Disabling Tongue Jack

Cracker · 11-13-2003, 12:56 PM

Is there any convenient way to disable the tongue jack once you're set up - or even when you're on the road? My fear, when set up, is that a child or malicious adult will find and operate the switch with my stabilizers down. Lowering the tongue may not hurt the front stabilizers, or the trailer body, but raising the tongue could sure play havoc with the rear stabilizers. When you're on the road - say at a rest stop or restaurant - if someone extended the jack, and you didn't notice, it could cause considerable damage - or even cause the trailer to become disconnected. It's just one more thing that I'd rather not have to worry about or keep an eye on. Do they offer a key-activated switch? If they don't I'm going to come up with one myself or find a place to put a concealed switch.

Cracker

**wahoonc** · 11-13-2003, 01:00 PM

I know that some people pull the fuse for just that reason. I have no idea where my fuse is located

Just haven't gotten that far along yet. But I agree I want some type of lockout or safety switch.

Aaron

Pahaska · 11-13-2003, 01:00 PM

I have had some of the same concerns. Your best bet may be to install a concealed switch in the A-frame area. Marine switches with brass "guts" can stand the exposure.

drboyd · 11-13-2003, 01:06 PM

Put a plug-in connector in the wire to the jack motor. When you're operating, it's connected to the hot wire. When you want to disconnect the jack, simply connect it to another "dead" wire (with a matching plug), and hide the hot wire.

It would take someone a week to figure that out

Cracker · 11-13-2003, 06:20 PM

DrBoyd:

That sounds like a simple solution - and a lot cheaper than a key switch! I haven't traced the wiring on the jack yet - but I'll bet it's not too complex.

**wahoonc** · 11-13-2003, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cracker
DrBoyd:

That sounds like a simple solution - and a lot cheaper than a key switch! I haven't traced the wiring on the jack yet - but I'll bet it's not too complex.

If you have an old one like mine there is only ONE wire leading to the jack

Kind of hard to mess that one up

Aaron

drboyd · 11-13-2003, 08:49 PM

Cracker, I'm not a doctor - my middle initial is "r"... and any stories about me claiming to be a doctor are just rumors - that's all! And if anyone tells you I offered a free exam, she's lying!! I swear it!!!!

-Don

Cracker · 11-14-2003, 09:30 AM

See what prestige a simple slip of the capitalization key can give you!

85MH325 · 11-14-2003, 10:58 AM

Here I've been going thru life all these years without a care in the world. I've lived through the Cold War, survived the Viet Nam era, made it through the Summer of Love, humbly passed through all the economic up and down turns of the last thirty years, and here you guys come up with something new to worry about...

Now it'll be six weeks before I get another good nights' rest...

Seriously, the disconnect is a pretty good idea, but if you're REALLY concerned, you can always take the electric jack out and install a manual jack. That'll ensure that no one will put it up or down on you... too much work!

Roger

Tinsel Loaf · 11-14-2003, 12:10 PM

That is a pretty good idea. I just put keyed wheel nuts on my Alcoa rims. Two different key types on each wheel opposite each other so the thieves can't break my rims if they can get all the nuts off but one. There are enough keys for the AS now, so I think I will put a jack power kill switch in one of the locking battery boxes when the jack is not needed. I will mount a small switch that will only activate the power to the jack when the battery door is open, that would be a convenient location.

Cracker · 11-14-2003, 12:32 PM

This is getting better all the time! I like the idea of a closet door type switch on the battery box door. That does the job, hides the switch and, best of all, I don't need anymore bloody keys!!! Can you get a weatherproof variety of that switch? Three cheers for the first person to come up with the right model switch to do the job!