Never replace you trailer tongue jack again. - The Hull Truth

240 Coastal · 08-17-2009, 07:57 PM

I just replaced my trailer tongue jack, it's been a nuisance for a while now and finally "you know what" the bed. I didn't want to be replacing this unit all the time, like I hear on this and other forums, so I decided to talk to some trailer technicians. I was going to upgrade to a beefier and more expensive unit until I got this great advise.

A local trailer tech on Cape Cod told me to not waste my money and go buy a unit that's rated to lift your tongue weight only, roughly 10% of the total weight of the boat and trailer.

Then he said to cut a 2x12 to the tongue height you like to keep your boat at while stored. Now once you use the tongue jack to lift the hitch off the ball, stand the 2x12 up under the hitch and lower the weight onto the board leaving the jack wheel barely touching the ground as a backup in case the boat moves for some unforeseen reason.

He said if I do this, and grease the unit regularly, I should have this jack for the rest of the trailers life.

I have a 24 foot boat and tandem trailer so he said to get a 600lb jack but I found a 1,000lb Fulton swivel jack for 37 dollars. I couldn't find one cheaper!

Gotta love good free advice.

Tom

rwidman · 08-17-2009, 08:00 PM

Or use an automotive jack stand on a couple pieces of scrap 2X8 wood like I did for the past few years.

Much more stable.

Gringo · 08-17-2009, 08:15 PM

The Contender was wobbling in the wind on the trailer. It's the first time it's been on it since we got launched. I was working on the outboard and it was wiggling all over the place as the bow was being buffeted by these winds. I was watching the jack wiggle. I knocked together a wooden monopod sawhorse kinda thing out of 2x10 scraps, and lowered the tongue onto it. Its like a wooden jack stand, I guess. And it was amazing how much the trailer steadied up, and I found all three bolts holding the top plate of the jackstand to the top of the tongue had some slack in them.

What your Cape Cod guy told you makes a lot of sense to me now. The side loads on that little piece of tubing are pretty fierce.

240 Coastal · 08-17-2009, 08:25 PM

Gringo,

The guy told me that using your tongue jack as "the third leg" is why tongue jacks wear out all the time. Makes sense to me too!

Tom

Carjunkie · 08-17-2009, 08:43 PM

Cinder block or 4x4s

One4Water · 08-17-2009, 08:48 PM

Before this boat which is wet slipped, I had jet skiis and used a cheap jack stand from Pep Boys. It was like $10.00 if that. I used it mostly because it was able to lift the front higher and keep them stern down to make sure they stayed drained. Had the same trailer for 15 years and never replaced anything but lights on it. I never even consdidered the stress it was taking off the tongue and jack. Makes sense though.

finman · 08-18-2009, 08:08 AM

been doing that for years and to think I did something right for a change

fishingfun · 08-18-2009, 08:20 AM

Most jack I have had to replace have either rusted, got bent because I forgot to fold it up or the gears just started wearing out from cranking it up and down. While what he suggested cannot hurt I don't see how it would have prevented me from having to purchase a new jacks in the past.