Last Fall, when hooking up my trailer to bring home for a weekend trip, my Barker VIP 3500 tongue jack stopped working.I called barker and they sent out a new switch. Well, this weekend I brought the trailer home to de-winterise and get it ready for next weekend. I replaced the switch. As I pulled the wires off the old switch, i put them on the new one. making sure every wire was in its proper placement.Jack STILL wont work!Ive checked all fuses and they're all good. The light is working, so that tells me I have power going to the unit.I went to Barkers web site and in the 'contact us' section, I basically told them the same thing. see what they say I guess.In the mean time, any of you handy man DIY Gurus have any thoughts on what may be the issue?Thanks in advance!

stuck motor.stuck/rusted bearing in gear box.bad connection at motor brushes..bug nest inside of motor.to name a few.

Chuck_thehammer wrote:stuck motor.stuck/rusted bearing in gear box.bad connection at motor brushes..bug nest inside of motor.to name a few.When it first happened, I tore into it to make sure all of the gears were in good shape. The unit was very clean and dry and very well greased. I had a custom waterproof cover made by a friend, to keep it dry.Very frustrating. I live in Michigan, (an hour from barker actually) so I bought a Made In The USA/Michigan product and it failed me after 3 seasons. :M

You may have just enough ground connection to operate the light but not the jack. That happened to me and my Barker. I removed the jack and sanded the rust off around the mounting holes on BOTH the jack and trailer tongue. then placed stainless steel washers with the "teeth" between the the jack and tongue tightened the bolts back down. the jack worked perfect.

gaymeadowsman wrote:You may have just enough ground connection to operate the light but not the jack. That happened to me and my Barker. I removed the jack and sanded the rust off around the mounting holes on BOTH the jack and trailer tongue. then placed stainless steel washers with the "teeth" between the the jack and tongue tightened the bolts back down. the jack worked perfect.I'll give that a shot. thanks!

I too had problems with an inadequate ground ... paint and corrosion interfere

Barker tongue jack issue | Good Sam Community

Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Apr 24, 2016
stuck motor.
stuck/rusted bearing in gear box.
bad connection at motor brushes..
bug nest inside of motor.

to name a few.
DE88ROX
Explorer
Apr 24, 2016
Chuck_thehammer wrote:
stuck motor.
stuck/rusted bearing in gear box.
bad connection at motor brushes..
bug nest inside of motor.

to name a few.

When it first happened, I tore into it to make sure all of the gears were in good shape. The unit was very clean and dry and very well greased. I had a custom waterproof cover made by a friend, to keep it dry.

Very frustrating.

I live in Michigan, (an hour from barker actually) so I bought a Made In The USA/Michigan product and it failed me after 3 seasons. :M
gaymeadowsman
Explorer
Apr 24, 2016
You may have just enough ground connection to operate the light but not the jack. That happened to me and my Barker. I removed the jack and sanded the rust off around the mounting holes on BOTH the jack and trailer tongue. then placed stainless steel washers with the "teeth" between the the jack and tongue tightened the bolts back down. the jack worked perfect.
DE88ROX
Explorer
Apr 24, 2016
gaymeadowsman wrote:
You may have just enough ground connection to operate the light but not the jack. That happened to me and my Barker. I removed the jack and sanded the rust off around the mounting holes on BOTH the jack and trailer tongue. then placed stainless steel washers with the "teeth" between the the jack and tongue tightened the bolts back down. the jack worked perfect.

I'll give that a shot. thanks!
wearenh
Explorer
Apr 24, 2016
I too had problems with an inadequate ground ... paint and corrosion interfere
DE88ROX
Explorer
Apr 24, 2016
gaymeadowsman wrote:
You may have just enough ground connection to operate the light but not the jack. That happened to me and my Barker. I removed the jack and sanded the rust off around the mounting holes on BOTH the jack and trailer tongue. then placed stainless steel washers with the "teeth" between the the jack and tongue tightened the bolts back down. the jack worked perfect.

Well, I hooked up the trailer and removed the jack. Took my Dremel tool and ground the frame of the trailer as well as the underside of the bolt flange on the jack right down to bare metal. Replaced the washer with a brand new stainless steel locking washer (with the teeth)
STILL wont work. ive exhausted all my known options.

This is the start of my 3rd season with this jack. Needless to say, im really disappointed in its performance thus far.

On the positive side, at least i can still use it manually and the its geared different than the OEM hand crank that came with the trailer, so its still a tad faster.

Buy American! smh
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Apr 24, 2016
Assuming your batteries are charged......If Barker doesn't get you going quickly, the $100 jacks from China work well. Good luck.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Apr 24, 2016
Next time try an Atwood jack. I have had two of them in the past 30 years and both are still going strong.
Barney
Gene_Ginny
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
Check the limit switches. :h
DE88ROX
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
coolbreeze01 wrote:
Assuming your batteries are charged......If Barker doesn't get you going quickly, the $100 jacks from China work well. Good luck.

Batteries are fully charged. I put it away after a trip last year and it worked fine. Went to pick up the trailer for the next trip and that's when i noticed it was dead in the water. No explanation really, just wouldn't work.

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Barker tongue jack issue

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