short trailer jack

[Shadow Catcher]

I have a problem, a too long trailer jack, which is now bent along with the coupler. This happened initially when I was first bringing the trailer home and was parking in a truck parking area adjacent to a McD's. Unpaved with BIG holes. The jack was fully retracted with the wheel off. This bent not only the attachment on the jack but the A frame coupler. Attempts to straighten it out have failed, probably because of stretched steel. A swiveling side mount, because the frame is aluminum, may not be the best idea.
I am not afraid to cut some of the jack tube off but the ones I have looked at had the screw extending almost to the end of the tube. One other problem we experienced was that at CAG the camp site was "sloped" (the parks wording) to the point that I could not level the trailer even with the jack wheel off and the jack fully retracted. Therefore I need to find a jack that is short, or can be shortened and a new stronger coupler.

[aggie79]

Tom,

I think I have a similar situation to you. With my trailer level, the top of my a-frame tongue is just 12" to the pavement.

I used a Bulldog jack, part number BD15503. It has the shortest retracted height I could find. It's overkill with its 2000# rating, but the retracted height is a little less than 5-1/2" (bottom of mounting bracket to bottom of tube.) I do pull off the caster wheel when it is being towed.

Take care,
Tom

[Shadow Catcher]

Tom
As a temporary fix I took the jack and coupler and beat them back into shape with a 4# hammer.

The jack is now reasonably perpendicular to the ground (it was bent to about 30 degrees) I then cut off three and a half inches of both the inner and outer tube. I will still be looking looking for a shorter jack and new coupler as I am not real confident this will hold up.
Also Tom

[Wolfscout]

When I purchased my CT about a month or so ago.. the jack and the A Frame is bent.
I've not worked on it yet; but it seems to me the Jack is too long....
when all the way up it's still down a good ways. and I've pulled it with my car and the truck so far.
I'll be watching this thread.

[Steve_Cox]

On the Gypsy trailer and my cargo trailer I used a weld on Bulldog center wind jack that you weld directly on the tube. I set the height before I welded with a 4 X 4 block under the foot and I carry the 4 X 4 block in the tow vehicle. I had seen too many trailers with the tongue jack bent and the inconvenience of carrying the 4 X 4 block around is offset by having to crank less when raising the tongue.

[S. Heisley]

Shadow Catcher:

If you find a really short one or something that works better than what most of us have, please let us know what it is and where to purchase it!

Thanks

[doug hodder]

On the Nomad I used a jack like Steve described, but with a caster on it. You can weld in the height you want on it. On my tears, I've found short Fulton swing aways that really worked well. I'm thinking, only rated for 600# but works well, found it at a local trailer supplier.
Regardless of the jack height, it's always a good idea if you can to take a dip at an angle. Doug

[Shadow Catcher]

I am still looking. http://www.everythingmarineusa.com/trai ... mjacks.pdf shows the length retracted and so far the only really short bolt on is the Bulldog 30765 page 8 which is a rack and the post is what ever you want. This gets you essentially to 0
They also have weld on etc. a great resource.

[Nitroxjunkie71]

When my jack was fully retracted (originally) it would not lower the trailer enough. The A-Bracket was welded to high on the jack tube. I unbolted the jack and cut off the A-bracket with a 4.5 inch angle grinder with a cut off wheel. Then I used a grinding wheel to smooth out the remaining steel. I went to my local trailer supplier and bought a new A-bracket for like $3 if I remember correctly. I set bolted the new bracket to the tongue and used 3d hand welding magnets to hold the jack tube in place with only about an inch sticking out the bottom of the tongue. I spot welded it and then removed and finished the weld. Now it is almost flush when the wheel is removed.







But I was back to square one when I put my new tires on.

[Aaron Coffee]

Don't have a solution, just a confession. I too belong to the bent a frame jack club. I unhooked the teardrop in the front yard and instead of putting the wheel on I just set it on some 4x4s, when I went to put it away, I just backed up to it, lifted the tongue on to the hitch and proceeded up the little rise to the shed, the jack dug into the ground and bent the jack and the hitch, I was able to straighten it some.