Does Electric Jack Capacity Need to Cover Tongue Weight or Weight of the Trailer

Updated 12/02/2020 | Published 11/30/2020

Question:

Looking for an electric tongue Jack for a trailer. They are rated for like 1500#’s, 2500# and so forth. Since the tongue weight is usually under 1000#, wondering if the Jack rating is for trailer weight or tongue weight?

asked by: John M

Expert Reply:

The jack you choose should have a capacity greater than the tongue weight of the trailer. I'll typically recommend folks go overkill by choosing a jack with more capacity than they actually need, however. Choosing a jack with additional capacity means the jack won't need to work so hard, and will have a longer service life. Also, if you have a weight distribution hitch or might get one in the future, folks will also use the jack to lift the rear of the vehicle a few inches in order to remove the tension from the spring bars so they're easier to remove.

I'd recommend going with a 3500 lb capacity jack like the Bulldog # BD500187. This will have plenty of power to lift your trailer tongue weight, with power to spare. The jack also features an LED lamp that will provide illumination for the coupler area which will be convenient if you need to hitch up after dark. The manual crank is included which will come in handy if the trailer battery ever dies on you. The jack offers a 5 year warranty, which is nice because 1 or 2 years is typical.

If you click the provided link, you can see a product demonstration video featuring the Bulldog jack.

expert reply by: Mike L