Capacity Needed for A-Frame Trailer Jack On 6,200 Pound Camper

Updated 07/16/2018 | Published 07/13/2018

Question:

My camper is rated at 6200 lbs. I have an electric lift rated for 3500lbs. Is this enough to lift the tongue?

asked by: Crystal C

Expert Reply:

An electric A-frame trailer jack like the etrailer.com # EJ-3520-BBX that you were looking at just needs to be able to lift a trailer's tongue weight. The tongue weight of a trailer should be around 10 to 15 percent of its total weight, which likely puts the tongue weight of your 6,200 pound trailer at around 620 to 930 pounds.

With this in mind, a jack like this that has a 3,500 pound lift capacity is more than enough and will work great. It's always a good idea to use a jack that has much more capacity than what is actually needed, as this allows it to work under its limit which allows for easier operation and a longer lifespan.

expert reply by: Chris R