Trailering for sissies

[jgh]

20050923

I have a 14K# Pequea gooseneck trailer with beavertail, etc, for toy toting.

It has a double Bulldog jack with the usual crank. Which is what it makes out of me on a hot day when I have to turn it, esp if there is wt on the trailer (I try to avoid!).

Does anyone know of a good solution for motorizing that bad boy? I really do not look forward to cranking that **** thing. I have checked out some suggested solutions (some related to RV jacks, etc) but would like to hear if there is experience on here with a good system.

Some I have seen would simply turn the crankshaft while others would replace everything saying that trying to connect power to the existing will not work.

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Thanks!

Jim

 

[Boomerang1]

Go to etrailerpart They have an Atwood power jack that will lift 3500#s. You can also go to pplmotorhomes click on RV parts superstore and scroll down to jacks, levers and chocks. They have single and double units up to 8000#s.

 

[Boomerang1]

Does your jack or jacks have a two speed crank? If it doesn't and you want to stay with a manual jack, you can find a two speed jack at any semi trailer supply. All semi trailers I have pulled had a two speed crank. You pushed in or pulled out on the crank to select which gear you wanted. I don't want to insult your intelligents, but have you checked to see if your's was a two speed? Most heavy trailers should have them installed.

 

[MikeIA]

If you are talking about something similar to the landing gear on a semi trailer, I once made an adapter for a 1/2" drill to raise and lower the 'gear on a TV production trailer. Those things are full of equipment and heavy....the drivers talk about filling the fuel tanks after crossing the scales, just to stay under 80,000 GVWR. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Boomerang1]

Most people in the trucking business do call them landing gear or trailer dollies. A fully loaded semi trailer will weigh about 25,000#s on the kingpin. With a two speed jack it takes very little effort to turn the crank but it takes a long time. There is a company that makes a kit that uses a 12 volt starter motor but I don't recall the name.

 

[jgh]

20050924

No, not a 2 speed (and that surprised me) and that would mean MORE crank time, but definitely easier. I have a couple of semi trailers with those type jacks. Could not raise a full one otherwise, that's for sure!

Atwood is one that makes RV equipment, sounds like a possibility, but it would have to have more than 3500 capacity for my 14K GVWR. I did look at some such systems but most involve replacing the jack, which means serious cost, etc.

Ironically I paid over 500 for the dual jack option from the factory.

There is a guard angle iron piece which also appears to be structural that would prevent me from putting a sprocket on the axle between the jacks. Bad design /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I like the drill and starter motor ideas. I'd need a drill that will run on 12 VDC but that should be doable, somehow. I'll have to integrate a HD electric line when I do a winch install.

If you think of the jig to use the start motor, I'd love to know about.

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies,

Jim

 

[dummy]

Something like this sixthwheel wouldn't be too hard to make. Any reason why you can't put a gear on the crank side of the jack and power that? On the non crank side, is there a square recess that could be driven by a regular electric or pneumatic drill?

 

[Highbeam]

The jack isn't lifting 14000 lbs but a percentage, about 20% tongue weight, of the trailer weight. So 2800 lbs on the jack should be within the atwood's 3500 lb rating right?

 

[jgh]

20050929

% only? That's a though, hmm. Thanks for chiming in, I'll check it out,

Jim

 

[wushaw]

Jgh, here is a starter motor idea.
You may have to some gear reduction to get the output to spin a lot slower than what a srarter turns at.

Racing Junk