Electric / power jack advice needed

snlsmith · 12-29-2019, 05:21 PM

I have been wanting to get a power jack for my XT-200, but hadn't researched too much. For Xmas, my kids surprised me with one (Uriah UC500010 5000lb), but it has a 7-pin plug for power. This got me thinking about the following:

How are all / most are powered? In my limited searching noticed most don't mention the method, except some that mention the 7-pin and show a picture of it. The 7-pin doesn't seem practical since if you have to lift / lower the jack without the truck present, you have to use the manual jack which defeats the purpose of the power jack.

I also noticed that none really mention if the base plate is round or triangular, and there is no search criteria to limit your search based on either. My current manual jack has a triangle base. Can a round base be used?

Any other criteria I should be looking at?

When I was searching the forum I found a thread where one was recommended, and the OP bought it, but it has the round mounting plate. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...UMTW4R7L&psc=1

Eagle · 12-30-2019, 08:14 AM

Round vs triangular mounting plate is immaterial as long as it will mount on your unit...that is the bolts holes align correctly.
The power jack is powered by the 'house battery' on your unit. You do not need to have the camper connected to your tow vehicle.

An RV-style plug, the wiring colors are as follows:

Tail and running lights - green
Constant 12-volt - black
Reverse lights - yellow
Right turn signal and stop - brown
Left turn signal and stop - red
Brake controller - blue
Ground connection - white

http://www.countrytrailer.com/uploads/7wayplug.pdf

**LJAZ** · 12-30-2019, 08:40 AM

The travel trailer jacks I've seen wire directly to the trailer battery. This type are usually used on utility trailers that don't normally have a battery on them. Although you could remove your existing plug and tie into this one, I don't really see the point. If it were me I'd just remove the that plug and tie the jacks power line directly to the battery.

As for the flange, it really shouldn't matter. The holes are still in the same triangle pattern so either type should fit.

snlsmith · 12-30-2019, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle

The power jack is powered by the 'house battery' on your unit. You do not need to have the camper connected to your tow vehicle.

The jack is powered from the 7-pin connector, not a 2-wire lead to the battery. Without the 7-pin plugged into the truck, the jack will have no power.

Eagle · 12-31-2019, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snlsmith

The jack is powered from the 7-pin connector, not a 2-wire lead to the battery. Without the 7-pin plugged into the truck, the jack will have no power.

I thought the factory power jack on my unit did ... but will check in the spring when it comes out of winter storage. I do know the led lights on the jack illuminate w/o being connected to the tow vehicle.

team dougherty · 12-31-2019, 07:03 AM

I did not think the power in a 7 way plug in a tow vehicle would have enough power, or wire size, to power an electric tongue jack. I think mine is 14 AWG or smaller.

**LJAZ** · 12-31-2019, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snlsmith

The jack is powered from the 7-pin connector, not a 2-wire lead to the battery. Without the 7-pin plugged into the truck, the jack will have no power.

You would need to cut the harness on the jack, remove the plug and tie the wires that power the jack to your battery & ground. Or you could cut the harness to the trailer remove it's plug and then splice all of those wires into wiring harness on the jack.

The only other option is to swap back and forth between the trailer and the jack and just plug it into the TV when you want to use it.

snlsmith · 03-21-2020, 07:11 PM

Ended up going with the Husky.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...=AIJP7UMTW4R7L

Having an issue with it not running on battery power, so will have to double check the battery voltage to make sure the charging system is working. The jack works with no issues when connected to shore power. IT is a relatively new battery, so shouldn't have an issue with the battery itself, which is hwy I am leaning toward a charging issue.

runner421 · 03-22-2020, 08:20 AM

Went with the Husky Brute - 4500lb. Very happy with it. Also use the Fastway Flip automatic jack foot. Happy with the setup.

snlsmith · 03-27-2020, 06:10 PM

Turned out the battery was low, not sure why. Will have to check to see if the bathroom light may be on, but a motorcycle is blocking the door right now.