Tongue Jacks

Essential Lifting and Leveling for Your Trailer

A trailer tongue jack is a device used to raise and lower the trailer tongue, allowing for easier maneuverability when hitching and unhitching the trailer from the vehicle. Whether you're towing a boat, utility trailer, or RV, tongue jacks help you level your trailer, attach your trailer, and stabilize your trailer during loading and unloading of cargo. Without a reliable jack, connecting your trailer to a hitch ball becomes a strenuous task that can put unnecessary strain on your back and arms.

Choosing the Right Tongue Jack for Your Trailer

Size and capacity are essential factors to consider when picking out a jack for your trailer, as the jack you choose has to support the weight of the front of your trailer by measuring your trailer tongue weight. Generally, the trailer tongue should not weigh more than 15% of the total trailer weight. For boat trailers, tongue weight is usually 7–10% of the fully loaded trailer weight, so a 6,000 lb loaded trailer will have a tongue weight around 420–600 lbs. Beyond weight capacity, you'll also want to consider the jack's travel range—the distance it can extend and retract—to ensure it provides enough lift to clear your vehicle's hitch ball and accommodate uneven terrain.

Manual vs. Electric Tongue Jacks

Tongue jacks come in two primary types: manual and electric. Manual trailer jacks usually have a hand crank you use to raise and lower the hitch of your trailer, while electric trailer jacks usually have a switch that you flip that draws power from your battery to raise and lower your hitch. Manual jacks are more affordable and simpler mechanically, making them ideal for lighter trailers and those who don't mind a bit of physical effort. Electric tongue jacks, with the motor doing all the work, effortlessly raise and lower the front of the trailer. This makes them particularly valuable for heavier trailers or when using weight-distributing hitches that require multiple adjustments.

Mount Styles and Design Considerations

Tongue jacks attach to your trailers in two ways: bolt-on and weld-on, and both are almost equally effective. A-frame jacks get their name from the A-frame trailers they're used on, being designed to be mounted on the A-frame tongue of the trailer and fixed in place with no swivel option, and they can be manually operated or electrically powered. Side-mount jacks offer swivel functionality, allowing them to rotate out of the way during towing and reposition for jacking operations. Some models feature wheels on the bottom instead of a fixed foot, providing extra mobility when maneuvering your trailer by hand, especially useful in soft sand or gravel.

Trusted Brands for Tongue Jacks

When shopping for a tongue jack, choosing a reputable manufacturer ensures durability and reliable performance. Seachoice brings decades of marine expertise to their trailer jack designs, offering corrosion-resistant options built to withstand harsh coastal environments. Dutton-Lainson has been manufacturing quality jacks since 1886, with their DLx series featuring premium finishes and dual grease fittings for extended service life. Fultyme RV specializes in solutions tailored specifically for recreational vehicle applications, understanding the unique demands of RV owners. Pacific Rim Int'L rounds out the selection with value-oriented options for various trailer types.

Installation and Maintenance

Most bolt-on tongue jacks include all necessary mounting hardware and can be installed with basic hand tools. Proper installation requires mounting the jack to a structurally sound section of your trailer tongue that can handle the load. Regular maintenance is straightforward—periodically lubricate moving parts, inspect for corrosion or damage, and ensure all mounting bolts remain tight. For electric jacks, verify electrical connections remain secure and the power source is adequate. Taking a few minutes to maintain your tongue jack can prevent inconvenient failures when you're ready to hit the road with your trailer.