11 Best Electric Trailer Jacks

Posted at h in Reviews, Stabilization and Performance by

Are you tired of manually working the trailer jack? Do you want a simple and efficient means of lifting heavy RVs without exerting yourself?

If so, you need to buy an electric trailer jack for your RV.

An electric trailer jack is a device equipped with switches or levers that you just have to push or pull in order to lift your RV’s hitch. In doing so, you gain ample clearance to connect or disconnect your RV from another vehicle. Some advanced RV electric trailer jacks also come with switches for LED lights that can help you see in low-light conditions. These jacks are generated powered by the RV’s 12V battery.

With an electric jack, you can lift an entire RV with just the push of a button, making your life a whole lot easier.

However, there are a number of different factors to consider when you’re buying one. In this article, we’ll look at what those factors are.

Pros & Cons of RV Electric Trailer Jacks

You might be wondering why should you get an electric jack instead of the manual one- well there are pros and cons to both:

Pros

  • Very little physical exertion required to lift an RV.
  • Minimizes the potential of accidents and injuries.
  • It’s easy to operate as you just need to push or pull a button or lever.
  • Can be installed easily within minutes.
  • Provides a great return on investment.
  • Some of them come with emergency cranks as well, in case there’s a power cut.

Cons

  • Can only work when connected to a battery.
  • May break down due to electrical issues.
  • If it breaks down, you might need a professional to fix it.
  • Twice as expensive as manual trailer jacks.

Now that you are more familiar with the generic pros as cons, let’s look at some specific electric jacks on the market today

1. RAM EJ-3520-BBX 3500 lb. Electric Trailer Jack

The electric trailer jack comes in both black and white color and has a tongue weight capacity of 3500 pounds and a travel height of 18 inches. The drop leg reaches up to 7 ½  inches further down, and you get 25 ½ inches of total height adjustment. 

It has a manual crank, which is useful in case the motor doesn’t start or if the battery is dead. It also comes with a cap that covers the crank, and it also prevents dirt or water from entering the jack. Another useful feature I like about this one is that it has LEDs that illuminate the switches, which makes it easier to use at night.

It’s a drop-in replacement for the manual jack and the three holes in the triangular plate is a retrofit for the holes in the tongue of most trailers. Keep in mind, though, that the diameter of the tube is 2 ¼ inches. That means that you will need to modify the hole if it’s smaller than the jack’s tube.

You still have to wire it to an power source, whether it’s the camper’s wiring harness or a separate 12V battery for the jack. 

Do keep in mind that the heavier your camper is, the slower it works. On average, it moves up by one inch every 30 seconds but it is still faster than a manual crank, and it’s less tiring to flip the switch and just wait until your camper is lifted to your desired height.

Pros

  • Manual crank included in case of power loss
  • LED makes it easy to see at night
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch

Cons

  • Must be wired manually for power

2. Husky HB4500 4500 lb. Brute Power Jack

Husky is a fairly well-known brand when it comes to towing products. This sturdy electric trailer jack has a tongue weight capacity of 4500 pounds and has a travel height of 18 inches. The drop leg reaches up to 6 inches below its fully retracted position, and you get 24 inches of total height adjustment with this jack.

It comes with a manual crank, as it’s good to have a backup just in case the motor fails or the battery power runs out. There is a rubber cap for the insertion point of the crank and three LEDs around the motor housing, and there is a separate switch to turn them on.

The three bolts in the circular plate fit the hole placement in the tongue of most trailers. Mounting it to the tongue doesn’t take long but keep in mind that the diameter of the tube is 2 ¼ inches. It’s a common size for most trailers, but you still have to make sure it fits yours.

After wiring it, the jack is easy to use with just the flip of a switch. The switches are also weather-proof, in case you wonder, and all you need to do is to press the switch until it reaches your desired height and release it when you feel the jack slowing down.

Husky uses ball bearings in the internals of the jack and reduces friction significantly. This allows the jack to lift the camper up 10 inches in less than 40 seconds, which is very fast indeed. Aside from the ease of use, reduced friction also means the motor doesn’t work as hard and creates less heat and you basically extend the life of the jack this way.

Pros

  • Manual crank included in case of power loss
  • Three LEDs make it visible at night
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • Switches are weather-proof
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch
  • Lifts up the trailer quickly

Cons

  • Must be wired manually for power

3. Husky 87641 4500 lb. Brute Electric Jack with Wireless Remote

Another good product on our list is this electric trailer jack with a tongue weight capacity of 4500 pounds and a travel height of 18 inches.  Just as the previous model the drop leg reaches up to 6 inches below its fully retracted position, and you get 24 inches of total height adjustment.

Like most other electric jacks this one comes with a manual crank as well, and the three bolts in the circular plate fit the hole placement in the tongue of most trailers. Mounting it to the tongue doesn’t take long and the diameter of the tube is 2 ¼ inches.

This is the only electric jack on the list that comes with a remote (in fact 2 of them), and the range is about 40 feet. You turn on the remote first and it works like how you would press the switches. 

Even though the installation of this product is quite simple, it does not come with wiring diagrams for those users who need to connect it through 7 pin connector.

Also, this electric jack does not use 30A fuse, but a circuit breaker, so you would have to make a hole in the battery box for the installation.

Husky uses ball bearings in the internals of the jack to reduce the friction significantly, allowing the jack to lift the trailer up 10 inches in less than 40 seconds. Aside from the ease of use, reduced friction also means the motor doesn’t work as hard and also creates less heat. 

Still, it only comes with a 1-year warranty which is not enough I think for a fairly costly product and how many times do you really need to use it 1 year anyway, right?

Pros

  • Manual crank included in case of power loss
  • Three LEDs make it visible at night
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • Switches are weather-proof
  • Wireless remote included
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch
  • Lifts up the trailer quickly

Cons

  • Must be wired manually for power
  • 1-year warranty

4. Jack Quick JQ-3500B 3650 lb. Electric Tongue Jack

The Jack Quick jack has a tongue weight capacity of 3650 pounds and has a travel height of 18 inches. The drop leg extends up to 7 ½  inches, and you get 25 ½ inches of total height adjustment. 

It comes with a protective vinyl cover and installation instructions.

There are two switches on the motor housing, on for operating the jack and one for the LED light.

It’s a retrofit on the tongue of most trailers, and it’s easy to screw it because the holes are aligned. The diameter of the tube is 2 ¼ inches, which means that you will need to modify the hole if it’s smaller than the jack’s tube.

One of the biggest downsides to this jack is the travel speed. Even though it is much more convenient than doing it by hand, if you are looking for the fastest product on the market then this one is probably not for you.

It does come with an inline circuit breaker for those that need it.

Pros

  • Protective vinyl cover included
  • Manual crank included in case of power loss
  • LED makes it visible at night
  • Wires are protected with shielding
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch

Cons

  • Must be wired manually for power
  • Travel speed

5. Jack Quick JQ-3000 3000 lb. Electric Tongue Jack

The next product on our list comes from Quick Products. This particular jack has a tongue weight capacity of 3250 pounds and has a travel height of 18 inches. The drop leg drops at a maximum of 7 ½  inches, and you get 25 ½ inches of total height adjustment. 

The mounting holes in the circular plate are within the spacing of the mounting holes on the tongue of the most trailers. Installation should be easy ( should not take you more than 30 minutes), but you have to make sure that there is also enough space for the jack’s tube, which is 2 ¼ inches in diameter. For those who have clearance issues the distance between the bottom of the outer tube and the mounting plate is about 7 inches.

One thing that is a bit annoying with this product is the location of the switch which is under the motor, making it hard to locate because it’s the same color as the rest of jack. The red switch on the back is for the lights.

Even though some users complain about the speed of the jack it is not as slow as some of the other ones on the market. But of course, it depends on the weight of your camper. On a good note, this product is really well priced, so if you are looking for an inexpensive option for your trailer, this could be the one.

Pros

  • Protective vinyl cover included
  • Manual crank included in case of power loss
  • LEDs make it visible at night
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch
  • Good price

Cons

  • Must be wired manually for power
  • The switch is hard to locate
  • Bit slow

6. Lippert 285318 3500 lb. Power Tongue Jack

This electric Jack from Lippert Components is one of the highest ratest electric jacks on the market today and definitely worth your consideration. It has a tongue weight capacity of 3500 pounds, travel height of 18 inches weighs only 10 pounds. The drop leg can only extend up to three inches and you get 21 inches of total height adjustment.

Even though it does not have a duty cycle, there are 4 LEDs underneath the switches, which allows you to see the jack better at night and well protected textured casing.

The tube diameter is 2 inches, which may be smaller than most jacks out there, but it should fit a lot of trailers and the kit comes with handle, pins and manual crank like most other electric jacks

It does make some noise when fully extended, but it is quite normal with most electric jacks on the market. If you need need to connect it to the battery you should be aware that it comes with a 30 AMP fuse.

When using this jack do not simply assume that it ends its travel automatically and you can leave it unattended. It comes with a rocker type switch, so you should hold it until it gets to the position that you desire and then release it.

Now having said that it works smoothly and is a well-built and good looking unit for your RV.

Pros

  • Manual crank included in case of power loss
  • LED makes it visible at night
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch

Cons

  • Drop leg has a much shorter extension than other jacks
  • Must be wired manually for power

7. Big Horn 3500 lb. Electric Trailer Tongue Jack

Big Horn knows what they are doing when it comes to design and overall usability of their trailer jacks. This particular model has a tongue weight capacity of 3500 pounds and has a travel height of 18 ½ inches.

It comes with a 7 pin connector and is pre-wired out of the box so you can wire it directly to a 12V battery. The drop leg reaches up to 6 inches when fully extended, and you get 24 ½ inches of total height adjustment.

There is a protective cap covering the insertion point of the crank that comes with an integrated bubble level, which helps determine how flat is the orientation of the camper relative to the ground. It has also built-in LEDs, which you can turn on or off, so it’s easy to use whatever time of the day. 

The three holes in the mounting plate align perfectly with the screw holes on the tongue of most trailers. Installation is straightforward, and the diameter of the tube is 2 ¼ inches. You would need to get the bolts separately as they are not included in the unit.

The switches are weatherproof for those rainy winter months and in case your power sources fail there is also a handle for manual use. In case the product fails you, it does come with a 1-year warranty so do not throw away any paperwork that comes with it. 

Pros

  • Manual crank included in case of power loss
  • Integrated bubble level included
  • LED makes it easy to see at night
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • Wires are protected with shielding
  • Switches are weather-proof
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch

Cons

  • Must be wired manually for power

8. Best Choice Products 3500 lb. Electric Power Tongue Jack

This electric trailer jack by Best Choice Products weighs almost 23 pounds and has a tongue weight capacity of 3500 pounds and a travel height of 18 inches. The metal foot is removable but it can’t extend down further. Even though it is a well-built and strong model, it’s a bummer that you don’t have another option of adjusting the height.

It comes with a manual crank for emergency situations and has a single LED to light to help you in the dark ( look for a red button at the back to turn it on or off).

The holes on its mounting plate align with mounting holes of most mobile homes and the tube diameter is a standard 2 ¼ inches.

Even though the product needs to wired by yourself, it is fairly easy to do and takes you less than half an hour at most. As it is a standard in-line fuse you simply cut the wire and attach one end to the 12V battery and the other end to the jack. One thing the manufacturer should do is to include better instructions as they are very basic for the beginners.

Unlike more expensive jacks, it doesn’t come with a ring terminal and it is not the fastest products out there. On a good note, it does come with a 3-year limited warranty which is longer than most products on the market.

Pros

  • Manual crank included
  • Well priced unit
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch
  • Longer warranty

Cons

  • There is no drop leg
  • No ring terminal attached to the wire
  • Must be wired manually for power
  • Switch is hard to locate

9. Bulldog 500187 Black A-Frame Jack with Powered Drive

Another very well reviewed product we have for you to consider comes from Bulldog. This electric trailer jack has travel height of 14 inches and a tongue weight capacity of 3500 pounds. It comes with an integrated motor and a gearbox along with a manual crank.

In case you are wondering about the measurements for this unit they are 9.75″ for retracted length and 31.5 ” for extended length. One of the features Bulldog is proud to let every customer know is that their products come with 5-year limited warranty, which is much longer than other similar products.

The drop leg maximizes height capacity and drops up to 8 inches, and you get 22 inches of total height adjustment. You also can choose between black or white for the color of the motor housing (but you need to buy the housing cover separately).

One of the things that the manufacturer seems to have forgotten is the instructions or parts list. Fortunately, you can go find the instructions on their website here. Rest of their customer service does not seem to be overly enthusiastic as they did not reply to some of our basic questions even within a week so I am not sure what is going on there. I do hope they improve on that.

Operation of this product is efficient, steady and quiet but it is not super fast. In all honesty, you can do a faster job manually, but then again you would not be looking for electric jacks if you enjoy manual labor so much, would you?

Even though this product was designed in the US, it is manufactured in China (too keep the cost reasonable no doubt), it is still quite a well-made product, so we were not hesitant to include it in our list.

Pros

  • Manual crank included in case of power loss
  • LED makes it easy to see at night
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch

Cons

  • Must be wired manually for power
  • Customer service is not great

10. Goplus 3500 lb. Electric Power Tongue Jack

This electric trailer jack has a tongue weight capacity of 3500 pounds and has a travel height of 18 inches. It has a manual crank that you can use in case the motor fails or you lose power from the battery and dual LEDs when you need them.

Overall dimensions of this product are 31.5″ (H) x 6.5 (W) x 6.5 (L) and the package includes the necessary wire and instructions. The drop leg extends up to 9 inches, and you get 27 inches of total height adjustment.

It comes with a 7-pin connector, which is handy when you need it. 

One of the problems with this product is the control button- you have to push and hold it down when in use as it does not stay on by itself. So if you need to use more than 1 of these at a time this can be a major problem and you need to replace the switches.

As this unit is cheaper than most others on the list it does come with some issues. Most notably it is not waterproof, so do not leave it outside in the rain if you want to keep it in good working order.

Pros

  • Manual crank included in case of power loss
  • Two LEDs make it visible at night
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • 7-pin connector included
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch
  • Cheap

Cons

  • Must be wired manually for power
  • Not waterproof
  • Poor customer service

11. Barker 30828 3500 lb. Power Jack

The last but not least on our list of the best electric trailers on the market today comes from Barker. This electric trailer jack has a tongue weight capacity of 3500 pounds and a travel height of 18 inches. Weighing almost 30 pounds this unit is sturdy and built for heavy use. The metal foot is removable but it can’t extend down further, unfortunately.

It is very easy to install and like other electric jacks, this one comes with a hand crank and well, which is useful not only in emergencies but also when you want to use it quietly and not wake other campers nearby.

As you can tell from the photos it comes with a wide base on the foot, making it more stable than many other products. This item is made right here in the States and it is very easy to install- should not take you more than 10 minutes.

In case you have problems with any of the Barker products, we advise you to call them instead of sending them an email, otherwise, they are quite slow to respond.  After all, it comes with a 2-year warranty so make sure you take advantage of that.

Pros

  • Manual crank included in case of power loss
  • LED makes it visible at night
  • Retrofit in the tongue of most trailers
  • Easy to use with just the flip of a switch
  • 2-year warranty
  • Good customer service

Cons

  • There is no drop leg
  • Must be wired manually for power

Which Factors to Consider when Buying RV Electric Trailer Jacks?

Lift Capacity

The most important factor is the electric trailer jack’s lift capacity, i.e., the amount of weight it can lift. You should generally leave a wide margin between the lift capacity and your RV’s overall weight. For example, if your RV’s overall weight is 3000 pounds, get an electric trailer jack with a lift capacity of 4000 pounds or higher.

Leaving a wide margin is important so that your jack isn’t always working in full capacity. As such, it will also have a longer lifespan. Furthermore, the margin of error will also serve as a buffer against any changes in the RV’s weight.

Trailer Tongue Weight

The Trailer Tongue Weight is the weight that’s experienced by the hitch ball. You need to carefully consider this factor in order to determine the necessary lift capacity.

An RV’s tongue weight is generally about 10% to 15% of the trailer’s total weight. As such, you need to weigh your fully loaded RV and then get a trailer jack with a lift capacity that’s greater than 15% of that value.

Trailer Tongue Height

You also need to gauge the trailer tongue’s height. To check this out, you need to place the trailer on level ground and measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of the coupler. The jack needs to extend to 4 inches beyond the coupler’s height, which will enable you to raise the jack over the ball while hitching or unhitching. Furthermore, the jack’s retracted height should be shorter than the coupler height so that there’s enough clearance from the ground.

Jack Height

It’s important to measure the jack’s height, both when it’s extended and retracted. Most RV electric trailer jacks are designed so as to provide ideal clearance, however, so this shouldn’t be much of an issue.

Weight Distribution

Do you want to lift both the front and rear end of your RV? If so, you need to get an RV electric trailer jack equipped with spring arms on the brackets in order to provide weight distribution. These RV trailer jacks don’t just lift the RV hitch, but they can also help with towing.

Shape

RV Electric Trailer Jacks come in two shapes — A-Frame and Straight Tongue. An A-Frame electric trailer jack is one with an A-shaped metal frame, in which the coupler is attached to the tip of the frame. A straight tongue electric trailer jack is one that’s straight tongue-shaped and is mounted at the end of a long tube.

Crank Style

Some RV electric trailer jacks are cranked sidewind whereas others are cranked top-wind. Both of them are suitable in their own rights, it’s just about personal preference.

Installation

RV Electric Trailer Jacks have a bolt-on or weld-on installation.

  • Bolt-on jacks involve installation on the trailer tongue via U-bolts. They can be either removed or replaced, so they’re not permanent.
  • Weld-on jacks are permanent as they are simply welded on the RV.

Manual Option

Some of the cheaper RV electric trailer jacks can only be operated via the buttons. As such, if the power goes off or isn’t available, you can’t use them. They aren’t suitable for most people. You should, instead, get an RV electric trailer jack that also comes with a manual crank that you can use to operate the jack when there’s no power.

Durability

In order to determine how durable an electric trailer jack might be, you need to consider the material and the warranty. The jack should be made of premium materials and have a strong warranty.

Look for an electric jack that’s sealed and welded so there’s no space for water to seep in. Furthermore, the material should be corrosion-proof since the base of the jack would often rub against the ground and experience friction.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you figure out which factors to consider when buying an RV electric trailer jack. If you simply follow these tips, you’ll be able to purchase the ideal jack for your needs.