Posted 2012-03-13 11:59 AM (#142035) Subject: Electric jack
Member
Posts: 45
Hello everyone. I am excited to take delivery of my new LQ horse trailer in the next few weeks. It will not have an electric jack so we will take it to the RV dealer close to us to have one installed.
My question is - what brand of jack? Bulldog looks like a popular brand, but are there others that would be better? Or would the manufacturer have their own jack? It is a Sundowner trailer.
The trailer weighs about 7800 lbs so do I need a hydraulic jack? Do they all come with manual overrides? It seems like they would have to just in case the battery went dead otherwise I would be stuck.
Posted 2012-03-14 4:59 PM (#142107 - in reply to #142035) Subject: RE: Electric jack
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
My friend has a hydraulic jack and no doubt it's nice and runs fast but it looks like it cost about $1500 to add one to a trailer. Show season will be starting for us soon and the thought of jacking our trailer on and off 40 times doesn't sound fun. I happened to stop at a local trailer place today and for about $750 to $800 I can get a motor added to my two speed Bulldog jack. I understand it will not be as fast as hydraulic but certainly better than manual. Any opinion on the electric jacks?
Posted 2012-03-14 6:55 PM (#142110 - in reply to #142035) Subject: RE: Electric jack
Veteran
Posts: 109 Location: Bella Vista, AR
I had to replace the electric jack on my 06 Merhow, due to my stupidity and not being properly instructed by the salesman when I took delivery of the trailer. Ouch, it was expensive. $2800.... yes I got took. It is EXTREMELY slow, wish I had gone hydraulic and gotten more quotes.
Posted 2012-03-14 10:22 PM (#142130 - in reply to #142035) Subject: RE: Electric jack
Regular
Posts: 80 Location: Central WI
I was helping a friend with an electric jack unhook the trailer from her truck one day. She has a Platinum with the adjustable legs in the front. I made the mistake of being under the front of the trailer waiting to adjust a leg when she started the electric jack. Just about lost the little bit of hearing I have left. Those things are extremely loud compared to a hydraulic jack in addition to being much slower.
Posted 2012-03-15 3:20 PM (#142155 - in reply to #142035) Subject: RE: Electric jack
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560 Location: Mena, AR
I've had both. For a small trailer, an electric is fine, a bit slower/louder (cheaper), for a bit larger trailer, 3 horse, 10'LQ I'd go with a hydraulic. I'm going to be putting an electric jack on my 2H w/ 5' weekender in the next month or so. Hard to justify a hydraulic jack for it.
Posted 2012-03-16 5:57 AM (#142171 - in reply to #142155) Subject: RE: Electric jack
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
Originally written by bjhouten on 2012-03-15 3:20 PM
I've had both. For a small trailer, an electric is fine, a bit slower/louder (cheaper), for a bit larger trailer, 3 horse, 10'LQ I'd go with a hydraulic. I'm going to be putting an electric jack on my 2H w/ 5' weekender in the next month or so. Hard to justify a hydraulic jack for it.
I have a 3 horse with a midtack and an 8ft LQ, would an electric jack work? In reality I don't want to spend $1500 on a hyrraulic jack so my choice are probably electric or nothing. Given that would the electric be better than manual on my trailer?
Posted 2012-03-16 8:16 AM (#142175 - in reply to #142035) Subject: RE: Electric jack
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648 Location: Coconut Creek, FL
The electric jack will work fine. I bought my 2H GN used and the original owner had the hydraulic jack installed - worth every penny in my opinion. It's my favorite feature on the trailer.
Electric jack
