Benefits Of Using An Electric Trailer Jack
If you have a heavier towed RV, the benefits of electric tongue jacks are pretty self-explanatory, but electric trailer jacks are great even if you only have a small camper. Not only can they save you time and energy, but they can also save you from suffering an unfortunate accident.
- A safer means of lifting an A-frame trailer
- Makes it easier to connect the trailer
- Is much quicker than lifting manually
- Takes less effort to lift a trailer by manual crank
- Makes it easier to keep the trailer level
Types Of RV Trailer Jacks
Electric
Electric tongue jacks plug into a 12V outlet and use a powerful motor to lift that trailer hitch. This is by far the preferred type of tongue jack for many reasons, though it is also significantly more expensive than a manual model. It is also worth noting that many electric tongue jacks can be used manually should they have no power source.
Manual
A manual tongue jack works similarly to a standard car jack, though there are a couple of different configurations. That said, a manual trailer tongue jack often uses a crank to lift the trailer hitch and costs less money than their electric counterparts.
Things to Consider When Buying an Electric Tongue Jack
Lift Capacity
The lift capacity of an electric jack is rated in pounds but does not represent the weight of the trailer being lifted. Instead, an electric trailer jacks lift capacity refers to the towing weight which is significantly less than the trailer’s actual weight.
This might seem like one of the more important factors to consider, but only the heaviest towed RVs need to worry about it. Electric tongue jacks are generally able to lift anywhere from 10 to 15% of the RV’s total weight which makes even the weakest models capable of lifting around 23000 lbs.
Lift Height
The lift height of an electric trailer jack is measured in inches and represents the maximum height that a tongue jack can raise your trailer hitch. Keep in mind, there are two parts to an electric jack’s lift height: the dropdown height and the full stroke height.
The drop-down height is how far down the electric trailer jack’s leg can be lowered once it is installed. The full stroke height is how high the electric jack can lift the trailer hitch which does not account for the natural height of the hitch.
The lift height of an electric jack may be one of the more important factors depending on the size of your towing vehicle. If you have a large pickup truck with raised suspension, chances are you will need an electric trailer jack with a taller lift height.
Durability
Generally, an electric tongue jack’s durability can be measured by how resistant it is to weather, the quality of gear works and electronics, and the materials used in its construction.
Unfortunately, the durability of an electric tongue jack can be a bit difficult to pin down since there are no standards used to measure it.
The Best Electric Tongue Jacks: The Results
Quick Products Black JQ-3500B Electric Tongue Jack
Best Electric Tongue Jack for Lift Height
The Quick Products JQ-3500B electric jack starts our list as one of the best options if you have an extremely tall towing vehicle thanks to its maximum lift height of 32”. Keep in mind that the Quick Products jack only offers a travel height of 18 inches, but with almost 3’ of total lift height, you should never have to worry about the height of your towing vehicle.
Outside of the tall lift height, the JQ-3500B jack also comes with a wealth of convenience features including a bubble-style leveling to ensure that you connect your hitch properly. This electric trailer jack also comes with an LED light to assist you with working in the dark, either early in the morning or late at night.
On the other hand, the Quick Products electric tongue jack is noted for iffy wiring which, while not an expensive fix, can be frustrating if it occurs while out on the road. That said, should you run into these issues while traveling, the Quick Products electric tongue jack can be used manually.
PROs
- Is a less expensive jack
- Has a manual override
- Has numerous convenience features
- Has a maximum height of 32”
CONs
- Not the best wiring
- Not the best documentation
Lippert 285318 3500LB Power Tongue Jack Black
Best Electric Tongue Jack for Ease of Use
While plenty of trailer jacks on our list offer plenty of power and are reasonably durable, the Lippert stands out for all of the extra features that make using it that much easier. If you find yourself using your jack in the dark, you will appreciate the 4 LED lights that come with the Lippert, making it one of the brightest electric tongue jacks we came across.
Outside of the bright illumination provided, the Lippert also provides one of the easiest leveling operations with a rocker switch that levels the jack with the push of a button. This model also boasts a solid maximum lift height of 28 ¾” with a traveling height of 18 inches.
This is also one of the more powerful electric tongue jacks that we reviewed with a 30-amp motor and helical-cut gears to help reduce the noise and improve operating efficiency. That said, the Lippert does not have any kind of protection from water, so be sure to keep it covered when used in the rain and stored safely when not in use.
PROs
- Has numerous convenience features
- Has helical-cut gears
- Has a 30-amp motor
- Has a maximum height of 28 ¾”
CONs
- Is a more expensive jack
- Is not waterproof
Uriah Products UC500010 Electric Trailer Jack
Best Electric Tongue Jack for Pure Strength
While most electric tongue jacks are suitable for your average towed RV, Uriah Products UC500010 steps up when you have an extremely heavy RV thanks to its list-leading 5000 lb weight capacity. This massive weight capacity allows you to raise an RV trailer that is potentially 50000 lbs total and at least 30000 lbs minimum.
A big part of why the Uriah Products UC500010 can accomplish this is due to its hardened steel gears which will not slip or give under the weight of the heaviest RV trailers. These hardened steel gears are coupled with a ball and screw design to further reduce the strain of the load on the motor while also producing less noise than some of the other products on our list.
On the other hand, the UC500010 is noted for some quality control issues, though a product that starts well does not seem to suffer durability issues further down the line. It likely does not hurt that the Uriah Products jack has a water-resistant motor and a one-piece plastic housing for use in any kind of weather.
PROs
- Has a 5000 lb lift capacity
- Has hardened steel gears
- Is a water-resistant jack
- Has a maximum height of 31 ½”
CONs
- Is a more expensive jack
- Has QC issues
RAM Trailer Products EJ-3520-BBX Black
The RAM Trailer Products EJ-3520 does not distinguish itself from the other options on our list but neither does it fall short in any meaningful way either. One of its best qualities is its maximum lift height which sits near the top of our list at 28 ½”
On top of that, the RAM does not suffer some of the motor durability concerns we found with other less expensive models thanks to hardened steel gear works. Of course, if something does happen, the more likely an electricity issue than anything else, you can always use the RAM manually.
One thing you might want to do when receiving this model is switch out the fastening hardware included as it is not the best quality. The RAM can also be a bit difficult to install due to a non-standard size that is a little bit too big in places.
PROs
- Is a less expensive jack
- Has hardened steel gears
- Has a manual override
- Has a maximum height of 28 ½”
CONs
- Not a standard size
- Not the best hardware
Bulldog Black Reese 500199 A-Frame Power Jack 4000
Best Electric Tongue Jack for Better Levelling
The Bulldog Black Reese 500199 is the perfect model for people who like to do their RVing off-road on back trails or out in the country. For one, this model comes with a single-axis leveler that makes it easier to level your jack than some of the bubble-style levelers commonly used.
On top of that, the Bulldog has a solid maximum lift height of 27” which is great when camping in an area that might have drastically different levels of contour. This model also offers a bit more lift weight capacity than some of its competitors at 4000 lbs.
The only thing that might irk you about the Bulldog Black Reese is the fact that it takes longer to extend the jack to full height than many other options. On the other hand, you do not have to worry about working in darkness as the Bulldog comes equipped with 3 LED lights.
PROs
- Has a 4000 lb lift capacity
- Has a maximum lift of 27”
- Has a single-axis level
- Has 3 LED lights
CONs
- Is a more expensive jack
- Is a slower jack
Husky HB4500 4500 lbs. Brute Power Jack
Best All-Around Electric Tongue Jack
Plenty of electric tongue jacks that we reviewed do one or two things exceptionally well, but few of the models can do pretty much everything well. This is the reason that we named the Husky HB4500 our best electric tongue jack and why it took the top spot as our overall winner.
First, the HB4500 has the second-largest lift capacity we reviewed at 4500 lbs which can lift a minimum of 30000 lbs and upwards of 45000 lbs. This massive lifting capacity is almost certainly in part due to the motor’s hardened steel gear works combined with the lift’s ball and screw engineering to reduce the load stress and provide quieter operation.
The only real downside of the Husky HB4500 is its maximum lift height which sits at 24” and is one of the shorter heights on our list. On the other hand, this is also one of the faster electric trailer jacks that we came across, able to reach its maximum lift stroke in under a minute.
This electric trailer tongue jack even comes with 3 LED lights for use in dark conditions as well as a SmartStop feature to prevent it from damaging itself.
PROs
- Has a 4500 lb lift capacity
- Has hardened steel gears
- Uses a ball screw design
- Has 3 LED lights
CONs
- Is a more expensive trailer jack
- Has a shorter maximum height
F2C Adjustable Height A-Frame Jack
Best Electric Tongue Jack on a Budget
The F2C A-Frame Jack is a solid choice for those who do not have the heaviest RV trailer and do not intend to push this 12v electric trailer jack to the limit. As one of the least expensive models that we found, the F2C is easily our best electric tongue jack for those on a budget.
What is surprising is that, despite its low price, the F2C comes with plenty of convenience features as well like a removable footplate, making it one of the few we saw that does. The F2C also makes it easier to level your RV trailer with an included bubble-style leveler that comes with a cap for protection.
One thing to worry about with the F2C electric jack is the motor which is not known for being the most durable or having the longest lifespan. Thankfully, the rest of the F2C suffers no such issues as the body is made of durable stainless steel which naturally resists rust and corrosion and is powder-coated just for extra measure.
PROs
- Is a less expensive jack
- Has numerous convenience features
- Has a durable body
- Has a water-sealed switch
CONs
- Has a shorter maximum lifting height
- Not the most durable motor
HOTSYSTEM Electric Power A-Frame Tongue Jack
Best Electric Trailer Tongue Jack for Mid-Size Rigs
Sometimes you have an RV trailer that cannot just get by with an electric jack that has lower specs but does not cost the money of one of the more impressive models. This is where the HOTSYSTEM comes into play with a fairly low price and plenty of power and convenience.
One thing the HOTSYSTEM gets right is power with a solid 4000 lb lift capacity that can easily handle trailer loads ranging from 25000 lbs up to 40000 lbs. A big part of this is thanks to its powerful 28-amp motor that can power through the toughest of loads.
That said, it is reasonably priced with these specs because it takes a bit longer to extend than some of the other models we reviewed. This model also has one of the shorter maximum lift heights with 14 inches of travel plus 8 inch drop leg, giving it a total of only 22 inches.
Still, the HOTSYSTEM surprises with uncommon convenience features like an electric leveling function, a bubble style leveler, and an LED light.
PROs
- Is a less expensive jack
- Has a 4000 lb lift capacity
- Has a 28-amp motor
- Has numerous convenience features
CONs
- Is a slower jack
- Has a shorter maximum height
Libra Trailer/RV Electric Power A-Frame Tongue Jack
Best Waterproof Electric Trailer Jack
The Libra jack is built with a seamless, one-piece cover and rainproof buttons, while the body has a drainage design built-in. To further ensure that you never have to worry about water damage with the LIBRA, it also comes with a waterproof head cover as well.
The Libra jack does not top our list in too many areas, but the inclusion of a 5 ½” footplate helps it remain more stable than some of its competitors throughout the lift. What makes the LIBRA even more stable is the fact that it is also easier to install than some of the more expensive models we came across too.
That said, the Libra can be a bit hit or miss in some of the most important areas, namely in the durability department as both the wiring and the motor are not known for long lifespans. This electric jack also only sports a maximum lift of 22”, though it is at least stable when fully extended.
PROs
- Is a less expensive jack
- Is a water-resistant jack
- Has a 5 ½” foot
- Is easy to install
CONs
- Has a shorter maximum height
- Not the most durable
Last update on 2021-02-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API