Does the etrailer 8K Self Contained Hydraulic A Frame Trailer Jack Have a Manual Override?

Updated 05/30/2026 | Published 05/27/2026

Question:

What happens if the battery dies or the hydraulic system loses power? Is there a manual way to raise or lower the trailer?

asked by: Kevin

Expert Reply:

Hi Kevin, great question.

If power is lost, the etrailer Self-Contained Hydraulic A-Frame Trailer jack part # e43QV does have a manual override feature built in. To manually operate it, you can use a 1/4 inch hardened hex male drive bit with a standard power drill. Running the drill in one direction will extend the jack, and running it in the opposite direction will retract it.

One important note is that you should only use a standard drill for the manual override. Do not use an impact driver or hammer drill, as that can damage the motor and hydraulic pump assembly. This gives you a reliable backup method to raise or lower the trailer if the battery is dead or electrical power is unavailable.

What made you start looking at a hydraulic jack instead of a traditional electric jack?

expert reply by: Heather A