Only had the 23' Skamper TT for a few weeks, but figured out right quick that I wasn't going to manually crank that tongue jack.(Especially when raising the truck and trailer for weight dist. bars)Ordered a Barker VIP 3500 from PPL.I was able to get it installed yesterday.To say the least, I'm a little disappointed. It doesn't seem to raise the thing as much as my manual one - guess I'll find some taller lumber to carry for the jack to rest on.Also - it makes a weird noise like something is rubbing.It was quite slow with only the camper deep cycle, but plugging the 7 way into the truck helped some.Thoughts? Suggestions?Should I call the company next time I'm at the camper to have them troubleshoot over the phone?Anything I can try?thanks

If plugging it in to the TV helped, I would suggest you may have a low voltage issue with the trailer. Weak Battery? With the travel height of the jack,(how high it will lift) can be determined from the manual or the web site for Barker. Ours is 18 inches. (Not a Barker) The "rubbing" sound may be normal or not. You probably can't tell unless you have had an electric jack before. Have someone who has an electric jack, preferably, a Barker, take a listen.

jwicker wrote:It doesn't seem to raise the thing as much as my manual one - guess I'll find some taller lumber to carry for the jack to rest on.You could add a flip jack.

It is the 18" model.I might try to record it on my phone this weekend and post it on Photobucket.I thought about replacing the battery as I can't find the date on it.So far, no power issues IN the trailer, but we have had shore power except on the walkthru when we bought it.

I put the included "extra large foot pad" on it (bolts to the bottom of the shaft).I might pull that back off and go back to using this:

Rather than replacing the battery you "think" may be bad, take it somewhere and have it tested. It's usually free. That's what I did when my tongue jack stopped working. Unfortunately, the battery is fine and fully charged, so that means my cheap jack has quit on me.

Electric jack - unrealistic expectations or bad unit?

kendive
Explorer
Aug 03, 2013
BarneyS wrote:
I don't know what the e-bay price is but here is a great price on the Atwood 3500lb model. This is the one that I have on my trailer and it has been working fine since 2004.
Barney

A little cheaper on ebay. I am just gonna stay with my crank jack for now. Wife and I have been looking at the Lance line of TT and may trade in a year or so anyway...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atwood-Deluxe-HD-3500-Power-Tongue-Jack-Camper-Trailer-80530-80718-/400533405559?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d41a6bf77&vxp=mtr
BarneyS
Explorer III
Aug 03, 2013
I don't know what the e-bay price is but here is a great price on the Atwood 3500lb model. This is the one that I have on my trailer and it has been working fine since 2004.
Barney
kendive
Explorer
Aug 02, 2013
BarneyS wrote:
I cannot find any information about a LSI electric tongue jack. Can you supply a website that has any? I know that Lippert sells a tongue jack (LCI). Could that be the one you are talking about? It looks identical to the Stromberg Carlson.

Here is a pretty good site that lists and compares many of the popular jacks available now.
Barney

Yep that is the one...

I found a motor on etrailer.com that has a gear box attached to it for $115 but I am not going to spend $100 on a motor when I could buy an nice atwood electric jack on ebay for a $100 more.

Thanks for the info.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Aug 02, 2013
I cannot find any information about a LSI electric tongue jack. Can you supply a website that has any? I know that Lippert sells a tongue jack (LCI). Could that be the one you are talking about? It looks identical to the Stromberg Carlson.

Here is a pretty good site that lists and compares many of the popular jacks available now.
Barney
jwicker
Explorer
Aug 02, 2013
I'm not that patient. If it goofs up this weekend, I'll be on the phone bugging everyone and their brother. I have the old manual jack in the camper.
I'll block it up and swap them out on the spot.
kendive
Explorer
Aug 02, 2013
Mr.Beebo wrote:
If your electric jack should fail, most still have a manual means of operation. There should be a rubber cap or tab at the top you can remove to access the cranking nut. It will sound like the national alert siren and you'll have every camper within 100" eyeballing you, but it will suffice in an emergency.

Not if the electric motor is seized up...

My LSI Electric Jack failed and you could not move it at all. I replaced it with a manual one and then was going to repair the Electric Jack. I removed all the gears and motor. Found the motor was bad. Talked to LSI and they don't sell just the motor.
Mr_Beebo
Explorer
Aug 02, 2013
If your electric jack should fail, most still have a manual means of operation. There should be a rubber cap or tab at the top you can remove to access the cranking nut. It will sound like the national alert siren and you'll have every camper within 100" eyeballing you, but it will suffice in an emergency.
kendive
Explorer
Aug 02, 2013
BarneyS wrote:
I have had Atwood electric jacks on my trailers for the past twenty years or so and have never had a single failure of any kind.
Barney

I heard Atwood is a very god brand. I had an LSI Electric Jack on the Kodiak and they are Junk...
jwicker
Explorer
Aug 02, 2013
tll wrote:
I have the same 3500 lb jack but with the 24" stroke. Makes the exact same noise going up or down when not under load. No noise when actually doing the job of lifting or lowering the camper. Been working perfect for two years now. I think when not under load there is some play in the gearing or bushings that makes the sound. Purchased mine from PPL also.

I describe the noise as "cu clunk cu clunk cu clunk cu clunk"

Mine was definitely under load.
I'll work it more this weekend.
tll
Explorer
Aug 02, 2013
I have the same 3500 lb jack but with the 24" stroke. Makes the exact same noise going up or down when not under load. No noise when actually doing the job of lifting or lowering the camper. Been working perfect for two years now. I think when not under load there is some play in the gearing or bushings that makes the sound. Purchased mine from PPL also.

I describe the noise as "cu clunk cu clunk cu clunk cu clunk"