trailer jack geniuses out there

[dentvet2]

I've seen some pretty impressive fabrication shown in this forum so hopefully this is an easy one. What creative ideas have you all come up with to eliminate hand cranking trailer tongue jacks. I've got two goosenecks that require heavy work to raise. I've seen electric ones advertised for $8-1200 (dura-leg) I've got parts laying around like a 12 v liftgate hydraulic unit. I guess I could make a simple hydraulic ram to lift the buggers. Has anyone done this? Any advice or pictures appreciated.

 

[Anonymous-0]

my 98 dodge has engine mounted hydraulic pump (fisher snow plow pump) and hoses to back and front bumpers. we used 2.5 X 24 inch salvaged loader cylinders inside of the jack's on our 34' stock trailor. they will raise the legs high enough for road travel or low enough with a 4x6 under to easily unhook. make sure you add plates on the sides where the cylinder pins go through or it will tear out..mount the pump on the truck and it could have other uses??

 

[mule puller]

put a shut off valve in the lift line or you wont get it hooked back up under pressure..if your pump is pressure up not down change hoses in sides to raise leg

 

[Anonymous-0]

Got air bags(suspension) ? Pump them up, set your jack, let the air down.

 

[RobMD]

Someone else besides me to work the crank... seems to be the most economical thing for me!

 

[mj]

(quoted from post at 17:04:35 02/27/08) I've seen some pretty impressive fabrication shown in this forum so hopefully this is an easy one. What creative ideas have you all come up with to eliminate hand cranking trailer tongue jacks. I've got two goosenecks that require heavy work to raise. I've seen electric ones advertised for $8-1200 (dura-leg) I've got parts laying around like a 12 v liftgate hydraulic unit. I guess I could make a simple hydraulic ram to lift the buggers. Has anyone done this? Any advice or pictures appreciated.

Yeah, I've been thinking about one of those HF ATV type winches ($49.95 on sale) hooked to the landing gear on my gooseneck with chain and sprockets ..... but ..... haven't got around to it yet :roll:

 

[Leland]

find some old semi trailer landing gear and just hook a 12v hi tourque motor to gear box shaft

 

[Joe(TX)]

They make electric jacks. Check the RV places.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have a 40 foot flat -- took off handle and welded a 1 3/16''nut on shaft.1/2'' drive ratchet and $19.99 multiplier from Harbor Freight -- no sweat.

 

[Paul Kingsbury]

I've done it...
I installed a 1/2" socket over the shaft for the jack. I use a 1/2" electric drill off my inverter. A battery powered 1/2" works too. Very simple and quick,,, and easy....

 

[John Niolon]

how much weigh are you lifting ??? loaded or unloaded when you lift ???

a quick thought is a electric linear actuator... 12 volt with about a ton of lift ...18" high for less than 200 bucks...

john

 

[Anonymous-0]

What's a multipier?

Glenn

 

[Anonymous-0]

Just like lower gears. Two or three cranks equal one turn.

 

[dentvet2]

Some good ideas coming through! one trailer is a 34 foot aluminum horse trailer with dual jacks and a 2 speed hand crank, the whole thing weighs about 7000# empty, the other is a 17 foot tilting flatbed weighing 4500# empty, with a single jack.

I put a flatbed dump together for my f450 but installed my gooseneck ball on the truck frame. I cut a hole through the flatbed deck for the trailer hitch to poke down through but it means I have to have the trailer jacked about 6 inches higher than the ball to clear the bed when hooking it up. that's why i am looking for a easy idea for the cranking procedure. I guess I could have just mounted the ball to the deck of the stakebed but i figured it was strongest bolted to the truck frame itself.

 

[Anonymous-0]

The racing cars..seen the air jacks they use..could be worthwhile to investigate.a line from truck air tank connected with a tap to operate.

 

[Anonymous-0]

(quoted from post at 11:01:28 02/28/08) I've done it...
I installed a 1/2" socket over the shaft for the jack. I use a 1/2" electric drill off my inverter. A battery powered 1/2" works too. Very simple and quick,,, and easy....

I think this is your ticket.... Incorporate the multiplier and a cordless drill and your cat can raise and lower it.

Good Luck,

Dave

 

[mj]

(quoted from post at 04:30:04 02/29/08)

(quoted from post at 11:01:28 02/28/08) I've done it...
I installed a 1/2" socket over the shaft for the jack. I use a 1/2" electric drill off my inverter. A battery powered 1/2" works too. Very simple and quick,,, and easy....

I think this is your ticket.... Incorporate the multiplier and a cordless drill and your cat can raise and lower it.

Good Luck,

Dave

That right there is just plumb brilliant ..... sort of ..... need to find me a cat, though

 

[dentvet2]

Paul, I like the sound of this. When you say 1/2 inch socket do you mean a 1/2 square drive socket? When you say 1/2 inch electric drill do you mean 1/2 inch square drive electric impact gun? having trouble imagining how to turn a 1/2 drive socket with a 1/2 inch electric drill with a standard jacobs chuck. thanks, dave