Electric Jack Operation

[gypsmjim]

Not familiar with these at all. Went to camp to check on things since the last Winter storm.

The tongue jack was 6" up hanging in the air. The trailer was being supported by the front stabilizer jacks. The jack worked fine and of course it was put back in its proper supporting position.

My question is whether there is some kind of auto mechanism that would have made the jack go up by itself?

 

[Happy wife / happy life]

I’m a little hesitant to give you an answer without knowing year,make,model. If you have a travel trailer I have never heard of an automatic mechanism. All the power jacks I have seen have a manual switch on the jack itself. I’m just kinda wondering if you have mischievous kids in your camp.

 

[gypsmjim]

I’m a little hesitant to give you an answer without knowing year,make,model. If you have a travel trailer I have never heard of an automatic mechanism. All the power jacks I have seen have a manual switch on the jack itself. I’m just kinda wondering if you have mischievous kids in your camp.

It's our own private 50 acre property. My Jayco has a manual jack and it was untouched. The trailer in question is my Son's 2023 Transcend.

We are quite remote. There are no "kids" in the neighborhood, and we are very friendly with the other campers (all hunting properties) in the area.

I DO suspect vandalism, though. But I wanted to make sure that the trailer didn't have a mind of its own.

After some phone calls (my son lives 900 miles away) I come to find out there was a trail cam on a near tree. (Now I find out!) I guess another road trip is in store for tomorrow. I just hope it was pointing in the right direction.

 

[Jayhawk 29]

Do you know if its been raining or snowing during the time its been sitting and before someone inspected it and found the jack up? Do you know what brand of jack he has? Two types that I have owned, one that has a curved front and the switch is somewhat looking up in the sky and one that is mounted just in the front and a vertical position.

Its possible that water has gotten in the switch and caused it to short out and work until the dampness that possibly got in it dried out while working. I normally have a cover over the electric jack, even while using the camper. Its easily works while the cover is on it too.

If its so remote if someone wanted to steal it you would have thought that they would not have just operated the jack and left without taking it. The exception was that they did not have a way to operate the stabilizing jacks, and if so they were amateurs. And if there was no other damage that was apparent like at the door lock, I would conclude that dampness might be the culprit.

 

[Happy wife / happy life]

Just a thought. You might look a the power wire coming off the jack, more than likely there will be an inline 30amp fuse. Pull the fuse out and the jack won’t work.

 

[gypsmjim]

Snow, rain and freezing rain had been culprits since January. I took a pic in January, but the snow was deep, so I did not notice what the position of the jack was. The driveway is gated and locked and there was no sign of entry. It would take a bulldozer to get the trailer out.

I have no idea what he has, but I cropped my January picture and attached it. The reason I took pics then was because the yard was inundated with deer prints and I wanted to document that.

We have been enjoying this property for 38 years without incident (except for trees falling and requiring lots of chainsaw work), so if there is vandalism this is quite upsetting.

 

[Jayhawk 29]

Notice the top of this style jack. With plenty of extended snow and ice I would lean towards the switch being shorted as the problem. I will say that the switch unit is replaceable as one unit on some of the similar styles . The ridge around the switch and the light switch comes in one unit. Just match the brand. Notice this one shows a bag cover for it. Examples

Amazon.com

This is the front mounted switch and less acceptable to water harming the switch.

Amazon.com

 

[gypsmjim]

Notice the top of this style jack. With plenty of extended snow and ice I would lean towards the switch being shorted as the problem. I will say that the switch unit is replaceable as one unit on some of the similar styles . The ridge around the switch and the light switch comes in one unit. Just match the brand. Notice this one shows a bag cover for it. Examples

Amazon.com

This is the front mounted switch and less acceptable to water harming the switch.

Amazon.com

We expect this to be a permanent setup. If she never moves, no need to readjust the jack, so once tight, the fuse could be removed. Is there a manual way to crank?

 

[Jayhawk 29]

Most all electric jacks have a manual override crank that fits in a slotted hole. The first link shows the hand crank.

 

[gypsmjim]

Thanks to all for the help. I'll report back tomorrow if the trail cam gives any clues.

 

[S.Wxman]

Shot in the dark. You said the 'stabilizer' jacks were supporting. Any chance the trailer has autolevel and the leveling jacks were down supporting? My tongue jack is usually off the ground when I use autolevel.

Hope there is no problem.

 

[Jayhawk 29]

Looking at the picture that has just shown up for me I wonder if there was an abundant amount of snow on the top and the weight of it pushed the switch downward on its own and the hitch shaft came up. .Or with deer around did they come up and lick a possible ice sickle hanging down and happened to be licking it around the button and worked the jack? Mysteries,

 

[gypsmjim]

UPDATE:

My buddy's camera showed all of the known activity. There is no indication that anyone else was there. Deer were abundant, but no pics of deer near the tongue. Most activity was at night, so no real clear picture of the RV.

Obviously, the ground under the RV is frozen, while the tongue is in the open and in the sun (less frozen?). Could the ground have moved the RV up 6" leaving the jack in the air?

 

[JFlightRisk]

6" is a lot for a frost heave, but stranger things have happened. If it was mine, I'd checkout under the cover for signs of water or moisture, just to eliminate that as a possibility.

Any ghosts or Bigfoots hang out there?

 

[gypsmjim]

6" is a lot for a frost heave, but stranger things have happened. If it was mine, I'd checkout under the cover for signs of water or moisture, just to eliminate that as a possibility.

Any ghosts or Bigfoots hang out there?

No "frost" here. We had below zero for 2 weeks.

One of our local black bears is an oldie and a biggie. I'm guessing 500#. The hair on his face is grey. A trail cam pic of him on his hind legs crossing our driveway on the deer trail is an ominous sight.

 

[Jayhawk 29]

UPDATE:

My buddy's camera showed all of the known activity. There is no indication that anyone else was there. Deer were abundant, but no pics of deer near the tongue. Most activity was at night, so no real clear picture of the RV.

Obviously, the ground under the RV is frozen, while the tongue is in the open and in the sun (less frozen?). Could the ground have moved the RV up 6" leaving the jack in the air?

If you stabilizing jacks were still on the ground, then the tongue jack should have been its its same location as you left it too. This is unless your black bear scratched his or her rear on the hitch and in the area of the bottom.