Electric Tongue Jacks

[eng45ine]

Should the top of an electric tongue jack be covered to protect the mechanism within? They aren't covered at the dealerships, but should they be covered once owners have their units?

[WyEm]

Good question! I cover mine with a bucket when I store it because a buddy told me that he has replaced 3 electric tongue jacks due to water getting inside. He doesn't own a Jayco, but better safe than sorry. A bucket is cheap, easy insurance and its multipurpose.

[Sundancer330]

I bought a $15 vinyl cover on Amazon for when I hit the road or it rains at the campground. The bucket is a great idea if you have to store outside, the vinyl cover probably wouldn't last long in the sun but I am lucky to have indoor storage.

[oldmanAZ]

I bought a $1 white, plastic, wastepaper can. Fits great, keeps water out, and it has a lip that fits the hook on my safety chains to keep them out of the dirt.

Back when I first joined the JOF, someone posted they had rain water freeze in their jack and ruin it. The white waste paper can was one of the first things on my 'to buy' list... and one of cheapest.

[Murff]

Like many things, the electric tongue jacks that Jayco gives us are not the best. Mine got water in it and the LED light stayed lit all of the time. Dealer fixed it under warranty and highly suggested an inverted bucket would help keep it dry.

Bright yellow kitty litter bucket sits on the front of my trailer tongue jack.

Murff

[redsnapper]

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

I bought a $1 white, plastic, wastepaper can. Fits great, keeps water out, and it has a lip that fits the hook on my safety chains to keep them out of the dirt.

.

Perfect Old Man......

[North of 49°]

Empty dog food bucket here. During travel, it holds the wheel chocks and sits in the back of the truck. When the trailer is parked, the chocks are on the ground doing their job and the bucket is upside down over the jack motor. The safety chains hold it in place from the wind. It serves double duty!

I tried making a bag out of what I thought was piece of an old tarp. Unfortunately, it wasn't an old tarp, it just looked like one, and it wasn't UV-proof. It fell apart after a year.

[eng45ine]

Well, if you all cover yours, then I'm covering mine. Another tidbit that the dealer never informed us about.

[Duke_26]

Small black trash can here. One without a lip. Just sits on the top of the tongue jack whenever it is parked, even while camping. While traveling, it rides in the back of the truck holding a few items like wheel chocks.




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[klpoppe]

Cheap bucket from Lowes works for me....

[North of 49°]

Here's a photo of ours, when was putting the trailer away at the storage yard last fall. You can see the red bucket on the tongue jack just behind the truck's tail light. The safety chains hang on the bucket handle to keep it from blowing away in the wind. The first year we had the trailer, I didn't cover the jack at all, and then I had to disassemble it because the switches were all corroded; the LED light on the top was on all the time, which wasn't good, so I had to clean the contacts. Once I started covering the jack, the problem never returned.

[bansai]

I tie a thick plastic garbage bag around mine in the winter. If camping in the rain I stick my home depot bucket on it, which plays double duty as an outdoor trash can when it's not raining.

I'm not very happy with the performance of the stock jack. Planning on putting a Barker on there this year if I don't run out of 'play money'.

[eng45ine]

My sincerest thanks to all who've commented in my thread, networking with members of this community helps us all get the most out of our camping experiences.

[sennister]

Originally Posted by North of 49°

Here's a photo of ours, when was putting the trailer away at the storage yard last fall. You can see the red bucket on the tongue jack just behind the truck's tail light. The safety chains hang on the bucket handle to keep it from blowing away in the wind. The first year we had the trailer, I didn't cover the jack at all, and then I had to disassemble it because the switches were all corroded; the LED light on the top was on all the time, which wasn't good, so I had to clean the contacts. Once I started covering the jack, the problem never returned.

Hmm I like that idea. I was going to order the jack cover from Amazon but like the idea of just using a bucket and using the chains to hold it down keeping them out of the dirt. Plus as bansai mentioned a bucket around camp could be useful. I have several buckets in the shop that I can use.

[jloco]

I grabbed one of these from Amazon. I like the draw string to keep it tight around the unit. It looks nice and neat at my seasonal site. In a few weeks we'll see how well it held up over the winter.



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[Murff]

Originally Posted by jloco

I grabbed one of these from Amazon. I like the draw string to keep it tight around the unit. It looks nice and neat at my seasonal site. In a few weeks we'll see how well it held up over the winter.

Hmmm....

Think I'll stick with a bucket. Just kind of gives the rig that "trailer park" look.

Murff

[jloco]

Originally Posted by Murff

Hmmm....

Think I'll stick with a bucket. Just kind of gives the rig that "trailer park" look.

Murff

ha ha!!.. Good point! I'm diminishing the 'trailer park' ambiance!
I should reconsider! LOL!

[TWP723]

Count me in on with the bucket crew!!! Although, somebody stole my bucket this past winter. Must have really needed a bucket..

[SouthCo]

I'm the bucket crew too. Bucket holds stuff while in transport and then covers jack while camping...

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by Murff

Hmmm....

Think I'll stick with a bucket. Just kind of gives the rig that "trailer park" look.

Murff

If you really want the trailer park look you would cover it with a Piggly Wiggly bag.