Upgrading to an electric tongue jack
How do you size a tongue jack? I have a 2010 Shadow Cruiser 195wbs. Dry -3,400 # GVWR -5,600# Tongue -400# I've found jacks rated at 2,500 to 4,500# ? ? ?
Forum Discussion
Get the heaviest one you can afford. Remember, when hitching and putting on your Weight Distribution Bars, the trailer jack not only has to lift the trailer, but it has to lift WD bars, and the tow vehicle too. Go for the strongest one you can afford, you won't regret it.
One other thought. Check the distance from the new tongue jack to the back end of the open tailgate of your truck (if you're towing with a pick-up). When I switched over to an electric jack, my tail gate will not lay flat now when hitched. The jack is too close now. A microscopic change in the diameter of the shaft can make a big difference. The easiest solution is to get a hitch shaft that is a bit longer so the trailer sits back an extra inch or two. But I've not invested into a hitch with a longer shaft. I just learned how to deal with the tail gait not laying flat.
Edit: You also want to get one with the longest shaft possible. Mine has a flat foot that can be adjusted to different heights to make the shaft longer or shorter. I got the longest shaft I could find, and find that, even with the longest shaft, sometimes when camped on a hill, I still have to put several blocks under the jack to make the trailer level.
One other thought. Check the distance from the new tongue jack to the back end of the open tailgate of your truck (if you're towing with a pick-up). When I switched over to an electric jack, my tail gate will not lay flat now when hitched. The jack is too close now. A microscopic change in the diameter of the shaft can make a big difference. The easiest solution is to get a hitch shaft that is a bit longer so the trailer sits back an extra inch or two. But I've not invested into a hitch with a longer shaft. I just learned how to deal with the tail gait not laying flat.
Edit: You also want to get one with the longest shaft possible. Mine has a flat foot that can be adjusted to different heights to make the shaft longer or shorter. I got the longest shaft I could find, and find that, even with the longest shaft, sometimes when camped on a hill, I still have to put several blocks under the jack to make the trailer level.
