Advice on handheld electric drill for jacks

[TheTichenors]

I am looking to buy a dedicated handheld electric drill for raising and lowering my stabilizer jacks on my 30' Surveyor TT. I am also wanting to use it on the jacks of my ProPride hitch.

Should I get the type that has an 'impact wrench' function or just stick to the basic high-torque drill/driver models? I was thinking the impact wrench function would be handy for getting the jacks started but I don't want to damage anything.

Thoughts?

[JiminDenver]

I use a impact wrench but as usual if you can hear me, you parked too close. My Royobi drill doesn't have the torque and the chuck loosens in reverse.

[ndrorder]

A cordless impact makes no more noise that that of a drill until things tighten up. And once tightened, it really isn't any louder than a loaded diesel pickup with factory exhaust. The impact wrench smells a lot better though.

Cliff

[2manytoyz]

I've used an 18V Dewalt (non-impact) drill for the jacks on our previous travel trailer for years. Worked perfectly.

We recently sold the trailer to our niece. We met them for their maiden voyage, and they didn't bring a drill. I only had my Milwaukee 12V (M12 series) drill with me. It did deploy the jacks, but lacked enough power to lift the corner of the camper to make the jacks really effective.

So... I'd say get an 18V or more non-impact type drill. Keep in mind, these drills have enough torque to damage your wrist if not careful. I use two hands, and keep the palm of the hand not holding the drill, against the bottom of the grip to prevent the drill from moving.

[Mickeyfan0805]

Agreed on the no-impact.

That said, I never needed anything special. I used a basic Ryobi to raise and lower the jacks on our first rig and it was just fine. The bigger issue, really, is battery. Cheaper models will have batteries that might not cycle as well.

[schlep1967]

No impact. Lubricate your jacks regularly and use either a regular drill or the hand crank that came with the trailer.
There are two sounds that grate on me in the campground. The sound of the car alarm going off for several minutes and the sound of somebody two rows over using their impact drill. If I wanted to hear impact drivers I would camp at a garage or race track.

[monkey44]

I Lifted my 2200 Lb Truck Camper using an 18v Makita -three torque levels - for years. Works great, just keep your batteries charged. I believe you can now get 20v units.

I agree with above, no impact driver - just the torque drill.

[ken56]

Please, no impact driver. It gives you no advantage and it is just plain anoying to others near by who can hear it. I had a DeWalt drill with the 2 torque settings and it worked just fine. Those jacks are are stabilizers not leveling jacks and should not be used to level the trailer by putting high torque on them to lift the trailer. Use blocks under the tires instead.

[fitznj]

I use a low end Craftsman impact wrench with the appropriate socket.
Works great - I think it's 18V. No problems so far.

[gmckenzie]

I use an angle drill. 18v Ryobi from Home Depot (but I have a lot of their 18v stuff as well). It works well for me and has plenty of torque. I tighten them down with a ratchet.

[Lwiddis]

Battery operated? Just about any of them will do.

[Horsedoc]

no. You want a high torque but nothing that operates in the impact wrench mode.