a-frame jack or folding jack

[aggie79]

Should I use an a-frame jack in the a-frame coupler or a folding jack on one of the tongue rails?

My (hopefully soon to be complete) frame will have an a-frame tongue with a ground clearance of around 12-13 inches. On a lot utility trailers I've seen, the jacks in the a-frame coupler are bent back. I have concerns that an a-frame jack may drag also. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks and Gig'em,
Tom

[Forrest747]

i would do a folding jack. here is what i did. the thing i found with the folding jack is not to put it too close to the front. it hit my hi lift jack on the bumper. you might not have that problem. It is much less of a profile than a standard in the tongue jack and i agree it will get bent at some point.

[Steve_Cox]

I've got one of each, and personally like the A-frame jack better due to centering the load and more rigid stability. I've not had a problem so far with the foot of the A-frame jack hitting anything, but it's not for off road adventures anyway. I've seen a few bent A-frame jacks on trailers before, but they are usually on trailers that have been abused in other ways too.

[Larwyn]

I welded a plate on the tongue of my Harbor Freight trailer to make an a frame jack possible. The first jack I put on there worked fine but the wheel had to be removed to provide a comfortable level of clearance when raised, so I ended up with the jack in the picture. It has a rack and pinion for raising and lowering with the side crank handle and the wheel retracts all the way up to the base at the top of the rails. The diameter of the wheel is larger than the height of the rails so part of the wheel is still exposed when full retracted but there is plenty of clearance. You would almost be dragging the hitch before you could drag the wheel. This type of jack is a little more expensive than the top crank, enclosed shaft type, I've seen it used mostly on horse trailers, and found mine at Tractor Supply. The draw bar with ball partially blocks the view in the attached pic but it is the best I could find tonight. I also have an a frame jack on my flat bed trailer with a simple plate rather than a wheel and have never bent the jack. My brother in law bent the jack on his trailer but it was due to not fully retracting the jack before towing the trailer.



http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_33542_-1______?rFlag=true&cFlag=1

[Carter]

Tom,
If you are using the HF type trailer in your album you might want to check out this link http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=29081
People have had problems with the tongue twisting with the swing away jacks.

Jim

[del]

Should I use an a-frame jack in the a-frame coupler or a folding jack on one of the tongue rails?

My (hopefully soon to be complete) frame will have an a-frame tongue with a ground clearance of around 12-13 inches. On a lot utility trailers I've seen, the jacks in the a-frame coupler are bent back. I have concerns that an a-frame jack may drag also. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks and Gig'em,
Tom

I personally prefer the folding jack, cause I do not have to retract the wheel completely to fold up the jack. You can bend any jack if you do not retract it (do not ask how I know this), but generally it is bent because it was not retracted (again do not ask).

del

[len19070]

Both jacks have there advantages and disadvantages.

I like an "A" frame jack, very stable. But I can't put the tailgate of my truck down when hooked up. And sometimes they can bottom out.


The folding jack you can open the gate and never have to worry about bottoming out.

But I have never seen a folding jack stay straight. There always leaning to one side, bounce a lot too. And they get worse with use.


You can Shoot yourself in the right foot or Shoot yourself in the left foot

--
Happy Trails

Len

[Forrest747]

it not staying staight are you talking the entire trailer. I can see that maybe with a HF trailer and i think there is a thread post about that. for me and i could be proven wrong with the 2X3 steel tongue i built is more solid than a HF.

[doug hodder]

One of the things I've done on my folding jack is to remove the C clip and take it apart, take a torch and cut down the backing plate a bit, then weld it all up on the frame member. Takes out all the bolts and brackets for a cleaner install. I also put in a piece of material between the 2 frame members, cancels out the potential roll of the angle iron. They are available in a number of lengths, I always get the short ones with a top screw handle, it flops over the tongue when travelling, never have run out of height on it, but I also use a 4" drop axle. Doug

[Carter]

The local Trailer Supply sells weld type mounts for the swing away jacks. I been meaning to check if they are the same size as the ones that come on the bolt on jacks. You would end up with a clean installation like Doug has in the last post and it wouldn't require the cutting and grinding if a person didn't have the proper surgical tools.

On a frame I built last year and one I'm working on now I chose an A frame jack. I wouldn't want one mounted in the coupler because the tow vehicle is a pickup and I couldn't put the gate down. With the composite tongue the jack moves rearward and it's not a problem.

As Doug suggested, it's a good idea to tie the 2 tongue members together at the jack mount. A very good idea if the tongue is made of lighter materials.

Jim

[aggie79]

Thanks for all the good advice.

The HF trailer in my pics is for parts hauling. My teardrop frame will be made out of 2x2 square tubing with a welded a-frame coupler. My axle is a Dexter #9 with a 10 degree up angle. I don't have my wheels and tires yet (or frame for that matter), but figure on a clearance of about 12" at the bottom of the a-frame. I prefer the bolt in a-frame jack and don't mind taking the foot or wheel on or off, so that is the way I'll go.

Thanks again and gig'em,
Tom

[Carter]

For the frame I am building now I bought a Reese Farm and Ranch Topwind at Tractor Supply for $25. It is somewhat compact and comes with a swivel foot. They have a castor wheel for an additional 15 that looks like it would fit. Nice setup for the size trailers we build and reasonably priced. I don't see it in the online catalog. The third item under jacks has the wrong picture and may be it

[aggie79]

Thanks Carter,
You answered my next question before I asked it - recommendations for a compact jack. I try to find this one.
Tom

[goldcoop]

Aggie-

Here is a great product, all the benefits of a center mounted a-frame jack...

But retracts almost up to the frame. Eliminates the nose diving of conventional center mounted a-frame jacks.

The rack & pinion makes it much FASTER too

http://wholesaletrailersupplies.com/cat ... 29_296_190

Cheers,

Coop

[Trackstriper]

Aggie-

Here is a great product, all the benefits of a center mounted a-frame jack...

But retracts almost up to the frame. Eliminates the nose diving of conventional center mounted a-frame jacks.

The rack & pinion makes it much FASTER too

http://wholesaletrailersupplies.com/cat ... 29_296_190

Cheers,

Coop

Is this jack fairly stable? I wouldn't mind replacing my top winder Bulldog. It takes about forty winds to lift the ball off the hitch from full retract position. And I dragged it a bit last week in a parking lot, not paying complete attention. I'd like to be able to retract farther and quicker without giving up stability.