Tongue jack replacement?

[kooblekidz]

Hi all,
After dealing with an intermittent electric tongue jack for awhile it has finally bit the dust. Luckily it had one more nudgein it and I got it off the vehicle, but it is stuck in the extended positionl The motor is shot. I would prefer to just replace this with a simple hand crank version. Sometimes lower tech is better. Has anyone out there done this switchover? Is it an airstream specific deal, or is the bolt pattern universal?
Thanks,

[Pahaska]

The bolt pattern is universal, but do you really want to revert to a manual crank jack? That was the first thing I changed on my last trailer that came with a manual jack. It's no fun cranking away under the Texas sun, in rain, or just cranking away in general.

[jcanavera]

Bolt patterns should be universal. I haven't had a hand crank jack in 10 years.....I don't miss it at all.

Jack

[85MH325]

Just buy a new power jack. Manual jacks strip just as quickly or perhaps even more frequently than the motors die. Crankin' on a 600lb or better tongue weight isn't any fun! Your back and arms will appreciate you.

Roger

[overlander63]

I have a power tongue jack earmarked for our Overlander, if I didn't think it was worth it, I certainly wouldn't replace a perfectly good manual one. If you go new, they are about $200-300, depending on where you shop, and what you wind up with.

[kooblekidz]

OK, so after taking it apart yesterday and testing the switch in all kinds of ways I gave up and decided that the motor was shot. Today I'm out there and on a whim I hit the switch and voila! down goes the jack and then up goes the jack, now it works??!! What gives?

[85MH325]

It likes you! No other explanation!

Seriously, could have been a piece of gunk in the motor brushes, a corroded switch contact that finally made contact... the overheat switch (or internal circuit breaker...I think they have one???) finally made contact... a temporary short in the wiring and when it got moved the right direction, made contact... intermittent bad ground...

Who knows?!!!!

Roger

[sander17]

kooblekidz, Same thing happened to me with a "superjack". If you would whack it with a screwdriver, the motor would decide to work again. It was an intermittent open in the motor windings. After a while, I just gave up and I use the manual handle on the top of the shaft. It has a lot of mechanical advantage, so it is a lot of easy turns. Beats $400 for a new one.

[kooblekidz]

I hate magic when it comes to electric components! I may add one of those side bolt on trailer wheels to my a frame so that if the thing goes south when I'm not in a troubleshooting mood I can still get going.

[eubank]

Yeah, we did the same with ours. Two days before our maiden voyage (years ago), I decided to hitch up to see the fit, and the old electric bit the dust. Went to the local RV store to ask about a rebuild kit, where the guy just rolled his eyes and told me to get out a deep pocketbook. Soooo, I asked about the manual: It was 30-some bucks (back then).

As long as you keep the manual (or the electric, I guess) greased, it works well and easily, at least with our lighter rig. I've certainly seen lots of rigs here with poorly-greased or ungreased hand or electric cranks, and they are a real chore, either on the camper or on the little motor.


Lynn

[Nye Thatcher]

The electric jack manufacturer who supplied Airstream a couple of years ago had an exchange electric jack program. Check it out you might save A buck. Hope this helps.
Good Luck.

[SafeHarbor]

Um... Do you guys mean that you're NOT supposed to whack on the motor casing when the jack stops? That's news to me. I think mine actually has some marks from the handle for the equalizer brackets, but I've found it sufficient to use the base of my palm to get it running again.

Lubrication? (I thought it ran on magic.)