Forum Discussion

Thom02099's avatar
Thom02099
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2015

Plug and Use Electric Trailer Jack

Looking to replace the manual jack on my trailer with an electric jack. I've read many of the old posts here and found that there are any number of electric jacks that will do the job directly wired to the battery. What I'm considering is a trailer jack that plugs directly in to the TV electrical outlet and uses the TV as source of power rather than the trailer battery. Didn't run across anything that I could find about this set up in the archives here.

Anyone have any experience, pros or cons, about such a product? They've gotten good consumer reviews from the various sites, ie, Amazon, for purchasing. Wanted to see if anyone on these forums might have some feedback.

Here's what I'm talking about:
Ultra-Fab Products

Northern Tool

10 Replies

  • coolbreeze01's avatar
    coolbreeze01
    Explorer
    Jun 17, 2015
    I don't see the reason. I often run my jack without the TV anywhere near the trailer.

    Example is lowering the front as much as possible to clean the front of bug specks etc.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jun 17, 2015
    I would not try to run it off the 7 pin connector. It needs good voltage with lots of current and that charge wire will deliver neither.
    It may work but it may also be very hard on it.
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Jun 17, 2015
    what ever you do, put a inline fuse. ours gets its power from the trailer battery that way you can up/down any time needed.
  • Thom02099's avatar
    Thom02099
    Explorer II
    Jun 17, 2015
    Sandia Man wrote:
    The 2 links you provided do indicate that these power tongues jacks are capable as they include the seven pin plug if that's the route you want to go. Easily one of our favorite mods, our battery is directly behind our powered tongue jack and it was much easier to just attach the single wire to the positive post. Enjoy your new powered tongue jack!!!


    Thanks for the input, that was my thinking as well. I'm really more inclined to go with wiring direct to the battery with Jack Quick as the simple solution. The drawback I see from going with that "plug and play" unit is that there could be times when you may want to raise/lower your trailer and your TV is not readily available. Using the on-board battery resolves this. Just thought the plug and play design was interesting.
  • Jack_Diane_Free's avatar
    Jack_Diane_Free
    Explorer
    Jun 17, 2015
    I purchased a 'plug in' to the 7 pin electric jack and cut that sucker off and just wired 1 wire with a fuse to the battery. Ground will take care of itself through the mount.
  • Sandia_Man's avatar
    Sandia_Man
    Explorer II
    Jun 17, 2015
    The 2 links you provided do indicate that these power tongues jacks are capable as they include the seven pin plug if that's the route you want to go. Easily one of our favorite mods, our battery is directly behind our powered tongue jack and it was much easier to just attach the single wire to the positive post. Enjoy your new powered tongue jack!!!
  • Thom02099's avatar
    Thom02099
    Explorer II
    Jun 17, 2015
    You only plug it in once you're setting up/packing up. You don't leave it plugged in while traveling. Presumably, the manufacturers have taken into consideration the electrical needs, ie, amps/fuses, in their designs, when plugging in to the TV. While I'm inclined to go with the tried and true and wire to the battery, which is very straightforward, was hoping to find someone here with first hand knowledge/usage, since the consumer reviews seem to be good.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Jun 17, 2015
    I would not go any lower than 3500lb capacity. Also this will probably pull 7-8 DCAMPS so if you are going to connect it to the 7-way trailer connector be sure you have enough DC Current available to properly operate it.

    I don't think I would like to have my trailer jack using only 12VDC coming from the truck side...

    If I needed a 12VDC power boost I would just nose the truck up to the trailer battery and use jumper cables.

    The REMOTE OPERATED Trailer jacks are pretty neat...

    Roy Ken
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Jun 17, 2015
    Not sure why you want to do this...
    Legally you need to have functioning break-away brakes on you trailer to tow, and to do this you need a functioning 12v battery.

    Electric tongue jacks are very easy to install and to source power from you trailer battery.
  • DougE's avatar
    DougE
    Explorer
    Jun 17, 2015
    Minimally OK. The trailer jacks call for a 20 amp breaker. Although they're setup to plug into the TV, the performance would be minimal due to the wire size and distance from the TV battery. The simplest way is to connect directly to your trailer battery through a 30 amp circuit breaker. The trailer battery can then take care of any amperage surge demands.

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