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03-15-2007, 08:28 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1976 Argosy 24
now being enjoyed by Heath and Mary in
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,432
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Barker or Ultra-Fab electric jack?
Does AIRSTREAM currently use the Barker or Ultra-Fab electric jack?
(Maybe both??)
Does anyone have opinions on the relative merits of the two?
Sergei
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03-15-2007, 09:10 PM
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#2
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418
2007 25' Safari FB SE
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1974 29' Ambassador
Yucca Valley
, California
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: 1963 26' Overlander
Posts: 4,804
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Sergei,
If it fits and has enough weight rating to lift the tongue and the back of your tow vehicle a few inches, then you should be fine with either.
I used a Barker, with level and light on top, and it does a fine job. However, in my youthful enthusiasm, I failed to measure the hole size in my coupler, and ended up grinding away steel for hours to make the post fit through the hole in the coupler. Not recommended.
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03-16-2007, 08:40 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1976 Argosy 24
now being enjoyed by Heath and Mary in
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,432
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[QUOTE=uwe
I failed to measure the hole size in my coupler, and ended up grinding away steel for hours to make the post fit through the hole in the coupler. Not recommended.[/QUOTE]
Uwe, don't understand. What is the coupler? Do you mean the plate on the tongue - were the jack shaft fits through?
Is there any kind of difference between Barker and Ultra Fab?
Sergei
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03-16-2007, 10:21 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Elgin
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 800
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I have A&E rear stabilizers and front jacks on my Limited. They were bought by Ultra Fab some time ago. Getting parts for them is a breeze. My e-mail contact there is Marv Troyer, who is always helpful with part numbers and prices.
__________________
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03-18-2007, 06:56 PM
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#5
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418
2007 25' Safari FB SE
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1974 29' Ambassador
Yucca Valley
, California
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: 1963 26' Overlander
Posts: 4,804
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokelessJoe
Uwe, don't understand. What is the coupler? Do you mean the plate on the tongue - were the jack shaft fits through?
Is there any kind of difference between Barker and Ultra Fab?
Sergei
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Apparently there are size differences, since my jack's lower shaft was too thick to fit through the mounting plate.
I do not know which size fits wat - you should measure yours and then make sure whatever you buy fits that hole, and the bolt circle.
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03-18-2007, 07:10 PM
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#6
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Aluminut
2004 25' Safari
.
, Illinois
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,477
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Whatever Airstream put on at the factory, I would NOT use. The darn thing shorts out all the time and I've heard many others say the same thing. There is one that the factory puts on once in a while that I've seen that has a round level on top of the motor box, and I've heard good things about that one, but the one they use for the most part has been problematic from my exp.
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03-18-2007, 09:02 PM
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#7
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Moderator dude
1966 26' Overlander
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,497
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Silvertwinkie,
Well what ever brand they used for 1966 was a good one from my experience. The OE power jack still works on my Overlander. It's the wiring to it that failed and I have repaired. Not bad for 40+ years on a mechanical item.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - Streamless.
1966 Lincoln 4 door Convertible 462 4V 1971 Ford LTD Convertible 429 4V Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
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03-19-2007, 08:27 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1976 Argosy 24
now being enjoyed by Heath and Mary in
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,432
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Barker or Ultra-Fab electric jack?, part 2
Still no answers to my specific questions.
1. Does AIRSTREAM currently use the Barker or Ultra-Fab electric jack?
(Maybe both??)
2. Does anyone have opinions on the relative merits of the two?
Sergei
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03-19-2007, 10:30 AM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
2005 30' Safari
2022 27' Globetrotter
River Forest
, Illinois
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 49
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For my '05 Safari, the factory installed unit is a Barker. I would assume they use the same brand across all model lines.
Rick
__________________
2005 30 Bunkhouse
2012 Chevrolet Suburban 2500
Honda 2000
Air #99
WBCCI #8895 (Grandpa's number from the 1960's)
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03-19-2007, 11:01 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
1963 16' Bambi
Southeastern Area
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,116
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Smokeless, I don't know what Airstream currently uses. I seem to remember reading somewhere that Atwood tongue jacks were used years back, I could be confused on that. I know nothing about the Barker jack.
However, when my manual jack failed I went with an Ultra-Fab 3500 and haven't been sorry. It handles up to 3500 lbs. tongue weight, moves fairly fast, 10 inches per 30 seconds. It has a foot pad that extends the jack post about 6 inches thus doing away with my concrete block. It has side lights which is a nice plus when setting up after dark. I had it installed to work off either the trailer battery or the tow vehicle via the 7-pin. So far it has been completely trouble free.
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03-19-2007, 11:47 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1976 Argosy 24
now being enjoyed by Heath and Mary in
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,432
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Sugarfoot,
How long have you used it? Supplier? Cost?
Being able to use two sources for power is a good concept.
Joe
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03-19-2007, 01:15 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
1963 16' Bambi
Southeastern Area
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,116
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I've had it since October last year, so I guess I don't have a long history to go on. Three camping trips and about 950 miles since purchase plus several hitch/unhitch trips around town to service other things on the TW. And of course the up-and-down process of draining to winterize.
I needed one quickly and picked it up from Camping World for around $279. I've heard better pricing is available if you shop online, eBay even has some. I don't know anything about this vendor, but this link will show you what you get. Not all models have the extendible foot. If you want this feature, be sure it is included. I also have 20 amp fuses installed between jack and both trailer battery and 7-pin to avoid shorting out truck or trailer if anything goes wrong.
BTW, you can get them to fit 2" or 2 1/4" holes for the jack shaft.
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03-26-2007, 09:12 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1976 Argosy 24
now being enjoyed by Heath and Mary in
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,432
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Jeez. With 20,000 members here you’d think somebody would know the answer to my original question.
I called Jackson Center. They use BARKER.
Is there any measurable difference between Barker and Ultra Fab??
Airstream didn’t know. Does anyone else?
Sergei
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03-26-2007, 03:27 PM
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#14
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Moderator dude
1966 26' Overlander
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,497
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Sergi,
You are now asking a q that the universe off people that can answer is rather small. That would be people that have had an experience with both brands of jacks.
I would think your best bet would be to search out an RV dealer. And one that sells both may be the best choice.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - Streamless.
1966 Lincoln 4 door Convertible 462 4V 1971 Ford LTD Convertible 429 4V Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
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03-27-2007, 04:26 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
Elgin
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 800
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokelessJoe
Jeez. With 20,000 members here you’d think somebody would know the answer to my original question.
I called Jackson Center. They use BARKER.
Is there any measurable difference between Barker and Ultra Fab??
Airstream didn’t know. Does anyone else?
Sergei
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Sergei,
The tenor of your replies to others' posts here smacks a little of arrogance, and is not warranted. I think those who have responded here have tried their best to answer your specific questions regarding "relative merits" and "measurable differences" between Barker and Ultra Fab. All I could do is offer my experiences and opinions regarding one of the two. Most people will likely be in this category, I would imagine. Measurable differences? What are you asking for here - a side-by-side specifications breakdown? Motor voltages of each? Gear ratios? Beyond these types of things, each of these jacks is fundamentally like another, is like another, is like another, and so on. I'm not surprised Airstream didn't have your answer - I doubt they spend that much time thinking about it - they likely use what ever makes the most sense from a unit price perspective. If you really want to see a true comparison between the two, you might be best served by contacting Barker and Ultra Fab directly and ordering a specifications sheet on each model that interests you. Better yet, if you can get one of their design engineers on the phone that might be even better. That way, pound for pound, you can judge for yourself the difference. Essentially berating forum members like you do in your quote for not readily having the answers you require is also not a fair-minded approach to take. If this is something you deem of high importance, that's fine. This is clearly not data that anyone currently has here. Therefore, may I suggest that you go out and discover it elsewhere, and if you so choose, make that information available to the forum. Or not. Obviously that's your decision.
__________________
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03-28-2007, 08:33 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1976 Argosy 24
now being enjoyed by Heath and Mary in
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,432
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Thanks, went with Ultra Fab
Thanks to all for your contributions.
I decided to follow Sugarfoot’s example and went with the Ultra Fab.
Details on my main thread, post #190:
http://www.airforums.com/forum...-18448-14.html
Sergei
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03-28-2007, 02:30 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1976 Argosy 24
now being enjoyed by Heath and Mary in
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,432
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Footnote
Dave,
Sometimes on these forms when you ask opinions about different brands, anything from toilets to axles, you get many opinions to help sway your decision.
I just thought it might be the same with power jacks.
Sorry if I raised your Texas dander. I meant no harm.
Sergei
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06-11-2007, 10:19 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,190
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Hey Serg, my electric jack just went kaput.
I was very interested in the same answers that you needed. I would fault no
one for not knowing the answers to your question, but why do people reply when they don't know the answer. If people need more rivets, they could always play one of the many word games. I think Dave was kinda tough on you.
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06-12-2007, 05:16 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2004 30' Classic
Field and Stream
, PA & MT
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 819
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Sergei -
I have factory installed Ultra Fabs on my 2004 Classic Limited. Perhaps Airstream changed for the 2005 and later model years.
Mine have worked fine -- one of the few things on my trailer that have had no problems so far.
One of the things with Ultra Fabs (perhaps Baker is similar) is they are actually designed to lift your trailer somewhat if needed for leveling purposes (the weight limit varies by model).
Originally, I thought they were just for stabilizing, but when I read the owner's material that came with them, I saw they actually had a lifting capacity. I called Ultra Fab and talked to one of their guys and he explained this to me in some detail - telling me how to use them to lift various corners of my trailer to level it. (I do use them a bit for levelling, but not more than 1" or so since I'm still a bit skeptical of doing that).
John
__________________
Flyfisher
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06-12-2007, 06:58 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1976 Argosy 24
now being enjoyed by Heath and Mary in
, Vermont
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,432
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Thanks for the information, John.
When I get closer to going out on the road I’ll call Marv at Ultra-Fab for a talk through explanation of the leveling capability. Sounds useful.
Sergei
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