If you’ve ever tried towing a boat or a large trailer with your vehicle, then you know just how hard it can be. Before you can go off on your merry way, you have to first hitch the trailer to your truck. It’s not something most people can do on their own, but using hitch jacks can make the entire process much easier.
Also known as a trailer jack or tongue jack, a hitch jack is a hitch accessory that raises and stabilizes a trailer so it can be easily attached to the towing vehicle. You’ll find all kinds of hitch jacks on the market today, such as electric trailer jacks and manual trailer jacks.
Hitch jacks aren’t like tire jacks. They certainly serve similar functions, but tire jacks are usually diamond-shaped and expand outwardly when you turn a rod. Meanwhile, a high jack comes with a crank that turns internal gears and extends out of a metal shaft. This shaft raises the trailer off the ground, making it easier to attach it to a towing vehicle’s hitch.
Most hitch jacks are attached to the trailer’s tongue, the long beam that sticks out from the front of the trailer. Once secured to the tongue, the jack extends vertically to the ground.
Using a hitch jack can seem scary, but it shouldn’t be too hard to understand. Here are a few tips to consider when using a hitch jack:
Aside from securing the jack to the trailer’s tongue, you also need to secure it to the ground. You usually have to remove a pin from the base and allow the jack’s leg to fall to the ground. Once it’s been lowered to the correct position, you just have to put the pin back to secure it. This will help make sure the jack doesn’t move around as you work.
Unless you’re using an electric hitch jack, you’ll have to manually crank the hitch jack yourself. Most people recommend cranking the hitch jack until the height of the trailer’s tongue reaches the hitch ball. You can also go an inch or two higher for easier movement.
For easier movement, crank the hitch jack until the height of the trailer’s tongue is an inch or two higher than the hitch ball.
–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
This is where things can get a little tricky. Lining up your vehicle with your trailer can be tough, especially if your hitch jack doesn’t have wheels.
Whatever you do, be sure to back up slowly. You don’t want to accidentally crash into your raised trailer. If you can, have someone guide you, so you can reverse your vehicle until the hitch is close to the tongue.
To connect the trailer to your car, you usually have to lower the jack until you can secure the tongue to your vehicle’s hitch. Double-check to make sure the tongue latch is secured to the ball hitch so that it doesn’t suddenly detach from your car.
Hitch jacks come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by so many options. However, you can’t just pick any hitch jack on the market. You’ll have to find one that suits you and your vehicle’s needs. Here are some things to consider when buying a hitch jack:
Not all hitch jacks are compatible with your trailer. You’ll have to find one that fits the size of your trailer’s tongue, so bring out the measuring tape and get its dimensions first before buying a jack.
As a rule of thumb, tongue jacks should be capable of lifting at least 10% to 15% of your trailer’s weight. For example, if you’re towing a 6,000-lb trailer, then you’ll want to get a tongue jack with a capacity of 600 lbs to 900 lbs.
You’ll need a hitch jack that can reach your towing vehicle’s hitch or it might as well be useless. Measure the height from the ground to the bottom of the hitch first so you can choose a jack that suits your vehicle. Make sure to measure the height on level ground.
Manual trailer jacks tend to last longer than most types of jacks, but they can also be very tiring to use. If you don’t want to strain your muscles manually cranking your trailer up and down, consider investing in a power jack.
Power or electric hitch jacks draw power from your vehicle’s battery to automatically raise and lower your hitch with the flip of a switch.
You can never be too careful when raising and lowering your trailer. Here are a few safety tips when using hitch jacks:
Wheel chocks are small wedges or ramps that stop your wheels from rolling. Place them on both sides of your trailer’s wheels to prevent it from rolling while you’re trying to hitch it to your vehicle.
Always work on a hard, level surface. Jacking a trailer on soft, uneven ground can be very risky. The jack’s foot can become unbalanced, and the trailer might roll or shift around.
Be extra careful when backing up your vehicle to your jacked trailer. It might take a few tries, but it’s better to take it nice and steady instead of rushing into it. If you aren’t careful, you might end up bumping into your trailer, damaging both your vehicle and your trailer.
If you’re using an electric hitch jack, don’t forget to disconnect the towing vehicle’s negative battery cable. You might end up electrocuting yourself or damaging your car’s electrical components and wiring if you don’t.
Though it’s possible to attach trailers to vehicles without a hitch jack, having one in your garage does make the process much easier. Not only do they raise and stabilize trailers for mounting, but they’re also easy to use. The tricky part is knowing where to get your hands on one that’s sturdy and reliable.
Fortunately, finding good jacks for your vehicle is easy with the help of CarParts.com.
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