power tongue jack recommendation

[RollingRock1933]

Hi, newby with a question for my 2020 shamrock 233S. I purchased slightly used with a manual tongue jack, which of course, failed when I arrived at my site on friday evening. The pin that holds the crank to the gear gave it up. Made it home OK, but now in the market for a power tongue jack.

Any recommendations for an FIC-ETJ3500? It looks like that jack is on a roo parked in our RV lot. Any other recommendations? I'd rather spend a few extra $$ for quality than fight with some low budget junk.

thanks!

[jeff64]

Originally Posted by RollingRock1933

Hi, newby with a question for my 2020 shamrock 233S. I purchased slightly used with a manual tongue jack, which of course, failed when I arrived at my site on friday evening. The pin that holds the crank to the gear gave it up. Made it home OK, but now in the market for a power tongue jack.



Any recommendations for an FIC-ETJ3500? It looks like that jack is on a roo parked in our RV lot. Any other recommendations? I'd rather spend a few extra $$ for quality than fight with some low budget junk.



thanks!

Barker makes a good product. The one I have is a super hi power 3500 model

[Chuck_S]

I put this jack on my Roo last October. Didn't realize until last weekend I couldn't open the hatch on my Expedition when the trailer was on the ball! Have no clue how I missed this during at least half a dozen tows and camping last year. (The hatch cleared the former power jack.)

Considering rotating it 120°. Will look funny but ...

Tongue jack

I bought this off the floor at a local RV shop when the former jack failed when prepping for a two week trip so I wasn't shopping around or comparing jacks. It works.

-- Chuck

[rsdata]

most every power tongue jack will do the job
as mentioned above take careful measurements to ensure that a truck liftgate will clear after installation...
YOUR TV and specific trailer has a lot to do with that some luck involved in getting it right...

I put a bucket over mine to help keep out rainwater when parked... although it is exposed to rain often during travel...
etrailer dot com will have many available with some reviews to help you decide... usually great service from them

[Aussieguy]

can you replace the pin?
did that on my manual hand crank boat trailer


found a pin in the Hardware store.

[Theo]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

{snip}...Considering rotating it 120°. Will look funny but ...{snip}...
-- Chuck

Thanks for the idea, Chuck! My F-150 tailgate edge almost misses the jack head but contacts the up/down switch. I never use the jack light so I'll do some measurements and see if this will work for me!

[Semperfi24]

On our mini lite we installed a Husky power tongue jack. Came with a remote keyfob that mad leveling easy. Could look at the level on the floor inside the door, and then use the keyfob to raise or lower to get it level.

[Rhumblefish]

speaking of leveling, Levelmate is an absolute gamechanger.

https://levelmate.com/

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Aussieguy

can you replace the pin?
did that on my manual hand crank boat trailer

found a pin in the Hardware store.

Use roll pins. Either this one or this one.

[Chuck_S]

You need a roll pin punch as well. Note the little nipple that fits in the hole in the pin. Driving with a flat nose punch will deform the pin and it may not set properly or be hard to remove when necessary.

Roll pin punch set.

-- Chuck

[Aussieguy]

I prefer solid dowel pins... even if I have to re-drill the hole to fit

have repurposed a screw driver to get a pin out
when was out of town and needed one bad enough

[Chuck_S]

Screwdriver is one of the universal tools and repair parts!

We once reconnected the forestay of a 33' (Tartan 10) racing sailboat to the bow fitting with a screw driver! Without this stainless steel cable the mast will fall over the side since it's stepped on deck rather than thru the deck to the keel! The pin and retaining cotter ring vanished during a race somehow. We discovered it on a downwind spinnaker leg when we noticed the forestay was just swinging loose since there was no pressure on it with the wind aft! No way we could even alter course or drop any sails without losing the mast which required us to fix it right there and then. Only thing we could get thru the holes was a big screw driver. Needless to say we sailed way past the turning mark while I lay on the foredeck searching for the pin -- it was long gone! -- and finally jamming the screw driver in there. All six of us needed a change of underwear. We were probably running at maximum hull speed all this time too.

Good times -- and a complete adrenaline drain.

-- Chuck

Tartan 10

[RollingRock1933]

thanks for all the replies. The existing manual jack is salvageable, but I am definitely moving up to something more civilized! It seems like Husky, Bulldog and Barker all get great reviews - so its going to be one of those based on price/performance. Thanks again.

[V8s4ever]

I have an older Rockwood 233S Roo. Here's what I got, and I like it:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[flookk]

" All six of us needed a change of underwear. We were probably running at maximum hull speed all this time too.

Good times -- and a complete adrenaline drain. "

I had to look up a couple of the sailing terms but great story.

Thanks

[tgarson]

Originally Posted by RollingRock1933

Hi, newby with a question for my 2020 shamrock 233S. I purchased slightly used with a manual tongue jack, which of course, failed when I arrived at my site on friday evening. The pin that holds the crank to the gear gave it up. Made it home OK, but now in the market for a power tongue jack.

Any recommendations for an FIC-ETJ3500? It looks like that jack is on a roo parked in our RV lot. Any other recommendations? I'd rather spend a few extra $$ for quality than fight with some low budget junk.

thanks!

I installed a Husky HB3000 on my 2014 Wolf Pup shortly after purchasing it new, at the request of my wife who was disturbed by the effort using the manual jack required.
In my research into tongue jacks, at that time, Husky was the only jack I found that specified the use of a ball screw. Ball screws are vastly superior to ACME screws, which are generally what you find in tongue jacks, as they have much less friction on the race than an ACME screw does on its threads.


Since then, I have had zero problems with the Husky jack. It is quite capable of lifting, with little apparent strain, not only the tongue of my trailer but also the rear of my Grand Caravan tow vehicle, if attached.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by tgarson

Since then, I have had zero problems with the Husky jack. It is quite capable of lifting, with little apparent strain, not only the tongue of my trailer but also the rear of my Grand Caravan tow vehicle, if attached.

You will get used to lifting the pair when hooking up your Weight Distribution Hitch. It's much easier to connect the chains or bars when you lift trailer and tow-vehicle together first.

[Chuck_S]

This is confusing to me as my power tongue jack is directly connected to the battery with one (1) wire, the red, positive wire with an inline fuse. The jack is grounded to the trailer frame which furnishes the negative connection.

Check your battery voltage.

-- Chuck

[Chuck_S]

Considering rotating it 120°. Will look funny but ...

From Post #3. Didn't work! What looks like holes in the tongue and jack spaced 120° apart ain't. Jack only mounts one way in the factory holes.

Will investigate turning only the motor head when I get around to it. Anyone?

-- Chuck

[Boomerweps]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

From Post #3. Didn't work! What looks like holes in the tongue and jack spaced 120° apart ain't. Jack only mounts one way in the factory holes.

Will investigate turning only the motor head when I get around to it. Anyone?

-- Chuck

Yes, darn jackholes!
They are unevenly spaced. Several people have had success with pulling the motor head off the jack shaft, turning it and drilling new mounting holes for the motor. Take steps to avoid drill shavings from going down in the tube.
I added the Jack-E-Up removable jack base. Required adding a ground wire to the power jack so I could use Anderson electrical quick disconnects. Worked great with my tailgate until I lifted the TT. Now even with the the jack removed, the tailgate rests on the Jack-E-Up base ;(