Joke of a tongue jack!

[Jameson Clark]

Well, I used to think of Shoreland'r as a nice trailer manufacturer but I am quickly seeing they use the cheapest of cheap parts all over their trailers. I had a Boatmate trailer under my last boat and it was on a less expensive boat and it was leaps and bounds better than this Shoreland'r!

So far after just a few weeks, I have already had to replace the taillights (converted to LED) since one bulb had already blown - those should have been LED to begin with. This is 2018 for goodness sake! I also upgraded the bow roller to Stoltz to prevent damage to the hull of my boat - that original white one isn't fit for a metal jon boat! And now I am going to have to replace this joke of a tongue jack with one that actually seems up to the job of raising and lowering my boat! This thing has been junk since day one, nothing but a headache. It binds going up and down, once the wheel is off the ground, it spins instead of continuing to roll it up so you have to lean down and hold it while trying to roll the BINDING jack up or down!

So, anyone have a good recommendation for a quality tongue jack that will mount to the original jack's mounting point?

 

[Neutron]

I dont get the light issues, my 2016 shorelandr came with all led lights, no bulbs anywhere, it is the galvanized trailer

 

[Jameson Clark]

I dont get the light issues, my 2016 shorelandr came with all led lights, no bulbs anywhere, it is the galvanized trailer

From what I have read, only the 24' boats come with all led trailer lights. Us lowly 21' guys get stuck with junk bulbs!

 

[biffdotorg]

Quick tip, when dropping the jack, many point it in a direction that they would like the trailer to roll to, in case it were to move. I point it in a direction that keeps the jack in the most upright position. As the wheel causing any twist to the jack leads it to bind. In other words, wheel under the trailer, rather than to the side.

Also, the wheel will spin on most any jack once off the ground. They are all screws. Put your foot in front of it. These tips may save you a few bucks.

Good luck,

 

[Jameson Clark]

Don't get me wrong, it functions...mostly. But, after having a nicer Fulton on my Boatmate trailer, this thing is garbage! The only jacks that free spin like this that I have seen were cheap Harbor Freight type models. And the binding is right about halfway. Ironically enough it rolls up and down smoother fully extended than when halfway.

 

[biffdotorg]

That makes complete sense. There is a quality difference in trailers and jacks for sure.

Lube may be recommended as well since the bottom half of the jack's shaft is exposed while the top half rarely gets exposed. A good slathering of grease may be in your future. I also go out of my way to crank the jack fully up when ever stowed. I have seen too many blown apart on the highway from vibration etc.

 

[Ronnie]

I recommend that you stay away from the Fulton F2 trailer jack unless you can also get an extended repair or replacement warranty with it at the time of purchase. The jack looks great and has features that are not available on other trailer jacks but durability has been a problem for me and I’m on my 4th or 5th F2 now. The F2 winches in the other hand are great.

As others have stated, the wheel will spin once it is off the ground, it doesn’t matter if it’s the stock/oem trailer jack (under $30 at harbor freight) or the F2 (which starts at $130ish).

 

[Jameson Clark]

Well I can say for 100% not all do spin. My last two did not and the jack on my brother's current boat does not.

 

[Ronnie]

Maybe I missed it but why does the spinning of the wheel bother you @Jameson Clark ?

I have to set the position of the wheel sometimes when I’m deploying the jack but I can’t even measure the effort it takes to do so.

When the wheel is up and the jack is in the stored position gravity tends to reposition the wheel but I don’t see what difference it makes while trailering. I also don’t view this as indicative of the jack’s quality. Again, maybe I am missing something here.

 

[Jgorm]

All the ones I've owned spin if you don't put your foot on it. I like this one, and only but the flip up kind. I hate spinning the thing forever.
MaxxHaul 70149 26-1/2" to 38" Lift Swing Back Trailer Jack with Dual Wheels - 1500 lbs. Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008CE0FRO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_7tykBbM4EWJKP

 

[biffdotorg]

The wheel spinning is no indication of it not going up or down, it's still going up or down when spinning. Like said before, it's one big screw, and it should be no surprise that the wheel would spin if it were on good and tight. One could say that if it was loose enough to not spin, it would be loose enough to flop around and not roll properly. It goes both ways. But as Ronnie said, it's no indication of quality.

I have 4 trailers right now including a triton elite and aluma, and they do the same thing. Most source their trailer components from the same MFG's ironically.

 

[MidnightRider]

The wheel spinning is no indication of it not going up or down, it's still going up or down when spinning.

Huh. Is that really true? Guess I've never tried not holding it with my foot always assuming that it won't screw out/in unless the bottom half is held still.

 

[Julian]

Huh. Is that really true? Guess I've never tried not holding it with my foot always assuming that it won't screw out/in if the bottom half is held still.

Mine wont go up or down if spinning

 

[JDub]

If you dont like the spinning you need a rack and gear jack. Not sure if there is one that is a direct replacement.

 

[Ronnie]

I see what you mean @JDub . Not inexpensive but they sure look tough/reliable..

 

[Jameson Clark]

I'm not sure about everyone else's but mine will not go up or down while spinning because it spins as fast as I crank. I was just working on the Yamaha jet ski last night and when rolling the jack back down on it, the wheel may have made one single rotation while rolling it about 8" up and then back down. That amount doesn't bother me and I'll shoot a video this weekend of both in action to try to explain better why this is frustrating to me. The one on my boat, spins 1-1 with the handle. Also, the main reason it is frustrating is that this jack also binds when rolling up or down and you really have to crank on it and trying to do so with one foot holding the wheel is just obnoxious. Maybe I just had a run of really good jacks before, not sure. Like I said, I will shoot video of my jet ski jack and my boat jack this weekend to show the differences.

 

[McMark]

My jack failed after the first summer. Replaced with one from tractor supply. Still going strong after a few more years without issue.

 

[biffdotorg]

I had to test this last night to be sure. (and I needed to wash the boat)

I have a Fulton jack on my MFI trailer. The wheel spun while cranking it up, and yes, it went up as the wheel is attached loosely to the screw in the jack. But the spin is mutually exclusive from the spin of the screw taking the entire jack up and down. It's connected to the screw like a caster wheel on an office chair.

If it were not on a bearing plate like a caster wheel, that would mean the jack would go up and down as you rotated the tongue around your driveway, rather than rotate freely.

I agree with Ronnie, the Fulton products seem cheesy, maybe due to the plastic they use. But they sure seem to be strong.

Forget those rack style jacks. The last thing I want is the 1.5'-2' post of a jack sticking up near the bow of my boat while loading. I will keep the ground clearance of a tip up jack thank you. That's all a person needs is dragging the foot of a jack while coming out of the gas station, or going over the incline break of a landing. (unless it was a tip-down rack style jack, which I have seen)

Do what makes you comfortable.

But thanks for the test, damn my boat cleans up nice!!!

 

[biffdotorg]

I am going to have to eat my words, as I was speaking for all tongue jacks out there.

There seems to be a few jacks out there that have a wheel attached solid from above (like pictured) All of mine have a caster-style bearing plate above the wheel, so they spin freely.

So I am going to stop speaking for all tongue jacks, as some of you may have one that will not go up and down without holding the wheel as you stated. I personally, have never owned one like that.

Note the Bearing plate above the wheel on this example

 

[Jameson Clark]

That's good info there as I didn't realize there were two different types as well. Now I need to go look at my other jacks to look at their design!