Tongue Jack replacement.

[wvmtb]

I need to replace my electric tongue jack. My question is....are the mounting holes on all tongue jacks the same? I see there are plenty of different sizes and diameters. But if the mounting holes are the same I don't see why I couldn't use any one assuming it is rated for the proper weight.

[SoundGuy]

rbpru wrote:
The crank can be raised to clear the tailgate which is a nice touch and I did not have to run the electric wires.

Electric tongue jack ground connection is made to the trailer frame by the tongue jack itself so there's only one wire to connect to the battery's positive terminal. My current trailer came with an LCI power tongue jack but I purchased a manual jack to replace the LCI during winter storage and keep the power jack in my heated workshop 'til spring.

[rbpru]

My manual jack broke and I considered an electric jack. Handy, fast, and easy. Then I thought "This is the last vestage of excersize I get." so I bought another manual jack.

The crank can be raised to clear the tailgate which is a nice touch and I did not have to run the electric wires.

These days an electric jack seems to be standard equipment so my next TT jack will probably be electric powered.

[Atlee]

Doh! Yes, it's just three bolts, not 4. My bad.

SoundGuy wrote:

Atlee wrote:
Can't you just unbolt the current power jack and turn the whole assembly 90 degrees? Would save getting a new jack.

I bet if you think about it for a moment you'd realize a 3 bolt tongue jack can only be rotated in 120 degree increments. :W In this case the OP is replacing his tongue jack anyway so I'm suggesting he not only consider lift rating but also lower shaft diameter and whether the head itself can be rotated for the purpose of solving any potential tail gate clearance issue that many of us have with our own tongue jacks.

[SoundGuy]

Here's a pic of my UltraFab 3502 tongue jack mounted on our previous KZ Spree with a 2006 Silverado ... with the head oriented in the normal forward position it just cleared the Silvy's tailgate.



I later replaced the Silvy with an Avalanche ... this is the same tongue jack with the head (with a vinyl head cover) rotated 180 degrees to the rear in order to safely clear the Av's taller tail gate.



Our current Coachmen trailer came with an LCI tongue jack with a particularly large head that won't allow my Avalanche's tailgate to lower fully ... very annoying. :M Unfortunately the design of this particular tongue jack doesn't allow for rotating the head so I am considering replacing it with another UltraFab and selling the LCI.

[SoundGuy]

Atlee wrote:
Can't you just unbolt the current power jack and turn the whole assembly 90 degrees? Would save getting a new jack.

I bet if you think about it for a moment you'd realize a 3 bolt tongue jack can only be rotated in 120 degree increments. :W In this case the OP is replacing his tongue jack anyway so I'm suggesting he not only consider lift rating but also lower shaft diameter and whether the head itself can be rotated for the purpose of solving any potential tail gate clearance issue that many of us have with our own tongue jacks.

[Atlee]

Can't you just unbolt the current power jack and turn the whole assembly 90 degrees? Would save getting a new jack.

SoundGuy wrote:


Another tip - if you're towing with a truck and find the clearance between the tailgate and the tongue jack head insufficient to allow the tailgate to lower fully purchase a tongue jack on which the head itself can be rotated a full 180 degrees. That often will create just enough clearance so the tailgate can fully lower. One example where this worked well for me was the UltraFab 3502 Tongue Jack I installed on our KZ Spree - in it's normal configuration the head interfered with my Silverado's tailgate but by removing four head screws and rotating the head 180 degrees I had plenty of room to lower the tailgate. The LCI tongue jack I have on my current trailer annoyingly interferes with the tailgate on my Avalanche but it's head cannot be rotated ... it's a real PITA and I'm thinking I may replace it with another UltraFab. :B

[SoundGuy]

wvmtb wrote:
I need to replace my electric tongue jack. My question is....are the mounting holes on all tongue jacks the same? I see there are plenty of different sizes and diameters. But if the mounting holes are the same I don't see why I couldn't use any one assuming it is rated for the proper weight.

The mounting holes are all the same but there are just two different tongue jack hole sizes, 2" and 2.25", so if you were to purchase a tongue jack with a 2.25" lower shaft but have a trailer with a 2" hole you'd be in for quite a bit of work opening up that hole. Simple solution - measure the tongue jack hole and purchase the appropriate sized tongue jack. 😉

Another tip - if you're towing with a truck and find the clearance between the tailgate and the tongue jack head insufficient to allow the tailgate to lower fully purchase a tongue jack on which the head itself can be rotated a full 180 degrees. That often will create just enough clearance so the tailgate can fully lower. One example where this worked well for me was the UltraFab 3502 Tongue Jack I installed on our KZ Spree - in it's normal configuration the head interfered with my Silverado's tailgate but by removing four head screws and rotating the head 180 degrees I had plenty of room to lower the tailgate. The LCI tongue jack I have on my current trailer annoyingly interferes with the tailgate on my Avalanche but it's head cannot be rotated ... it's a real PITA and I'm thinking I may replace it with another UltraFab. :B

[Chuck_thehammer]

you can always go larger/stronger.. Never less strong

[bobndot]

I forget the brand but I remember the base having a multi hole pattern.

etrailer has some info as well .

https://www.etrailer.com/question-95854.html

I looked on youtube for installation videos, it seems the holes on the replacement jacks are oblong making them multi fit.

[rode2nowhere]

I believe they are the same, mine was