When it comes to living the RV life, you can either buy a motorhome (an RV that you drive) or a trailer (an RV that you tow). While there are benefits to both options, many travelers prefer the latter.
However, if you do get a trailer, one of the biggest challenges that you’ll face is attaching and detaching it from your tow vehicle.
Sure, if you’re a bodybuilder, this process can be relatively easy. For the rest of us, though, it can be a pain.
Fortunately, we’re here to look at and discuss the best RV electric tongue jacks. Attaching your RV will become a snap once you have one of these machines in place.
Let’s take a look at how they can make the RVing life even more convenient.
COMPARISON CHART
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1. Quick Products JQ-3500W Electric Tongue Jack
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2. Lippert 285318 3500LB Power Tongue Jack
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3. Big Horn 3500 LBS Electric Trailer Tongue Jack
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4. RAM Trailer Products EJ-3520-BBX Black Electric Trailer Jack
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5. Husky 82022 Super Brute Electric Jack
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OUR TOP 5 PICKS
#1 Quick Products JQ-3500W Electric Tongue Jack
Specifications
Item Weight | 20 pounds |
Product Dimensions | 33.9 x 9.6 x 6.8 inches |
Features
First and foremost, upgrading to an electric tongue jack is all about making your life easier. If you’ve ever had to hand-crank your trailer into place while parked on an uneven surface, you know how much of a challenge it can be.
Fortunately, this model from Quick Products ensures that you will never have any trouble coupling or decoupling your RV.
3,650-Pound Lift Capacity
Unless you have a genuinely massive trailer, you shouldn’t encounter any problems with this electric tongue jack. It has plenty of torque to move your hitch into place, regardless of its position in relation to your towing vehicle.
Although other jacks may have a higher lift capacity, you don’t want to pay for extra power that you don’t need. Overall, as long as you make sure that your trailer’s tongue weight is below this limit (it should be), you don’t have to worry.
LED Work Light
Sometimes, you don’t have the luxury of working in direct sunlight. Whether you arrived on site after dark or you plan on leaving before dawn, you want to make sure that you can see what you’re doing.
Fortunately, this tongue jack comes with a built-in LED light. Not only that, but the light is insulated to prevent water and other weather elements from getting in and messing up the electrical components.
- WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- PROS/CONS OVERVIEW
Overall, this electric tongue jack is simple and easy to use. I like that it can work with almost any sized trailer, thanks to its decent lift capacity. I also appreciate the rugged housing that ensures the jack will stay resilient year after year. You can rely on this jack for a long time.
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#2 Lippert 285318 3500LB Power Tongue Jack
Specifications
Item Weight | 29.2 pounds |
Product Dimensions | 32.8 x 12.5 x 7.2 inches |
Features
Overall, when looking at the best RV electric tongue jack, the most crucial elements to pay attention to are the lift rating, power requirements, and ease of installation. Fortunately, this model from Lippert checks all of those boxes. Let’s see how it compares to the rest.
Rugged Textured Housing
One of the best things about a manual crank system is that it will work regardless of your situation. Whether you’re out camping in the rain, sleet, or snow, you never have to worry about it failing.
With an electrical jack, however, you need to be wary of the electrical components that operate the crank. Thankfully, this unit has a rugged plastic housing so that nothing will get inside. Each seam is sealed, further protecting the most delicate elements.
Reduced Noise
One issue that I’ve noticed with electric jacks is that they can be quite loud. If you’re planning on an early-morning departure, you will likely wake your fellow campers, including any neighbors nearby.
Fortunately, this particular model has an expertly designed screw system that reduces the amount of noise it produces. While it’s not exactly whisper-quiet, it’s noticeable when compared to other tongue jacks.
- WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- PROS/CONS OVERVIEW
Overall, this isn’t the highest quality jack on the market, but it delivers what you expect. I like that it comes with four LED lights instead of one, ensuring that you get better visibility at night. I also appreciate that it comes with all of the mounting hardware so that you can get it set up in no time.
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#3 Bulldog 500200 Powered Drive A-Frame Tongue Jack
Specifications
Material | HAWA |
Load Capacity | 4000 pound |
Color | White |
Item Weight | 10.91 Kilograms |
Features
Introducing the Bulldog 500200 Powered Drive A-Frame Tongue Jack, the perfect solution for easily and efficiently leveling your RV. With a heavy duty 4000 lb. lift capacity, this powered jack makes setting up your RV a breeze.
- WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- PROS/CONS OVERVIEW
It features an exclusive spring loaded drop leg pull pin that provides 22" of total travel, making it easy to use even when a weight distribution system is present. Additionally, the single-axis level makes deployment easy, and the emergency manual override allows operation when battery is drained. Plus, with three LED courtesy lights that illuminate the coupler area, hooking up and disconnecting at night is a breeze. Don't miss out on this must-have RV accessory - get your Bulldog 500200
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#4 RAM Trailer Products EJ-3520-BBX Black Electric Trailer Jack
Specifications
Item Weight | 24 pounds |
Product Dimensions | 31.5 x 10 x 7 inches |
Features
In some cases, your electric tongue jack will come with extra bars to brace your trailer while it’s in use. However, if you want a model that doesn’t require any additional hardware, you’ll appreciate the simplicity of this jack from RAM Trailer Products.
Manual Hand Crank
One of the primary issues with relying on an electric tongue jack is that it may die. While most of these machines are designed to work reliably, there is always a chance of a dead motor.
In those cases, you don’t want to be stuck. Fortunately, this unit comes with a manual hand crank so that you can still operate the jack no matter what. Ideally, you’ll never find yourself in that situation, but it’s nice to know that you have options if the worst occurs.
Corrosion-Resistant Materials
As with the other jacks on this list, this unit is designed to withstand the potential weather you will encounter on your travels. The materials used are highly resilient, thanks to powder coating and rust-resistant metals. You can feel confident in this jack’s ability to stay strong year after year.
- WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- PROS/CONS OVERVIEW
For the most part, I appreciate the simplicity of this jack when installing it. You don’t need extra hardware to make it work. I also like that you can operate it manually if necessary.
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#5 Husky 82022 Super Brute Electric Jack
Specifications
Item Weight | 30.1 pounds |
Product Dimensions | 33 x 10 x 6.5 inches |
Features
If you’re familiar with the Husky brand, you know that this company is well-known for making high-quality products. Let’s see how well it stacks up against the rest of the jacks on this list.
5000-Pound Lift Capacity
Typically speaking, 3500 pounds of lift is more than enough for any RV or trailer. However, if you want the best of the best, you can rely on Husky to keep you covered while out on the road. Realistically, you won’t have to use the extra torque, but it’s nice to know that it’s there, just in case.
Heavy-Duty Usage
The other jacks we’ve seen are built for casual RVing. That means that they work best when you don’t have to use them over and over again. So, if you’re a full-time RVer, you will appreciate the reliability of this jack. It’s made to work overtime without burning out.
- WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- PROS/CONS OVERVIEW
Although this jack is more expensive than others on this list, you get better performance out of it. This machine is faster than others, and it has a better lift. Overall, if you want to upgrade from a manual crank, you can’t do much better than this.
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BUYER'S GUIDE
What are good electric tongue jack brands?
All of the brands we’ve looked at on this list are high-quality. I further recommend Quick Products and Husky as the best of the best.
What size electric tongue jack do I need?
The size will depend on the width of your hitch ball. Typically speaking, hitch balls range from 1 7/8 inches to 2 5/16th. Be sure to check your ball joint so that you can verify if the jack will fit.
The other measurement to pay attention to is the vertical lift. Your jack needs to use a motorized foot to move the trailer into place, so be sure that it’s tall enough to reach the top of your tow vehicle hitch. If it’s too short, you will have to buy a different jack.
How do I connect my trailer to my tow vehicle?
First, you will need to raise the tongue jack so that it is higher than the ball hitch on the tow vehicle. Next, move the vehicle into place, with the ball underneath the jack.
Finally, lower the jack until the whole weight of the trailer is sitting on the hitch. Once it’s in place, be sure to lock the mechanism so that it won’t come loose in transit.
How to use an electric tongue jack?
Fortunately, these machines are designed for simplicity and convenience. Unless there’s a problem with the motor, all you have to do is turn the jack on and then use the up or down buttons to raise and lower the trailer.
When attaching your RV, be sure to let the foot retract all the way. Leaving it extended could cause damage while you’re on the road, as the foot could scrape against the asphalt or other debris.
How to disconnect your trailer from your Tow vehicle?
First, you will want to make sure that your RV’s tires are braced with a ramp. This will ensure that you don’t experience any rolling once the trailer is free from the tow vehicle.
Next, you will need to unlock the jack from the ball hitch. Otherwise, you could damage the motor once the jack tries to decouple itself.
After that, you simply need to turn the jack on and lower the foot to the ground. Once it’s in place, you can raise the jack from the hitch until there is space between the ball and the bottom of the jack. Then you should be able to drive the tow vehicle out from under the jack.
Finally, once the tow vehicle is out of the way, make sure to return the trailer to an even position. If you leave it at an angle, it could put undue stress on both the jack and your tire ramps.
How do you select an electric tongue jack?
You can select an electric tongue jack by looking at the weight rating, the length of the tongue, and the safety of the jack. You should also consider the jack's durability, portability, and strength.
CONCLUSION
Although we’ve seen the best RV electric tongue jacks, I have to say that my top pick is the model from Quick Products. While it’s not as flashy or as high-tech as some of the other units, it’s reliable and well-built. You can use this jack for years to come without any problems.