Electric Trailer Jack Battery advice
 

Just picked up an electric trailer jack (Hi Power 2500#) for the Prestige Trailer. I was going to wire it to the truck batteries (via a disconnect wire) but thought it might be better to mount a battery inside the tool box on the trailer that I already have mounted on the frame. Thought maybe someone has done this and can give me the pros and cons. Thanks.

Re: Electric Trailer Jack Battery advice
 

:eek: I had one on my old Skater trailer. It was a major PIA. I replaced the battery that came on it halfway thru the first summer then another the next spring and when that one bit the dust in July i $hit canned it and put a hand jack on there.

Re: Electric Trailer Jack Battery advice
 

Same problems on a skater trailer with the Atwood jack. Make sure to always turn the switch off and trickle charge in the spring. A battery is a must though because the truck wire is only to charge because of the small wire size.

Re: Electric Trailer Jack Battery advice
 

Maybe the new ones are improved. I had the Skater from 97-99 so its been a few years. It was nice when it worked right but not worth the trouble for me.

Re: Electric Trailer Jack Battery advice
 

That's why I was thinking that having a connection to the tow vehicle would be a good idea. (What's one more battery amongst the 27 I maintain now?) There's a manual handle that will adjust the jack it if the battery goes dead. Maybe I'll try the gell Cell system and if it craps out I'll wire it to the vehicle.

Re: Electric Trailer Jack Battery advice
 

A buddy of mine did what you're talking about for his enclosed trailer. I "think" he wired it so that when the trailer was plugged into the truck, it only "charged" the battery; he also had a switch in there somewhere but I don't recall exactly what it's purpose was.
I don't recall if he had another battery inside, but he used a solar panel to keep one/both charged.

Re: Electric Trailer Jack Battery advice
 

I have mine wired into the trailer plug. When it's pluged into the truck it gets power.

Re: Electric Trailer Jack Battery advice
 

Did you run a heavier gauge wire all the way from the battery back or are you tapping into an existing powered wire on the harness at the trailer?

Re: Electric Trailer Jack Battery advice
 

I tapped into the existing wire on the harness. I also made the harness about 3' longer so I can plug in and raise and lower the trailer.

Decided to hook it up to the wiring harness using the tail light wire. Works perfect!

Duke,just got a eagle trailer from robert,has and electric jack which is wired to the pigtail and recharges from the truck.It works great and makes un hooking the trailer a snap! Do it.

Does the trailer have it's own battery as well?

Trailer has a full size battery mounted to the rail,we hooked up the emergency brake actuator to it as well.

I've got the pigtail wired to the jack so it only get's power when the truck is connected. I'll see if that creates any issues and if so, I'll mount the battery in the frame rail mounted toolbox. Next I want to install an electric winch.