{"id":6734,"date":"2025-03-27T10:01:39","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T10:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/?p=6734"},"modified":"2025-03-27T10:01:39","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T10:01:39","slug":"choosing-the-right-trailer-tongue-jack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/?p=6734","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the Right Trailer Tongue Jack"},"content":{"rendered":"

Choosing the Right Trailer Tongue Jack
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Tongue-jack <\/div>
\n If the jack must be used at full extension to keep the bow of your boat high for drainage, select a taller jack, or one with more travel, or deploy the jack onto some blocking to gain height. Using a tongue jack at full extension severely shortens its lifespan. <\/span>
\n Courtesy Curt Manufacturing (trailer jacks), Courtesy Harbor Freight (trailer-jack wheel dock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/section>\n

The trailer tongue jack supports the boat trailer when it is not hooked up to your tow vehicle. These come in a variety of types, and some boaters might wonder which is best for them. I have used an assortment of tongue jacks and compiled the following points that I suggest buyers consider. Check out these tips.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Weight Capacity<\/h2>\n

The tongue jack must be rated to handle the tongue weight of your trailer. This is typically somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of the weight of the boat and trailer. \u00adExcept for very light, little boats, I recommend going up one size when choosing which weight capacity to use. This will result in longer life.<\/p>\n

Travel<\/h2>\n

The amount of \u00adtravel that a tongue jack provides is the range of height it can be used in. You need the tongue jack to be tall enough to support the tongue so that the boat is at an aftward angle for good drainage during storage, and so that it can reach, and be r\u00ademoved from, your truck\u2019s hitch ball. A jack of the right weight capacity will offer sufficient travel; it doesn\u2019t hurt to take some measurements before you place your order or bring one home from the store.<\/p>\n

Wheel or Foot<\/h2>\n

Tongue jacks with wheels<\/a> work for boats, up to about 5,000 pounds. Select a double-wheel model for heavier boats. The wheel, or wheels, allow moving the trailer when not connected to a tow vehicle. You might need to put a trailer into a very tight place or you might find moving the trailer a few \u00adinches \u00adhelpful when trying to connect to the tow vehicle. A wheel helps in\u00a0these scenarios, though the \u00adrougher the ground, the less functional the wheel. A nonrolling jack with a fixed foot is used for the heaviest trailered boats (you can\u2019t move big boats without a vehicle anyway). A fixed-foot jack<\/a> is also better if the trailer lives on rough or uneven ground when disconnected from the tow vehicle. It will be more stable and isn\u2019t likely to move. A cup<\/a>, or doughnut can be purchased to prevent a wheeled jack from moving.<\/p>\n

Read Next:<\/strong> Planning for a Boat-Trailer Breakdown<\/a><\/p>\n

Fit<\/h2>\n

Different trailer tongues are made from \u00addifferent-size channels. Some are 3-by-3 inches, some are \u00ad3-by-4 inches, and some big \u00adtrailers are 3-by-5 inches. In most \u00adcases, choosing an appropriate weight rating will be choosing a jack with the appropriate-size clamp. Still, measure your trailer\u2019s tongue dimensions before buying to be sure.<\/p>\n

Operation<\/h2>\n

Most \u00adboat-trailer jacks are operated manually. The boater cranks the handle to move the jack up and down and raise or lower the boat. Other jacks are available today that work \u00adusing an electric drill as a motor to \u00adoperate the jack. Others are even \u00adself-propelled.<\/p>\n

Trailer Tongue-Jack Selections<\/h2>\n