Is Trailer Jack Capacity for Tongue Weight or Trailer Weight

Updated 08/09/2022 | Published 08/05/2022

Question:

Ive been looking at your weld on trailer jacks and am a bit confused. I thought a jack was supposed to handle 15 of the loaded trailer weight. The total weight of my loaded trailer is 4300 lbs so my jack should handle 645 lbs. Yet your weaker jacks say 2000 lbs. Does your rating refer to total loaded trailer weight?

asked by: Daryl

Expert Reply:

A trailer jack like the # TJP-2002S-B is designed to handle the tongue weight of the trailer and that is what the capacity is referencing. A trailer jack, just like a tow vehicle, only has to support the tongue weight since you also have wheels and tires on the ground supporting the trailer. You are correct, tongue weight is typically 15% of the loaded trailer weight. For a 645 lb tongue weight like yours you want a jack that can handle at least that much.

This typically means it is overrated like the # TJP-2002S-B which has a lift capacity of 2,000 lbs and support capacity of 3,000 lbs. It doesn't matter if the capacity is 1,000 lbs or 10,000 lbs as long as it is more than your maximum tongue weight and you have the correct height and travel you're looking for.

expert reply by: Robin H