Tongue jack is slanted. Suggestions on how to deal with it?

[SamBurritos]

I have a 2004 Jayco Jay Flight that I bought used a couple seasons ago. I replaced the manual tongue jack with an electric one. It works, but it is slanted back towards the camper and not straight up and down. I uninstalled it and reinstalled the manual jack and found that it is also slanted, but it is not as noticeable since it is shorter. Also, the higher I raise the camper, the more obvious it is that the jack is slanted (see photos below)

When I install the jack, it slides down through the top hole, and then it goes through a second hole in a plate underneath. It seems like those two holes aren't quite lined up.

Looking for recommendations from the group. Am I doing something wrong? Should I rest the jack on a big block so it doesn't have to extend so far?

Thanks!

Photos:





Plate underneath (second hole):

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

🙂 Hi, having the tongue jack on an angle could help prevent back and forward movement of the trailer.

[SamBurritos]

rbpru wrote:
Why is it a problem? My Jack was been that way since I bought it used three years and 23,000 miles ago.

I thought it was the original manual jack which stripped the lift bolt shortly after I bought it. However, when I mounted the new jack, it sat at the same angle.

There is no sign of frame or mounting plate distortion, it is simply the way the highly paid, skilled old world craftsmen that build these precision crafted frames for the TT industry made it. Oh well.

I never seen any detrimental effect.

I'm starting to think the same thing -- it looks like Jayco welded the bottom guide plate for the tongue jack on too far forwards, which causes it to lean. I got under the frame and looked very closely and I don't see any sign of something being bent or bulging or damaged.

I'm having another shop look at it on Saturday, I'll update again when I get their opinion.

[rbpru]

Why is it a problem? My Jack was been that way since I bought it used three years and 23,000 miles ago.

I thought it was the original manual jack which stripped the lift bolt shortly after I bought it. However, when I mounted the new jack, it sat at the same angle.

There is no sign of frame or mounting plate distortion, it is simply the way the highly paid, skilled old world craftsmen that build these precision crafted frames for the TT industry made it. Oh well.

I never seen any detrimental effect.

[BarneyS]

Georgia Popcorn wrote:
On the topic of electric tongue jacks;
My battery cutoff does not cut power to the jack, is that a bad thing or is it wired wrong?
And I notice a lot folks place a bucket or a weather proof bag over the controls, is that a good thing and necessary?

The jack is normally wired directly to the battery and not to the cutoff switch.

My wife made a cover for the jack using old barbque cover material. It works great and I can operate the switches right through the cover. The reason for the cover is the sun made the plastic cover on my previous trailer very brittle and it kept breaking off in small pieces. Also, some brands of electric tongue jacks will tend to leak water and mess up the switches if left uncovered.
Here is a picture of mine. Very simple to make. 🙂
Barney

[path1]

Georgia Popcorn wrote:
On the topic of electric tongue jacks;
My battery cutoff does not cut power to the jack, is that a bad thing or is it wired wrong?either does mine, and fused about a foot from tongue.

And I notice a lot folks place a bucket or a weather proof bag over the controls, is that a good thing and necessary?Stronger than gaskets on jack IMO, Not to mention the beauty of it:)

OP...I'm sure somebody can offset tilt with a piece of metal, so jack fits at 90 degrees with trailer. But more importantly if tongue has a weak weld or cracked it could become a safety issue.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

To me, the tongue looks like it's bent pointing up. The jack appears to be fairly close to square with the tongue. I would take a close look at the tongue where it mounts the main frame, looking for cracks, broken welds, bent metal.

The jack being out of plumb won't hurt it or the trailer.

[johntank]

After studying the second photo and checking photo with a square piece of paper the best that I could, I agree with MitchF150 that the lower reinforcement plate is out of alinement, to far forward.

[Georgia_Popcorn]

On the topic of electric tongue jacks;
My battery cutoff does not cut power to the jack, is that a bad thing or is it wired wrong?
And I notice a lot folks place a bucket or a weather proof bag over the controls, is that a good thing and necessary?

[BarneyS]

SamBurritos wrote:
My local trailer shop said they will fix it if I want to, but suggested I will continue to be fine if I just chock the wheels real good, take the bottom foot plate off of the trailer jack, and set it on a 6x6 block instead.

Thoughts?

My thoughts are that the above suggestion is not a good idea. I really don't think you will continue to be fine if you leave things as they are. Take a good look at this thread for the reason I say this. To me, your pictures indicate an A frame that is bent and, over time, could come completely off! :E I would get another opinion on what the problem is from a different shop and also get under there yourself and take a good, careful look.

I sincerely hope I am wrong but wouldn't take the chance suggested by the shop.
Barney

[SamBurritos]

My local trailer shop said they will fix it if I want to, but suggested I will continue to be fine if I just chock the wheels real good, take the bottom foot plate off of the trailer jack, and set it on a 6x6 block instead.

Thoughts?

[CampingN_C_]

Yep, to me it sure looks like the tongue and the jack are square with each other.

[SamBurritos]

Thanks. I will make an appointment to get it checked out and let you all know what I hear.

[BarneyS]

As already mentioned, I would be looking at the A frame and not the tongue jack mounting. That looks and sounds like a typical bent or cracked A frame issue.
Barney

[Chuck_thehammer]

based on the photo's.. both are bent.. but photo's are not the best for alignment issues.

do as Path1 said. check it out.

I always use a 8x8 under the Jack.. manual and/or power jack.
except once.. to level, A-frame nose was on the blacktop.