Help with Electric tongue jacks

luvmydogs wrote:
I like to get the same one since your proof you can rotate the head.

Just to be clear that's not what I said ... rather, I said that with the UltraFab I owned several years ago I could rotate the head simply by removing the four head bolts but because the current version has undergone a design change there's more to it. Here's a copy of my email to UltraFab about this ....

"QUESTION:

Several years ago I used an UltraFab 3502 with our KZ Spree travel trailer but because the tongue jack head interfered with the tailgate on our Chevy Avalanche I found I could reverse the tongue jack head itself 180 degrees by simply removing the four head bolts and turning the head. Turns out that when I remove the four head bolts on this new tongue jack I can no longer rotate the head 180 degrees and it appears the only way I can solve this clearance issue is to rotate the entire jack sideways 90 degrees. Has there been a design change with the UltraFab 3502 that now prevents this?

ANSWER:

Yes there has been an upgrade to our Power tongue Jacks.
However you can rotate the power head on the lower stem. You will have to remove the top gear cover and then there is a pin thru the collar just above the main gear to drive out. Now you can remove the 4 bolts that hold the power head to the top of the outer tube lift it up and rotate 180 degrees and reassemble."

However, the new version UltraFab has multiple holes in the base plate which allow you to turn the entire jack 90 degrees so that's what I've chosen to do with mine as it's much simpler than having to open the head as detailed in that reply from UltraFab.

luvmydogs wrote:
So I've found them on Amazon and Ebay. Do I just look for 3502? If it says 3502 isnt this the one you have?

Here's an example on Amazon of an authentic UltraFab 3502 Tongue Jack, Mfg Model #38-944017 - the same model I've just installed on my own trailer.

Here's an example on Amazon of a look-a-like version that is not an UltraFab.

Some are 3507-7. Is that not the same?

So I've found them on Amazon and Ebay. Do I just look for 3502? If it says 3502 isnt this the one you have? I saw one that was 3502 with a letter after it, I"m guessing thats not the same. How do I know if its a knock off? I'd have to order online somewhere as the actual walk in trailer places are twice as much. I saw one price as being 118.00. Any advice on where you ordered yours from and about how much it was? I like to get the same one since your proof you can rotate the head. Thanks for your help.

luvmydogs wrote:
Trying to find an electric tongue jack for my RV. Have a Keystone passport 23bh. Problem is we pull with a 2012 Ford Expedition and the hatch is very close to the jack. Then the propane tank cover is equally as close on the other side. If its a 2 hole configuration, then it can only turn 120 degrees and I dont think that will fit. Not sure though, but the first one we got did not fit. Any suggestions for this problem. We travel with dogs so we have to have the back hatch be able to open at all time.

I have the same problem with the tailgate on my Chevy Avalanche which is taller than tailgates on 1/2 ton trucks like the Silverado, F150, etc. My current Coachmen Freedom Express came with an LCI tongue jack and the head prevented the tailgate from fully lowering so I recently sold the LCI and purchased an UltraFab 3502. I've owned one before and by simply removing the four head bolts I could rotate the head a full 180 degrees ... an internal design change now prevents that with the current version unless you fully disassemble the head BUT it's also now not necessary. The reason - the 3502's mounting plate now has multiple holes in it that allow you to rotate the entire jack 90 degrees, which is what I've done so the head is facing to the street (driver's side) which is where I'm usually standing when operating the jack. Be aware though there are endless knock off versions of the UltraFab, especially on eBay and Amazon, and you will pay more for an authentic UltraFab.

best advise is get a longer shank on your hitch, When I switched to Blue Ox this spring I was surprised that the shank was long enough to drop the gate all the way with 2 or 3 inches to spare, A new longer shank on your set up would love the problem

The Atwood jacks seem to be fairly compact in regards to the motor head/cover size. Had one on our last trailer and was very happy with it. Would still have it if it had a black cover or I could have bought a replacement cover for cheap. That's the only reason I let the one year old jack go with the trailer.

Another option is to get a slightly longer shank. The part that the hitch head bolts to and slides into the trucks receiver. But do not get a hitch extension, as I don't believe they don't have the ratings needed for a wdh use.

luvmydogs wrote:
Trying to find an electric tongue jack for my RV. Have a Keystone passport 23bh. Problem is we pull with a 2012 Ford Expedition and the hatch is very close to the jack. Then the propane tank cover is equally as close on the other side. If its a 2 hole configuration, then it can only turn 120 degrees and I dont think that will fit. Not sure though, but the first one we got did not fit. Any suggestions for this problem. We travel with dogs so we have to have the back hatch be able to open at all time.

You have more options that a hitch extension. Many of the jacks will allow you to rotate the head to the side to the controls face out instead of forward. It was just a couple of screws to loosen, rotate and reposition the head. We bout a Barker (30828) Power Jack - 3500 lb. Load Capacity on Amazon. It wouldn't matter if you only had a 2 whole configuration. We had had the same problem with the tailgate hitting the jack before I bought the Barker, now we don't. Problem solved.

Get a hitch extension