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outdoors717 · 02-13-2013, 07:32 AM

I replaced my long manual hand crank with the Camco 57363 Leveling Scissor Jack Socket 3/4. My 12volt Ryobi just won't cut it when it comes to the torque and battery life required. I also don't want to run out of juice every time I have to raise and lower. Any suggestions from people currently using this setup would be of great help. I am looking for maybe a Dewalt etc... With battery life and torque for at least 8 up and downs of the stabilizing jack.

Thanks

Mark

wkerfoot · 02-13-2013, 07:46 AM

I have an 18V DeWalt which works fine.

Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by outdoors717

I replaced my long manual hand crank with the Camco 57363 Leveling Scissor Jack Socket 3/4. My 12volt Ryobi just won't cut it when it comes to the torque and battery life required. I also don't want to run out of juice every time I have to raise and lower. Any suggestions from people currently using this setup would be of great help. I am looking for maybe a Dewalt etc... With battery life and torque for at least 8 up and downs of the stabilizing jack.

Thanks

Mark

dkottum · 02-13-2013, 07:51 AM

We carry a small Milwaukee drill with spare battery; I think it would do the job but really is light effort to simply use the hand crank. I like the "feel" of setting them by hand so as not to over tighten.

An extra battery and charger is usually provided with the drills, which could be kept up with a small inverter when traveling between campsites.

doug k

bganso · 02-13-2013, 08:56 AM

Both batteries on my DeWalt gave out, so I bought an inexpensive Kawasaki from Costco for about $40 (a $30 savings over a single new DeWalt battery). It works great for raising/lowering the stabilizers. I've never run out of juice before recharging, but have probably only completed 4-5 up and downs before doing so.

Antique Pedaler · 02-13-2013, 09:19 AM

Been using a $20 Harbor freight drill for the leveler jacks and drilling out broken rivets. I must have lucked out as it's going on 3 years old and works fine.

erock53 · 02-13-2013, 09:40 AM

Maybe you should grease or oil the mechanism. The drill should only be lowering the jack so that it touches the ground and a little more. The jacks are not meant to "jack up" the trailer. I would think that I could raise and lower mine (50+) tiimes before the drill ran out of juice. I rebuilt my jacks and they move extremely easy. Almost no problem for the drill to move them.

btowntincan · 02-13-2013, 09:50 AM

Erock has the answer. Grease the screws and it should work better.

**moosetags** · 02-13-2013, 10:10 AM

We have been using a DeWalt 18 volt driver/drill to lower and raise Lucy's stabilizers for years. I wouldn't even think about using a hand crank. Lucy carries her own charger. We charge batteries while on shore power. We use the same batteries for Lucy's work light and her vacuum cleaner.

Brian

Jammer · 02-13-2013, 10:46 AM

After using a battery-operated drill for a time I have gone back to using the hand crank most of the time. Using the drill doesn't make the job go materially faster and then there's the fuss with the battery and with making sure it doesn't get stolen. Nobody steals a crank.

HiHoAgRV · 02-13-2013, 11:32 AM

I use a great big 1/2" Dewalt 3 speed. After trying 3-4 smaller drills I finally gave up and paid $150 for a big-dog.

From experience, I wont use grease on the screws again...1 trip down a dusty road and the grease grabbed so much dirt that even the crank would barely move them.

I've lubed with a spray on dry lube and I'm betting that rubbing a wax candle on the screw threads would work just as good.

Ag&Au · 02-13-2013, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outdoors717

I replaced my long manual hand crank with the Camco 57363 Leveling Scissor Jack Socket 3/4. My 12volt Ryobi just won't cut it when it comes to the torque and battery life required. I also don't want to run out of juice every time I have to raise and lower. Any suggestions from people currently using this setup would be of great help. I am looking for maybe a Dewalt etc... With battery life and torque for at least 8 up and downs of the stabilizing jack.

Thanks

Mark

My first reaction is that the problem lies with something other than the drill.
Here are some ideas.
Drill's battery needs to be replaced.,
Stabilizer jacks need to be cleaned and lubricated.
More force than that needed for stabilization is being applied.
One or more jacks may have been deformed by too much force or impact from other objects.

Ken

outdoors717 · 02-14-2013, 08:34 AM

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I know the jacks are for stabilization only. They move just fine. I also have been using a dry lube that is wiped off pretty good. Yes they can accumulate plenty on dusty roads like the North Fork in Montana

I am rolling about 70 to 100 days a year. Was kind of looking for a speed up of the set up process in camp or just when stopping for one night and not un hooking. Maybe one could imagine a NASCAR pit crew. I think the battery is shot in the Ryobi, and the spare is headed in the same direction.

Outdoors717

**azflycaster** · 02-14-2013, 10:51 AM

When we do an over night stop and leave the truck attached to the trailer, we do not bother with the levelers. One less thing to mess with in the morning.

RLS · 02-14-2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

When we do an over night stop and leave the truck attached to the trailer, we do not bother with the levelers. One less thing to mess with in the morning.

Same here, but I do put the tongue jack down a little to take the load off

Ag&Au · 02-14-2013, 11:46 AM

I use the crank. It doesn't take that much longer, and is a little exercises. I also use the crank for the jacks on the ProPride hitch. I count the turns and that is what I use to adjust for different loading conditions. If anyone wants to part with a crank, I could use another. I could get my wife involved and do it in half the time.

Ken

slowmover · 02-14-2013, 07:44 PM

Someone will be wondering. So, yes, the right one is quick. And sturdy. Cheap. A forever purchase.

Skater · 02-20-2013, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

I use a great big 1/2" Dewalt 3 speed. After trying 3-4 smaller drills I finally gave up and paid $150 for a big-dog.

From experience, I wont use grease on the screws again...1 trip down a dusty road and the grease grabbed so much dirt that even the crank would barely move them.

I've lubed with a spray on dry lube and I'm betting that rubbing a wax candle on the screw threads would work just as good.

You may be on to something there - three of ours are now difficult to move even with the handle despite repeated greasings; the 9.6v DeWalt drill can only barely turn them (it should be able to, though, and has worked in the past). One of my plans for spring is to crawl under and clean the threads well, possibly with a wire brush, and lubricate it with a dry lube like you said.

dznf0g · 02-20-2013, 12:00 PM

Silicone spray works pretty well too.

dkottum · 02-20-2013, 01:01 PM

There is also a need for corrosion protection on these jack assemblies. I sprayed ours with Boeshield T-9, as well as all other steel under the Airstream. A decent lubricant and leaves a light coating of paraffin wax to protect them.

doug k

bilby05 · 02-20-2013, 01:08 PM

Whatever you do, whatever you buy, be sure you get one that has a LITHIUM battery. I couldn't believe the difference. I am finally convinced that a battery can outlast a drill. I used a 3/8 in corded drill for awhile, but the dust got the best of it. I cleaned the screw shafts and lubed them again but I am sure they will dirty up quickly. May try candle wax or soap next. We always lubed sticky dresser drawers with dry bar soap. And that might help keep 'em clean. Cheers bill b.