Cargo trailer tongue jack

[wagoneer]

Just bought a 4 x 6 cargo trailer and need to replace the tongue jack. I am starting to think about  skid or a wheel, as the wheel (hard plastic) is broken a skid seems like an option to consider, in the boonies a skid is practical on cement a wheel is useful wad ye all think?

 

[highdesertranger]

a skid is better in the dirt with a heavy tongue. the wheels are only good on light tongue weight trailers. I have not been able to find a wheel that works good in the dirt on a heavy tongue. I have even tried to build a couple. a wheel is nice if you are a little off you can move the tongue, even in the dirt you can move it a little. so to recap I feel on a light tongue a wheel is better, on a heavy tongue a pad is better. highdesertranger

I forgot, on the lighter tongue jacks some are available with interchangeable pads/wheels.

 

[bullfrog]

For some reason my wheels never roll or get jammed pointing the wrong direction so they end up being skids anyway!

 

[MrNoodly]

Most tongue jacks require you to crank and crank and crank. But there's a kind with a release that lets the jack fall freely to the ground. Then you need to crank only a little. The same is true in reverse. Flip the release, lift the jack, snug it into place with a turn or two. I don't know who makes them or where to get them. I've only seen them in use.

 

[wagoneer]

I was in an emergency, and got a 26 dollar Reese at Home Depot to give me time to shop for the right one thanks I will be checking it out

 

[wagoneer]

This trailer is a 1959 steel box with a really nice simple suspension, might cut the rusted sheetmetal off and build a stateside with a canvas top.

 

[wagoneer]

here she is

 

[highdesertranger]

so you picked up a trailer. that looks ok, where's the rust. a good place to get parts is e-trailer. highdesertranger

 

[wagoneer]

The guy claims it's a 1959 u-haul but whatever a good frame with 15" wheels the whole thing is rusty but rugged ready to cut paint or whatever, I am gonna have some fun with this thing dump runs and chop shop stuff

 

[jonney38]

The guy claims it's a 1959 u-haul but whatever a good frame with 15" wheels the whole thing is rusty but rugged ready to cut paint or whatever, I am gonna have some fun with this thing dump runs and chop shop stuff

Maybe this has been covered before, but what happens to the gazillion small UHaul trailers when UHaul gives up on them? I saw a post that used UHaul trailers are "not available at this time." They sell the used trucks.

 

[highdesertranger]

I don't know how you get them but I have seen them before owned by private parties. I think the trailers stay in service a lot longer because there is so little to go wrong with them. also they are easy and cheap to fix when something does go wrong. highdesertranger

 

[wagoneer]

I HAVE NEVER EVER SEEN A USED U-HAUL TRAILER FOR SALE AND I HAVE LOOKED I crawled underneath to look for a maker no dice I wish I new the answer no info on line.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Get a jack that allows use of both. I install a jack that allows use of both on all my trailers. Then I can swap in whatever one works best for the surface i'm on.

Jack
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Jack/Bulldog/BD151443.html

Detachable wheel
https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ac...-Trailer_Jack-pc-Wheel_w_Caster_Assembly.aspx

Detachable Pad
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Bulldog/BD018564.html

 

[wagoneer]

Hi Wagoneer-

"Service Intervals" are 10,000 miles. Includes all the routine normal stuff: oil, grease, all filters, inspection of brakes, hubs, clutch, etc, etc. I use Rotella 15w-40 Dino oil. I have thought abt switching to synthetic oil and extending the service interval but that stuff is really expensive, and because the engine is approaching a million miles I like the idea of getting the old oil out and new stuff in. I drive this vehicle only abt 10,000 miles per year so this works out to an oil change in late fall each year before the snow flies (until I come to RTR in 2018!).

Yes, the motor is an inline six; a Cat C-15 (6nz) 550 hp. Runs like a top.

By the way, I always enjoy your posts.

Get a jack that allows use of both. I install a jack that allows use of both on all my trailers. Then I can swap in whatever one works best for the surface i'm on.

Jack
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Jack/Bulldog/BD151443.html

Detachable wheel
https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ac...-Trailer_Jack-pc-Wheel_w_Caster_Assembly.aspx

Detachable Pad
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Bulldog/BD018564.html