Troubleshooting Barker VIP 3500 Electric A-Frame Trailer Tongue Jack

Updated 04/23/2018 | Published 04/20/2018

Question:

The electric jack will not work. When I remove the drive gear I can manually raise and lower the jack. When the drive gear is removed the motor seems to work fine. When the drive gear is in place and I try to manually crank it I get a loud click from the gear box in both directions. Any ideas?

asked by: Les H

Expert Reply:

When an electric trailer tongue jack like the Barker VIP 3500 will not operate with electric power the two most common causes are a weak ground connection or a battery with an insufficient charge.

I checked the online installation/operation instructions for this item. These note that since the jack grounds through its round mounting plate a toothed washer should be used on the mounting bolts to bite into the metal at the trailer mount to make a good ground. It is usually best to first sand off that mounting point on the trailer and also the bottom side of the jack's round mounting plate. This lets you have the good metal-on-metal contact needed for a good ground.

What can happen is that over time water and dirt will work their way into the gap between the jack plate and the frame. Eventually this can disrupt the ground and prevent full current from the battery from reaching the jack motor. The instructions further note to use 12-gauge wire for the battery + connection, which is made through a 30-amp fuse.

Note that just because the lights built into the jack function well this does not mean the battery has enough current for the motor. Lights on a jack are usually quite small and demand little power, especially if they are efficient LED lights. Your battery may be able to light up the jack no problem but still not have the charge needed to operate the motor.

Now as to the matter of the clicking noise you hear when you manually crank the jack this is typically related to the gearbox. We do not carry the VIP brand of jacks or their replacement parts but their maker, H&H Engineering, can be reached in Michigan at (269) 965-2371. Your jack includes a torque limiter which could be what is making the noise.

A superior-quality jack you might consider if you plan to replace yours is the Stromberg Carlson Electric Trailer Jack - Drop Leg - A-Frame - 23" Lift - 5,000 lbs - Black, Item # JET-5000.

expert reply by: Adam R