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crabbey1 · 10-23-2013, 04:17 PM

Ultra Fab Odyssey 3000 Electric Tongue Jack Black - $125.99

Is this a good deal? Seems like it... I haven't had time to research this but definitely want to get an electric jack. Anyone with any experience?

arodriguez60 · 10-23-2013, 04:30 PM

I bought a jack from them and it works great. I think its a good deal

crabbey1 · 10-23-2013, 04:34 PM

Thanks for the tip.

mandolindave · 10-23-2013, 05:13 PM

I am an anyone, and I have had an experience that actually addresses your question. And I over think stuff, especially when it comes to Airstreams.

My electric jack broke. I spent about that amount for a new one, plus $8 in gas to go buy it. It took me about four hours to make that much money. It took me about four hours to go buy it, take the old jack off and put the new jack on, and wire it up. I hated having to drill new holes in my hitch.
I save about a minute each trip, in hitch up time, because I have an electric jack. I camp about ten times a year. ( that's about ten minutes a year I save).
It is my experience that it is not that difficult to hand crank a hitch.

My point is.....Is it worth it? I would consider it if your manual jack was rusty or broken. They are cool though. To me the big net gain was that mine came with a light. Check out the Atwood, see how much it costs.

What I did find amusing was that the manufacturer or seller says that their product is the best. I felt like calling them up and telling them that I was the best customer/consumer EVER!!!!

crabbey1 · 10-23-2013, 05:22 PM

Thanks for your experience Mandolindave. My Hand Crank is broken. It still works but where your hand grabs to crank, it is missing the cover that rotates so all the friction is between your palm and the metal handle. It is a pain. Maybe fixable, not sure... The light would be great as we always seem to arrive after dark and honestly I love small little additions like this. My one rule was that it had to have a hand crank in case technology fails (highly probable)

mandolindave · 10-23-2013, 05:25 PM

This forum is actually a good place to research stuff. I think you were smart to ask a question about campers to a forum of people who own campers.

And if the spirit moves you....you could ask a question about mandolins. ha ha

crabbey1 · 10-23-2013, 05:30 PM

I generally do research topics (too much) and end up with a mixed pot of choices with no clear cut answer. This jack though, seemed like a simple and easy question. Which is why I asked in the first place... A question about trailers posed to people who own trailers...

Alumaholic · 10-23-2013, 05:40 PM

We know from experience that a good Atwood or a good Barker will last for decades.
Who knows how many years of service you may expect from the Ultra Fab.
I will stick with Barker.

mandolindave · 10-23-2013, 05:47 PM

I think it is the gear that usually breaks on the electric models, which was what happened to mine. My new Atwood does have the hand crank, and I too, think that it is a must. If they do break out a a trip, you could use a car jack to save the day, but doing that made me a little bit nervous.
I used the hand crank to conserve power once or twice. I was not hitched up and I needed to level out because the trailer sunk a bit after a week.

I chocked both wheels, both front and back when I installed the new one. I used a floor jack to get the tongue up on to cinder blocks.