Forum Discussion

covered_wagon's avatar
covered_wagon
Explorer
Jan 03, 2016

Surprising Danger experienced With My HappiJacks

The circuit board went bad on my Happijacks so I had to switch to manual use using the crank. This essentially disengages the electric motor from the gears allowing manual use of the hand crank to the gears for raising and lowering. The surprise came when removing the crank(jack switched in the manual position) when I removed the crank the jack would spin on the weight of the camper and would have gone all the way down and left me crushed under the camper had I not immediately put the crank back in quickly and switched back to the electric mode.

It was very dangerous, both front jacks acting the same, would have also crushed my wife's newer car with me in between.

Just a thought to warn you folks that have nicely lubed your jacks as I have. It would be wrong of me not to inform others about this.
Truck Campers
  • covered_wagon's avatar
    covered_wagon
    Explorer
    Jan 04, 2016
    They are the 4500's. It's interesting that once I let the crank go it would continue to spin on it's own till I stopped it. Pulled out the crank when stopped and it got to lowering with the jack screw spinning inside on it's own. Scared the heck out of me but reacted fast to stop it and engage the electric motor for safety.
  • Joe417's avatar
    Joe417
    Explorer
    Jan 03, 2016
    I have 4500s with a heavy camper. They are the ball screw type. I have one that I've been using manually. I have re-greased them and they turn very easy. I haven't seen any issue like this with mine.

    I've been thinking about upgrading to 4800s (acme screw) but haven't found a reasonable deal on them in the past year.

    Reading all the rants on the forum, I've thought about switching to Reico's, but I'd have to change the whole system which they are very proud of. The 4800s are also rated for more weight.

    You do realize we are starting a "mine are better than yours" rant.


    Which model failed on you?
  • covered_wagon's avatar
    covered_wagon
    Explorer
    Jan 03, 2016
    d3500ram wrote:
    CW- good to hear you are safe.

    You mentioned that the jacks are well lubed. I need to perhaps perform maintenance on my HJ's, but they are fully manual with no motor. Do I need to be concerned? The owner's manual (for mine)says to fully extend the jack and then to use lithium grease.

    Do I need to be concerned on the manual jacks or do you think this situation applies only to the jacks type that you have with the motor?


    At this point I don't know but, my jacks acted like greased lightening and were going down on their own. Happened very quickly, had to act fast. If I chickened out and ran back out of the way I'm pretty sure I would have camper laying on it's side. Instead I forced the hand crank back in and engaged the motors ea. time. Second time I was ready for it.

    Hoping this post will reveal more information as more add folks to it. There is nothing in the manual about this
  • d3500ram's avatar
    d3500ram
    Explorer III
    Jan 03, 2016
    CW- good to hear you are safe.

    You mentioned that the jacks are well lubed. I need to perhaps perform maintenance on my HJ's, but they are fully manual with no motor. Do I need to be concerned? The owner's manual (for mine)says to fully extend the jack and then to use lithium grease.

    Do I need to be concerned on the manual jacks or do you think this situation applies only to the jacks type that you have with the motor?

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