Electric Trailer Jack Not Working: How Do I Fix My Jack?
It can be very embarrassing, and expensive, to go to a technician or mechanic only for them to find a very simple source for your problem. That is what it can be when your electric trailer jack does not work. Always check the simple to fix parts first and save yourself some embarrassing moments.
The good news is that there should be only 3 possible answers to this problem. That is if you have a fully charged battery. Your jack is not getting any power, the motor has gone bad on you or the ground connection is faulty. Use a meter to help you diagnose the issue.
To learn more about this issue, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can find the problem yourself and save yourself some money. Don’t forget a dead battery will cause this problem as well so check it to see if it is fully charged.
Why Won't My Electric Jack Work on My Trailer?
The three main issues listed above may have several actual sources to them. For example, not getting any power would mean that the battery is dead, or that a fuse blew, there is a loose connection somewhere or the wires are corroded, and so on.
Also, you may have a bad switch, a short in the wiring and if there is power getting to the motor, then those two parts are not the source. If the motor has gone bad you will have to check it using a jump wire from the negative terminal on your battery to the negative connection on your motor.
If your motor works after connecting it up[ then it is the ground wire that is bad. If the motor does not work, then you need to replace the motor. Also, don’t leave out checking the in-line fuse holder. If the contact is no good, you probably will have to repair or replace the holder.
One owner found that if he raised the jack too high, and had it touch the motor. This created a short and blew the fuse. He solved it by not raising the jack all the way up but left it down a few inches.
Camper Jack Won't Go Up
According to the service manual, if the jack only goes one way, then the problem does not lie with the jack. The source of the trouble will either be the remote or the receiver control box.
This is from the service manual for the Rieco-Titan electric jack system. In one of their models, there are 8 fuses controlling the power supply. If one of those fuses blows, then that could be the source of the problem as well.
If the motor runs when you turn the jack on, then the short is located n the buttons on the remote or the control box. The manual says to send both in for testing if they are the problem.
Also, if there is an unexpected shutdown, you need to check to see if the motor is getting any power. The battery in question would be the one in the remote. It could be defective, low on power or there is a lot of corrosion inside which needs to be cleaned out.
The fix is simple as you either can clean the corrosion, or change or re-charge the batteries.
Trailer Jack Won't Lower
The above information is applicable to this situation as well. If the jack goes up or won’t go down, then it is a one-way problem that is not specific to just the downward direction.
The next source for this problem would be the clutch. If you see no movement but hear a clicking sound, then the clutch is slipping. Unfortunately, the clutch cannot be repaired. You would have to go out and find a replacement part and take the old one out.
Another source to check would be the powerhead drive pin. This pin should come out the bottom of the jack and it has to be inside a groove at the top of the jack post. If it isn’t then the drive pin cannot move the screw that turns the jack.
To fix this issue, you need to remove the powerhead and place the pin into the correct slot. Then replace the powerhead. Make sure every part aligns up right before securing the powerhead in place.
Check the service or owner’s manual for your jacks to see what troubleshooting tips they provide. Each model of RV will have different manufacturers and designs and the fixes will be different as well.
How Do I Fix My Electric Jack?
When it comes to the Rieco-Titan electric jack system, the most you can do for most problems is diagnose the source. Then your next step would be to send the remote or controller box to the company for testing and fixing.
That is what their service manual says over and over. In many cases, the only repair you have open to you is to replace the part. This is true for the motor, the fuses, and bad ground connections. it is also the case for the clutch.
Their manual states that the clutch cannot be repaired so you have to get the model or serial number and go to the outlet selling this part to get a new one. If you are not mechanically inclined, it would be best to find a dealer or mechanic who knows how to fix this part.
The good part is, there should be a manual override to the system. Unfortunately, the dealer may give you a complete walk-through and never mention this aspect nor where the crank is hidden.
Their expertise may cost you some money but it may be cheaper than replacing the old jack with a new one. The crank should be there and a good search of the underneath area of your trailer should turn it up.
When you take the jack apart, check for loose nuts. This is one of those simple problems you want to get to first. Just tighten up the loose nuts and you should be good to go.
If you have trouble finding the 30 amp fuse or the fuse older, check the frame behind the batteries or look inside your trailer. It will be somewhere near the front of your trailer.
How do You Unstick a Trailer Jack?
The first step would be to spray some WD-40 or similar product over the moving parts of the jack. These products will help loosen up those parts and get them moving again. That is if the problem is that simple.
If the jack has been unused for a while, it may have frozen up and will need you to remove it and disassemble the parts. Then apply a lot of grease to those parts to get them working again.
There are several parts that would need the grease. The bearing, the threads, the screw assembly, the washers, and so on. You can use a grease gun to help minimize any mess that comes.
After that is done, you have to reassemble the jack and put it back on the trailer. Watch for stripped nuts and bolts while you do this as those would have to be replaced as well.
How do You Manually Raise an Electric Trailer Jack?
The first step would be to locate the crank for this operation. This is a chore in and of itself as many RV makers place these cranks in different locations that are well hidden. Then the dealers may not tell you where the crank is and you have to spend a lot of time looking for it.
Once you find the crank, remove the plastic cap or rubber plug at the top. Insert the crank and make sure it fits into the over-ride nut. To lower the trailer, turn the crank counter-clockwise. To raise it, go in the clockwise direction.
If you can’t find your crank or lost it somewhere, there are outlets that will sell you a replacement. Unfortunately, manual cranking is not going to be the miracle solution all the time.
If the cranking doesn’t move the jack, then you will have to replace the latter part. There are outlets that will well you a replacement jack.
Some Final Words
Do your best to diagnose the source of the problem first. You may find that it is a simple problem that you can fix, for example, replacing a bad fuse. For most jack repairs, you may not be able to fix the part that has gone bad.
You may need to send them in and have the company fix them for you. Or you may have to buy a replacement part and swap the two.
