electric tongue jack problem

[bertk523]

we have brand new 26 ft Jay Flight with an electric tongue jack. after our first trip out, when we unhitched, the jack will NOT work when unplugged from the towing vehicle. the Battery on the camper is full, we plugged into house current - will NOT work. WILL work if we plug into tow vehicle. All breakers and fuses are OK. All other electric components work fine. ??? confused, don't know where to start trouble shooting. Nothing in manual. No manual for electric jack with our manual package. Thanks for any help.

 

[bailee21]

check the wires to see if one has come loose to the battery

 

[Camper_bob]

Mine does the same thing if the inline fuse is blown. Are you sure the inline fuse on the tongue is still good? On my trailer, the inline fuse up front is for the jack only, it does not isolate the battery in any way, and last time I popped that fuse, my jack did exactly as you describe, it would only work if it was plugged into the TV.

 

[bertk523]

a BIG thank you to Camper Bob. We did not realize there was a fuse out by the jack. We replaced it and all is GOOD!!!

 

[Camper_bob]

a BIG thank you to Camper Bob. We did not realize there was a fuse out by the jack. We replaced it and all is GOOD!!!

You're welcome! Glad I was able to help!

I popped mine when I hooked up to the truck without the battery on the trailer (short trip from storage lot, this is illegal in most places because the battery is needed for disconnect brakes), one of the other leads grounded out on the frame and the fuse popped.

 

[clutch-FRF]

If you raise the trailer too far or lower it too far it will pop the fuse also. 5th wheel front jacks will do the same thing.

 

[TNCraig]

I have also noticed if you switch directions without letting the jack come to a complete stop you can blow the fuse also.

 

[Camper_bob]

Neither of these have ever happened to me, but I carry a fist full of 30A fuses anyway...

 

[BroncoUp]

Thanks. This happened to me and I was under the impression it was just a standard process. I just returned from my 3rd trip and must have blown the fuse out on my first trip. Now off to the store before trip #4 this coming weekend.

 

[clutch-FRF]

This can happen to anyone. I think I need to buy some extra fuses.

 

[AC_Jayco26]

I am having the same issue, is the fuse located within the head of the electric tongue jack or near the battery?

 

[JFlightRisk]

I am having the same issue, is the fuse located within the head of the electric tongue jack or near the battery?

The fuse on my Bulldog is near the ring terminal at the battery. It's inside a plastic or rubber protective cover. Pop the top off, and it's inside.

 

[oldmanAZ]

I am having the same issue, is the fuse located within the head of the electric tongue jack or near the battery?

Welcome to the forum.

Mine is in a group of wires leaving the battery box from the positive terminal, within a couple of inches of the battery box.

Like JFlightRisk said, the fuse is inside a small rectangular holder and has a top that pivots open.

 

[AC_Jayco26]

thank you, I will look for it there. Is it a standard 30amp fuse or a slo blo circular fuse?

 

[oldmanAZ]

thank you, I will look for it there. Is it a standard 30amp fuse or a slo blo circular fuse?

It is a standard blade type (ATC).

 

[Junmy3]

Have a new 2016 that I just brought home and the same thing happened to me. Glad I found this thread. I bought this camper in Tampa and the dealer said I needed to take it in to my local dealer here in middle Georgia for service. It was much quicker doing it myself and would not know what to do without finding this.

 

[Camper_bob]

Just for additional information, this is how my trailer tongue is wired, YMMV.

When I replaced my jack, I upgraded the wire nut from a standard household variety to a "waterproof" one (something everyone should do), and my new jack came with a manual-reset 30A circuit breaker instead of the standard in-line 30A ATC fuse in "water resistant" boot (also a worthwhile endeavor if you find yourself blowing fuses by running the jack to its limits).

You will notice that in this setup, removing the 30A fuse up front does not isolate your trailer from the battery, as many suggest, to protect you from the parasitic draw that will kill your battery over time (such as when stored). This arrangement also allows the tongue jack to be operated without a battery as long as you have 12V from your tow-vehicle.

I apologize for the crudity of this model; I don't have access to wiring diagram software, and I'm a little rusty on that stuff any way...

 

[BCguy-JAY]

I've also had a couple of glitches with the power jack on my 2015 26RKS. Blew a fuse once as water had gotten into the little fuse holder and shorted things out, I guess. Replaced the fuse and ok but now the jack will cease to operate every once in a while for no apparent reason. Pop the fuse, which will be still good and reinsert and all is ok again. I've cleaned the holder with contact cleaner spray so there is no residual moisture in there so got no clue what's happening.

 

[Camper_bob]

I've also had a couple of glitches with the power jack on my 2015 26RKS. Blew a fuse once as water had gotten into the little fuse holder and shorted things out, I guess. Replaced the fuse and ok but now the jack will cease to operate every once in a while for no apparent reason. Pop the fuse, which will be still good and reinsert and all is ok again. I've cleaned the holder with contact cleaner spray so there is no residual moisture in there so got no clue what's happening.

Mine started doing that too. Once it dried out some and I ran it a bit, it got better, but still not great. I actually had to use the manual crank to keep things going at one point. I never did figure out what was happening (assuming it just wasn't in its death throes), and I have NO problems with my new jack.

 

[billyreb]

Electric Jack Works On Towing Vehicle Only

There is a 30-amp inline fuse that, when opened or blown, will cause the electric jack to not function on the trailer's DC power system. It will also isolate the towing vehicle's DC power system from the trailer's system, which means that the towing vehicle is not charging the trailer's battery. If you are running appliances while in tow, the RV battery is draining and not charging. Enough words! A picture tells a better story...