Trailer Jack

agallant80

Commander
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Messages
2,328
Just thought of this. My boat is 7K dry and the trailer is 1500lbs. So about 9K with fuel etc. How large of a jack would I need to jack this thing up if I get a flat tire? I doubt the jack in my truck will lift it.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,994
Re: Trailer Jack

Just thought of this. My boat is 7K dry and the trailer is 1500lbs. So about 9K with fuel etc. How large of a jack would I need to jack this thing up if I get a flat tire? I doubt the jack in my truck will lift it.

Ayuh,.... I can't feature that it Wouldn't.....

If it's a tandem wagon, there ain't more than a ton on any 1 point you'd be liftin'....
 

tazrig

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 20, 2012
Messages
1,752
Re: Trailer Jack

Just thought of this. My boat is 7K dry and the trailer is 1500lbs. So about 9K with fuel etc. How large of a jack would I need to jack this thing up if I get a flat tire? I doubt the jack in my truck will lift it.

My rig is just a little heavier than yours, not by much though. I use a 3 ton sears floor jack (over kill but fast and easy to use) I bought for $80 on sale. you can find them smaller and cheaper too. For when you are out on the road if you are a member of Boat U.S. you can add "trailer assist" to your membership for I think $14 annually. (think AAA for trailers and tow vehicles) They will rescue you 24/7 with no co-pay and if you don't have a spare with you they will tow the boat and your tow vehicle, if needed, to your house, or boat yard. Pretty cheap coverage for what they offer. JMHO
 

EddiePetty

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
1,008
Re: Trailer Jack

Just thought of this. My boat is 7K dry and the trailer is 1500lbs. So about 9K with fuel etc. How large of a jack would I need to jack this thing up if I get a flat tire? I doubt the jack in my truck will lift it.

Well....I wouldn't believe you would need a jack of much greater capacity than the load rating of your trailer tires.

Your truck jack should suffice providing it will fit beneath the axle adjacent to the future flat. :)
 

Jake007

Seaman
Joined
Jan 8, 2011
Messages
73
Re: Trailer Jack

If you have a tandom axle you can also use a couple tricks I have used in the past. My truck jack could not raise high enough so I broke the bolts loose while on the ground and drove over a culvert area just enough to give me the clearance to change the tire, no jacking necessary. Another time I backed onto a curb with one of the tandom wheels and was able to change the other tire with no jacking.
 

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,203
Re: Trailer Jack

I carry a couple chunks of 4x4 in my truck... I don't ever need a jack for the trailer... I use the wood blocks the same way as Jake used the curb... Also they make a tool specifically for trailers that lift the axle by moving the vehicle
Seasense, 50080578, Trailer Parts, Trailer Jacks, Seasense Trailer Jack, Easy Lift 50080578 - at FirstChoiceMarine.com
View attachment 182986

Although I wouldn't recommend it, i've done something similar to that gadget with a 2x4... It was about 16 inches long, perfect length that if you wedged it against the axle and the ground, it was about a 45 degree angle. From there, just put the vehicle in gear and GENTLY move it forwards a couple inches. And the key part.. Never, ever get any body part below any part of the trailer, EVER!
 

lncoop

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 18, 2010
Messages
5,147
Re: Trailer Jack

I second the Sears floor jack. Quick and easy and doesn't take up a whole lot of space.
 
Joined
Mar 1, 2005
Messages
956
Re: Trailer Jack

I keep an old bottle jack in the bed of my pickup along with a couple of 2x4s and 2x6s. You never know when you'll need the extra clearance or stability when jacking in the mud or snow.
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Trailer Jack

Ya, know..... I just thought of something.... if yer tow vehicle jack can't lift yer trailer.... ya MIGHT oughta consider a bigger tow vehicle LOL
 

hungupthespikes

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 25, 2009
Messages
814
Re: Trailer Jack

I use either an old cheap floor jack or a hydraulic bottle jack (from junkyard) and always a jack stand.
A truck/RV junkyard will part with the OEM hydraulic jacks, the smaller/auto yards not so much.

Here's another option. Several different ones out there.
 
Top