Will Powered Trailer Jacks Drain The Vehicle or Trailer Battery If Left Connected

Updated 08/17/2020 | Published 12/07/2015

Question:

There is a post on the comment section on July 5, 2015 stating that you need to disconnect the jack when not in use as it will drain the battery. Is the correct?

asked by: Wayne M

Expert Reply:

When the Stromberg Carlson Electric Trailer Jack # JET-5000 that you referenced is not being used it will not drain the battery. I am not sure exactly what was going on with the customer who left the review you mentioned, but if I had to guess there was a short somewhere on his trailer wiring that was causing amperage draw that drained his battery.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Peter M.

8/7/2020

My husky trailer jack has just started draining the battery. Traced the problem directly to the jack. Had to put a separate on/off switch to keep it from draining the battery. Jack is 2 years old.

Jon G.

8/17/2020

Putting the extra switch in place was a good idea. Did you check the wiring like Jameson suggested above? Normally an electric trailer jack shouldn't drain the vehicle batter unless maybe the lights were left on the jack or there is a problem with the wiring.