I think my hitch jack is dying

[djb75]

While on the road, our hitch jack (Atwood 4000) seems to have picked up a couple of bad habits:

1. While going up or down, the gears have intermittent periods of chattering - then smooth out again.

2. When at higher levels (e.g., when putting on WD bars), sometimes the brake doesn't work and the jack starts whirring merrily as it lowers the tongue. A short press of the EXT switch stops the decent and the brake then engages.

Is this symptomatic of a dying jack, or something that jacks just do? I suspect the former. Assuming failure is imminent, is there anything to be done for it besides installing a new jack? If so, how do Atwoods compare to others, such as Husky or Bulldog? Having read a few threads, it seems the Husky 4500s are favored replacements.

[mefly2]

Remove the cover and look for chards of aluminum from the gears ... ours went bad fairly quickly ...replaced with a new one from Amazon: Brute 5000. See my write up and pics.

[GCinSC2]

Suggest complete replacement. Sounds like several issues gears? And brake?

[ROBERT CROSS]

It's still under warrantee...but will be replaced in kind.

Do yourself a favor...get a Husky 4000 or 5000.
No gears to strip, quiet and the 5 comes with a remote control.
Plus it just looks "Airstream"

Bob
🇺🇸

[djb75]

Thanks, all. I had thought about the warranty, but I'm not impressed with the Atwood. I had noticed that the Husky 4500 also comes with a remote, but the cost differential between a 4500 and 5000 is small enough, I was thinking 5000 as well.

[Jsailmo]

Went through the same experience a few weeks ago. The jack quickly diminished to a 3" lift / descent. Luckily, I was in the process of arrival at a campsite and left the rig hitched to the TV. Next morning drove (3hrs) to the dealer (BT Thomas) and they had a new jack installed in 20 minutes after arrival No issues with the warranty as mine is 2019. The dealer indicated a relatively low failure rate but high enough to be problemmatic for those few customers. Now that I have brand new jack, I have the option of selling it on-line and upgrading.

Best of luck, but i'd replace it sooner than later.

[jstave]

Same here with a 2019 Tommy 27. Once the jack starts to go it's a pretty quick death. Husky 5000 is very impressive.

[Vagabonds_2]

Originally Posted by djb75

While on the road, our hitch jack (Atwood 4000) seems to have picked up a couple of bad habits:

1. While going up or down, the gears have intermittent periods of chattering - then smooth out again.

2. When at higher levels (e.g., when putting on WD bars), sometimes the brake doesn't work and the jack starts whirring merrily as it lowers the tongue. A short press of the EXT switch stops the decent and the brake then engages.

Is this symptomatic of a dying jack, or something that jacks just do? I suspect the former. Assuming failure is imminent, is there anything to be done for it besides installing a new jack? If so, how do Atwoods compare to others, such as Husky or Bulldog? Having read a few threads, it seems the Husky 4500s are favored replacements.

We shelled one out on a Caravan to Salem, OR. Got a Husky, but have a new Atwood in the box to sell!?

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by djb75

Thanks, all. I had thought about the warranty, but I'm not impressed with the Atwood. I had noticed that the Husky 4500 also comes with a remote, but the cost differential between a 4500 and 5000 is small enough, I was thinking 5000 as well.

I wasn't aware that the 4500 came with a remote, so I checked. The one claiming 4500# and a remote is not the same design as the 5000# version. The old 4500# version is now labeled as 4000# and no remote.

But, my 5000# version was only $20 more at the time, so why not? It's not the tongue weight you're lifting if you have bars on the hitch, it's the back of the truck AND the tongue weight!
More is more.

[Mikebrady62]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I wasn't aware that the 4500 came with a remote, so I checked. The one claiming 4500# and a remote is not the same design as the 5000# version. The old 4500# version is now labeled as 4000# and no remote.

But, my 5000# version was only $20 more at the time, so why not? It's not the tongue weight you're lifting if you have bars on the hitch, it's the back of the truck AND the tongue weight!
More is more.

I think about this every time I take my WD bars off and the rear of the truck goes up, I wonder to myself " is this the time"
I haven't had 1 problem with mine but read about it all the time. I truly do wonder what the percentage of failure the Atwood's have?
How many out there never encounter a problem with their Atwood?

[djb75]

As it turns out, the Atwood warranty is only available to the original owner. So that makes the decision a lot easier - how can you resist a name like "Husky Superbrute"?

[mefly2]

Here it is ... sans propane tank cover. It is a snug fit; so, pad the rear for the jack or cover. Note I "armored" the power cable. This made a much better install than the original ... no more slo-blow fuse. The circuit is now protected by a circuit breaker.

[djbar]

I'd not wait for failure which sounds imminent.


Just replaced my noisy, grinding, whining, OEM tongue jack with Husky 4000. Now quiet, smooth, and no more fuse to blow. Its tight with propane cover so padded back of 4000 with exterior grade velcor felt.

[jcanavera]

I vote the Husky also. I went with the Super Brute due to the heavy hitch weight on my Classic slide out and the ball and screw technology which is heads and tails above the gear technology in other jacks. Also if you any reason you have to use the hand crank, there is no synchronization of the gears like you had with the older Barker jacks that Airstream supplied. Also check out the picture below and you will see the nice holder that comes with the jack that stows the connector to your tow vehicle when it's not in use. Love this!

The only negative is that hand crank is large. It's too large to clear the tank cover, and on my trailer it even is in the way of the gas bottles. So if you have to crank for any reason, you to have to do a little temporary relocation of the cover for sure, and maybe a tank dependent upon the size of the bottles.

As far as the wireless technology that came with my Super Brute it's an eh.... Personally I've only used it once and quite honestly my leveling indicators are out side the trailer, close to the hitch jack. So in my case I didn't feel that it's a big advantage to me.

Finally a big positive was the price and at the time my Super Brute was less cost than purchasing a replacement Barker Super Jack.

Jack

[switz]

Looks like this jack would end the use of my flag poles holder.

[djb75]

Between chattering, "auto-retraction", and the jack's tendency to gyrate, I've got the 5000 ordered and hope to receive/install it next week.

[djbar]

Somewhere I read that the Husky model w/ remote may be another source of phantom battery drain. Something jack about needing power to stay in constant communication w/ remote. Can anyone confirm?

[Jsailmo]

Does anyone have any experience / opinions on the Stromberg Carlson Electric Trailer Jack as a replacement?

[CanoeU70]

I've on Airstream#3 and tongue jack #7

Clearly, the "standard issue" jack lacks robust longevity.

My theory is that even a slight misalignment of the loaded gear mechanism results in binding.

OBTW, unless you're lifting on a WHEEL (as opposed to the standard issue "plate" then binding will occur. You have probably noticed that when you remount your rig to your vehicle that once the ball seats in the socket, the jack "jumps" forward with a sigh of relief.

Get a ROBUST wheel and try it (once you replace your dead tongue jack).

[rjack]

Jacks fail at inopportune times. A word of advice from experience: always carry a compact floor jack and extra blocks. It is a tool which can be useful in many ways...i.e. when the front end skews around on a hilly lot, jack fails, tire issues, leveler sticks, etc. Ours gets emergency use for ourselves or neighbors twice a year in travels.