HF chassis and Bulldog jack

[nikwax]

After replacing my old Trooper with an Outback, I found that the tongue height was low enough that my HF jack would no longer retract far enough to swing up. On the advice of several members here I ordered a Bulldog jack, which is not a swivel jack but does retract up quite a ways. So far so good, but....


The "but" is a big one. The jack that I was sold clamps the frame top and bottom, vs. the side to side clamping of the HF jack (and similar swivel jacks). Which turns out to be a very big problem, as the Bulldog jack slipped off of the frame under load and did a bit of damage to the frame. The HF chassis is a c-channel with the mouth of the frame facing in, so clearly clamping top and bottom is a bad idea.


I've written to the place I bought the jack from to see if Bulldog makes a jack that clamps side to side vs. top to bottom. Meanwhile, be warned.


And a comment on the Bulldog jack that I have: it started rusting almost immediately. In the summer. It was annoying to have the $19 HF jack rust after three years in the weather, but to have a $100 jack rust after a few weeks of sunshine really stinks.

[bobhenry]

I back my tow vehicle onto blocking under the rear wheels if the jack will not retract high enough. Also makes a great way to sleep level without unhooking at gatherings

[toypusher]

You could put some 'blocking' in the C-channel of the HF tongue and that should prevent your jack from slipping off. Just a piece of 2x4 or the like would probably do the trick. As for the rust, that is not good, but you could get some rust restorer to put on it and then paint or repaint the jack.

[nikwax]

my work around with the HF jack is to use a bottle jack to raise the tongue enough to allow the wheel jack to swing down. A bit clunky but it works.