Trailer jack condition (PICS)

[Picflight]

I have a 16 year old trailer with a tongue jack that is welded on. Close inspection shows that perhaps the weight and use over the years is bending the backing plate or whatever the plate is called that is resting against the trailer frame.

Should I be concerned?

Why do manufactures weld on the jack? I would assume the bolt-on types are easily replaced.

• Trailer capacity is 3000 lbs and load on trailer has been 2200 lbs for the past 16 years.
• Jack is a Fulton with 800 lbs Static Max capacity marked on it.

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[Picflight]

After posting my initial post, I did a search and realized that perhaps the weld on type can also be replaced. I was thinking I will have to have it cutoff and use a bolt-on type. All that dirt and rust is probably hiding the snap O-ring.

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Jack/Fulton/FTJ120W0301.html

 

[KD3PC]

Probably good for another 10 years with some oiling/greasing of that pivot ring (this is what you have pointed out) as well as the jack shaft that the wheel is attached to.

That wheel is meant for temporarily holding the tongue of the trailer up. Long term, you should use some timbers or pressure treated to support the tongue, and tilt the wheeled post up and out of the way, as you would when towing.

Anything you buy today is going to be very inferior to what you have there, so I would lube it up and bend the ring plate back straight and support the tongue correctly going forward.

 

[Picflight]

Very good suggestion KD3PC, I shall perform that lube service and see if I can hammer out the ring plate.

 

[caguy]

If I got tired of replacing them so I use a bottle of jack from Harbor freight that cost $15.00. Convenient works well goo for 4 tons (Chinese tons).

 

[dscribner]

I'd check out the prevailing winds when the trailer is at rest. This jack is clearly being side-loaded. Pop the ering and carefully coax the bracket into being flat again, with a large hammer. Other than that, no big deal.

 

[rgranger]

I think it will get a lot worse before it fails. So relax and go sailing

 

[watercolors II]

I would say someone placed some very high forces on that jack that would not be under this jack’s designed use. One would be if they failed to swing the jack up out of the way and started towing and it hit a high spot in the parking lot. Maybe they have launched and recovered with a strap, if so the wheel will be all chewed up.

I agree with the others go sailing don’t worry about it.

 

[caguy]

Turning the caster inward will put the load under the weld.