack in the position that works for you.

[fella10]

Originally Posted by nal13

The one problem I foresee, what do you do if you have something like a 4 wheeler in your bed, that you can't take out while the camper is attached, then you have to use the jack to unhook the camper. Can you use your stabilizing jacks to hold the front up?

your going to have to get the coupling off the ball, no matter what jack you have,......with an attached jack you start cranking,....... with a Jack-E-Up, you grab it, stick it in, and start cranking,...... no more than 5 sec. longer, plus you'll NEVER bend your jack because you left it down too low, with the attached jack you can not say that, ....... many folks discredit things they've never tried, I would venture to believe most folks who have ever bent their tongue jack and knew about J-E-U, wishes they had changed to the Jack-E-Up before that day ................ just my opinion.............. I'm not a salesman for Jack-E-Up, I just know the advantages of using it,...... and I "don't leave home without it"

[JustB_Rad]

Originally Posted by fella10

your going to have to get the coupling off the ball, no matter what jack you have,......with an attached jack you start cranking,....... with a Jack-E-Up, you grab it, stick it in, and start cranking,...... no more than 5 sec. longer, plus you'll NEVER bend your jack because you left it down too low, with the attached jack you can not say that, ....... many folks discredit things they've never tried, I would venture to believe most folks who have ever bent their tongue jack and knew about J-E-U, wishes they had changed to the Jack-E-Up before that day ................ just my opinion.............. I'm not a salesman for Jack-E-Up, I just know the advantages of using it,...... and I "don't leave home without it"

If the gentleman needs the tailgate down to put his ATV in the bed....and his jack hits his tailgate, there would be NO WAY to get his jack back in the Jack-E-Up to get the trailer off the truck. If the tailgate hits the jack, the only way to jack up the trailer is with the tailgate up, Jack-E-Up or not.

[fella10]

Originally Posted by JustB_Rad

If the gentleman needs the tailgate down to put his ATV in the bed....and his jack hits his tailgate, there would be NO WAY to get his jack back in the Jack-E-Up to get the trailer off the truck. If the tailgate hits the jack, the only way to jack up the trailer is with the tailgate up, Jack-E-Up or not.

he is going to have to separate the truck from the trailer some distance to get the ATV in the bed or take it out of the truck, ...... he will have to use his jack to separate his trailer from the truck, no matter what jack he has, .....when the truck is separated from the trailer the tailgate will not hit the jack, no matter what jack he has

if you are saying he has to leave the tailgate down to carry the ATV, then the tailgate is too close to any jack and he couldn't make any turn towing the trailer..........

[JustB_Rad]

Originally Posted by fella10

he is going to have to separate the truck from the trailer some distance to get the ATV in the bed or take it out of the truck, ...... he will have to use his jack to separate his trailer from the truck, no matter what jack he has, .....when the truck is separated from the trailer the tailgate will not hit the jack, no matter what jack he has,

Ok, this is way overthought.

Simply stated, he needs to be able to use the jack with the tailgate down. The device you're pushing does him no good in the stock spot if he can't use the jack where it is now.

[OldCoot]

Just take the jack to a welding shop and have them turn the mounting flange.

[Big Red and 30WR]

Easiest way to solve the problem is to get a longer hitch shank.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Big Red and 30WR

Easiest way to solve the problem is to get a longer hitch shank.

Agree it is the easiest, just not the best way.

[KyDan]

Re-read the OP post 1.
IF he rotates his jack it will clear the tail gate.
That's all he wants.
He just wanted to know if drilling one of the holes slightly would be OK.
We all agree it's fine with proper new bolt nut and possibly flat washer and lock washer.

The jack-e thing came later and it doesn't solve the OP problem of needing to
lower the tail gate while the jack is in place.

At least that's the way I read it..... having a weld shop modify the jack plate just to avoid drilling one hole seems like over kill. Remember the KISS method!

Happy Trails!

[fella10]

Originally Posted by JustB_Rad

Simply stated, he needs to be able to use the jack with the tailgate down. The device you're pushing does him no good in the stock spot if he can't use the jack where it is now.

I'm not "pushing" anything, I'm telling of the advantages of a certain item, because I know what I'm talking about, I'm not talking about something that I've NEVER used,..... the OP says just rotating his jack will solve his problem, not moving it back, just rotating it, ...... I had the same problem, my tailgate would hit my jack handle in the original/front position, by just about an inch, .....I needed to rotate my jack body also,...... the Jack-E-Up has three different positions that you can turn the jack body to and lock it in, .... I turn the jack body so the handle is on the opposite side(back side) from the original position, problem solved, and it would be also for the OP,...... plus, with the additional assurance that he will NEVER EVER be able to bend his jack because it was accidentally left just a little too low,......

[buffalohunter]

Originally Posted by Cadiz Couple

The tailgate on my Tundra hits the front barrel of my two-barrelled Rockwood 8310 nose jack. If I can rotate the jack so that the front barrel of the jack is to the side, then my tailgate will open. The three mounting bolts on the jack and threadded bolt holes in the tongue frame "appeared" to be 120 degrees apart, which would make a 120 degree re-mounting of the jack easy---but it turns out that front threaded bolt hole is off from 120 degrees by ~ a couple of degrees---I'm guessing the reason is to be sure that some minimum wage installer would be forced to mount the double-barrel jack with the two barrels lined up fore and aft, so as to look pretty. I want to drill a hole in the jack plate at the 120 degree position for the third bolt to hit the threaded bolt hole in the tongue frame. i don't need the jack to look pretty---I just want it to be functional and not interfer with my tailgate. Any thoughts or advice?

I did it and have not had a problem at all.

[SilverArrowPro]

I plan on rotating the head of my unit so I can open my tailgate.