Troubleshooting Lippert Electric Jack That Will Not Extend

Updated 02/11/2025 | Published 12/31/2019

Question:

The foot is retracted and will not extend. I took the motor cover off and inspected it. I removed the gear above the foot and tested the motor. The motor works fine. Could the foot just be jammed? How can I move it? Should I grease the foot from time to time?

asked by: Jay C

Expert Reply:

There are a few possible reasons as to why you can't get your Lippert Electric Jack # LC285318 (this is essentially the current version of your 181794) to extend. While possible, I doubt the leg as simply been jammed due to a lack of lubrication.

You can test this pretty easily by using the emergency crank to see if you can extend the jack manually. If the leg operates fine when doing this then it likely isn't an internal gear issue.

Since extending the jack takes more effort/power than retracting it, a common culprit for this type of issue is insufficient power coming from your battery. Make sure your 12V battery is in good condition and fully charged. Also check the wiring connections and grounds to make sure everything is still secure. The jack grounds through its mounting bracket so make sure there isn't any corrosion build-up or debris that is preventing a solid connection with the trailer frame.

If this doesn't resolve the problem please let me know and we can continue to troubleshoot.

expert reply by: Chris R