Power Tongue Jack - Barker or Bulldog?

Had the Barker you are considering on our previous trailer. It was trouble free for 8 years.

No experience with Bulldog.

I have a barker on my smaller trailer, it's been in constant use for 14 years now and still works like a champ. It is quiter than the atwood on my big trailer. No experience with the Bulldog.

FWIW if your tongue is heavy, consider buying a jack with a ball screw mechanism rather than an acme thread. Way less friction and better reliability. But of course they cost more. The majority of jacks are acme thread, it's usually only the heaviest capacity ones that have a ball screw version.

SWFL FlyFisher wrote:
Thoughts/comments?

Consider whether the head on either will clear your TV's tailgate and if not whether the head or jack itself can be turned 90 degrees so it might offer sufficient clearance. My UltraFab 3502 does because it has extra holes in the base plate that allow rotating the entire jack so the side of the head rather than the front is facing the tailgate. :B



It's also all metal construction so although I do always keep a tongue jack bag cover on it you would absolutely want to do that with any tongue jack with a plastic head such as those you've mentioned to avoid deterioration caused by constant exposure to the sun. :(



You also want to confirm the size of hole in your A-frame - 2" or 2.25" - as there's little sense in buying a tongue jack with a 2.25" lower tube when the hole in your A-frame is just 2". ;)

Of the two, the Barker has a ball screw design and would be my choice. Getting a higher load rating can help since you're also lifting the weight of the TV. Some jacks are noisy and I would expect the ball screw types to be quieter as well as smoother.

Have you considered a Husky Brute? Also has a ball screw design and has good reviews.

We've been through 2 Ultra Fab jacks in about 4 seasons, despite always having a hood over them and a cover on the TT over the winter. Last one locked up solid during winter storage and I couldn't get it to manually turn even with a breaker bar. I'd never get UF again. Need to get a replacement soon and have been thinking of a Husky this time based on my research.

There's also Atwood, Stromberg Carlson, LCI and probably a few others but haven't researched them. Atwood has a ball screw design.

ktmrfs wrote:
FWIW if your tongue is heavy, consider buying a jack with a ball screw mechanism rather than an acme thread. Way less friction and better reliability. But of course they cost more. The majority of jacks are acme thread, it's usually only the heaviest capacity ones that have a ball screw version.

Considering this, the OP might want to also consider a Husky Brute tongue jack which features a ball screw mechanism and also features all metal construction.

A little more info since it has been asked and/or brought up. Tongue weight is estimated (I know) to be right around 500lbs. Trailer dry weight with propane (sticker) is 4100lbs, GVWR is 6045lbs..

Hole in A frame upper and lower plates is 2-1/4" (that was one of the first things I checked).


Not sure how I missed the Husky. It does look to be a good fit and is priced just about halfway between the other two. I'll add it to my list and do some more reading.

Thanks all.

No issues with the barker VIP 3500. Works great.

We have a Barker 3500 ball screw type powered tongue jack that has served us well for a decade. It easily lifts 10K# 32' TT and our crewcab Silverado 2500HD with a bed that is always filled with firewood, grill, generator, HD sat dish, and other RVing necessities. After our first trip out over a decade ago, I knew we needed a powered tongue jack to make quick work of setting up our WD/SC hitch. It has been nearly flawless with the exception of requiring a raise/lower switch after 4 seasons, Barker sent one out and a nice cover to boot without a penny out of pocket. Yes, at the time of purchase Barker made a bigger dent in my wallet, the reviews were great back then and I can attest to their superior quality.

The Barker VIP 3500 on my previous TT lasted through 13 years of use and abuse. The cover developed a crack about six years in, allowing water to enter and corrode the limit switches, and they sent me new ones free of charge. Made in Battle Creek, MI since 1953. When the no-name jack that came on my current Coachmen dies, I'll buy another Barker.

In fact, I might not even wait that long--the factory jack seems to labor when lifting the truck and trailer to hook up the spring bars...

Whatever brand you decide on, a cover is a good idea (see above). Even a small plastic pail will do the trick.

I bought a barker for my first jack and almost my last jack. if I hadn't sold my TT and took the barker with me, I would still be using it. I used it for 20 years and gave it to my son for his TT and when he sold his TT he gave it to his cousin. I'm not sure where it is now but the barker was an excellent jack. I just put some grease on the gears every now and then for PM.