Rotate electric jack head to open tail gate?

[Brianm767]

I see videos where you can rotate a lippert? Jack head so you can open the truck tailgate.

My campers in storage so ill have to go and see what my jack looks like, but so far it looks different than all the online videos.

It's a 2021 26BHWE and I don't know what brand jack is on it, it has a single rocker switch for up and down. Then a small swith for the light on it.

Sound familiar? Anyone know if this style can be rotated?

I'll go by and check it out myself on Monday but thought someone might know.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

You need to look at the mounting flange where it bolts to the tongue. If there are open unused holes, there is a good chance it can be rotated.

However, doing so doesn’t always gain you much more room (if any). The pitch and angle relation between the truck and trailer will be different depending on whether they are perfectly in line and on flat level ground, versus the realities of various conditions in the real world.

 

[Randy23LT]

You need to look at the mounting flange where it bolts to the tongue. If there are open unused holes, there is a good chance it can be rotated.

There are videos on YouTube for doing this. Some heads themselves can be rotated without rotating at the tongue/flange mounting point.

 

[Brianm767]

Yes the videos of the lippert jacks, you dont mess with the tounge mount, the head itself is rotated, ill try to go out and look at mine tomorrow. If the head can't be rotated, I'll try to rotate the assy on the tounge if it looks like it will give me the clearance I need.

 

[Randy23LT]

There may be an option of a different hitch that has a bit longer shank. Some folks have done this to gain tailgate room. There are a few YouTube videos of this also. Not sure if changing hitches is an option for you though

 

[JRTJH]

Yes the videos of the lippert jacks, you dont mess with the tounge mount, the head itself is rotated, ill try to go out and look at mine tomorrow. If the head can't be rotated, I'll try to rotate the assy on the tounge if it looks like it will give me the clearance I need.

If y ou do consider rotating the entire jack, pay close attention to which side of the A-frame the jack mounting flange is located. If it's below the A-frame and the screws loosen, the flange will support the trailer tongue. If the flange is above the trailer A-frame and it's held in place by 3 "big sheet metal screws" should they loosen, there's nothing to keep the trailer A-frame from dropping to the ground. If you or someone else is under the A-frame and it falls, it can get very dangerous .... So, if the flange is above the A-frame, I'd recommend replacing those "big sheet metal screws" with appropriately sized bolts, lock washers and nuts. IMO, it's a good idea, even if you are just going to rotate the jack head to get clearance, check how the jack is secured to the trailer A-frame and make sure it's going to support the 750-1200 pounds of trailer tongue when your family is "bouncing around inside the trailer and when hitching up, you raise the trailer jacks/levelers and start backing into the trailer coupler.... Lots of potential for things to happen and few people ever "take a good look at those three bolts or screws"....

 

[Brianm767]

If y ou do consider rotating the entire jack, pay close attention to which side of the A-frame the jack mounting flange is located. If it's below the A-frame and the screws loosen, the flange will support the trailer tongue. If the flange is above the trailer A-frame and it's held in place by 3 "big sheet metal screws" should they loosen, there's nothing to keep the trailer A-frame from dropping to the ground. If you or someone else is under the A-frame and it falls, it can get very dangerous .... So, if the flange is above the A-frame, I'd recommend replacing those "big sheet metal screws" with appropriately sized bolts, lock washers and nuts. IMO, it's a good idea, even if you are just going to rotate the jack head to get clearance, check how the jack is secured to the trailer A-frame and make sure it's going to support the 750-1200 pounds of trailer tongue when your family is "bouncing around inside the trailer and when hitching up, you raise the trailer jacks/levelers and start backing into the trailer coupler.... Lots of potential for things to happen and few people ever "take a good look at those three bolts or screws"....

I'll take a look, yay if their metal screws, I'll replace them with bolts regardless if I rotate anything. Or not.