So we bought a new to us 2017 Ram 2500 CTD last summer and decided to take our TT and truck out for a summer shake-down cruise. I'm a stickler for having good tires and spare for truck and trailer. We went on our trip probably 1100 miles with no problems. We were so lucky.After we got home I decided to rotate the truck tires and lo and behold the jack that came with the truck doesn't work.We would have been so screwed if I had gotten a flat because it is very desolate between home and our destination.I never thought to check whether the jack worked or not because it looked like new. I feel like such a moron.

“I never thought to check...” Hmmm. When you checked the maintenance records before purchase, was there proof of oil changes?

Hey,You are no moron. You ended up testing the jack. I admit I've never used mine--but that means I've not tested it.

OEM jacks are marginal at bestI always carry a bottle jack and flat piece of wood for base in truck....can be used on trailer also

Ah, it feels good to dodge a bullet for a change!! Glad it worked out!!

Last week I rode with my dad to have new Goodyear tires installed on his camper and 3 of the four tires had some bulging going on, so I grabbed one of his old hydraulic jacks and took it with us just in case. Luckily we made the 20 mile drive without an issues and when we returned back to the shop, I removed the jack from his truck bed and I tried pumping it out of curiosity and it wouldn't budge. Of course this jack was purchased in the 80's so I guess it was time to get rid of it.

Cautionary tale | Good Sam Community

Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 28, 2020
“I never thought to check...” Hmmm. When you checked the maintenance records before purchase, was there proof of oil changes?
pianotuna
Nomad III
May 28, 2020
Hey,

You are no moron. You ended up testing the jack. I admit I've never used mine--but that means I've not tested it.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 28, 2020
OEM jacks are marginal at best
I always carry a bottle jack and flat piece of wood for base in truck....can be used on trailer also
BurbMan
Explorer II
May 28, 2020
Ah, it feels good to dodge a bullet for a change!! Glad it worked out!!
FishOnOne
Nomad
May 28, 2020
Last week I rode with my dad to have new Goodyear tires installed on his camper and 3 of the four tires had some bulging going on, so I grabbed one of his old hydraulic jacks and took it with us just in case. Luckily we made the 20 mile drive without an issues and when we returned back to the shop, I removed the jack from his truck bed and I tried pumping it out of curiosity and it wouldn't budge. Of course this jack was purchased in the 80's so I guess it was time to get rid of it.
LanceRKeys
Explorer
May 29, 2020
Also good to check the air pressure in your spare before a trip!
valhalla360
Navigator
May 29, 2020
Also, check how the spare comes off. Had a 2001 Ford put brand new tires on it and a week later came out of a store and the tire was flat.

Could not figure out how to get the spare off. Turns out there was a special adapter you needed but was missing from the truck. Luckily the tire shop across the street had one.
bucky
Explorer II
May 29, 2020
Both spares, truck and trailer if you are towing.
Fisherman
Explorer
May 29, 2020
TravelinDog wrote:
So we bought a new to us 2017 Ram 2500 CTD last summer and decided to take our TT and truck out for a summer shake-down cruise. I'm a stickler for having good tires and spare for truck and trailer.
We went on our trip probably 1100 miles with no problems.
We were so lucky.
After we got home I decided to rotate the truck tires and lo and behold the jack that came with the truck doesn't work.
We would have been so screwed if I had gotten a flat because it is very desolate between home and our destination.
I never thought to check whether the jack worked or not because it looked like new. I feel like such a moron.

If it looked like new and maybe never used, are you sure you know how to use it. A lot of people are clueless around tools less basic than a toothpick.
naturist
Nomad
May 29, 2020
Having seen what junk passes for jacks in various vehicles over the years, I have several bottle jacks and an aluminum service jack that has served me well. Last time we went anywhere over an hour away from home, I took the service jack along, and that proved a wise decision as I had two tires go bad on the trailer. One of the ones on the trailer when I started the trip. Replaced all of them on the road, along with the spare. Stopped for lunch an hour after tire replacement, and one of the new ones had gone flat when I came out to resume the journey.