POLE: Jack for your camper

I carry a 8 ton hydraulic jack in our hybrid camper. When we had the popup camper I had a 1 ton hydraulic jack in there. I had a flat tire on the popup once and had to use the vehicles scissor jack first to get the popup high enough up to get the hydraulic jack under it.

 

I carry a scissor style jack.. While it is not the jack from the TV, it is a truck jack from an early 90's GMC truck, which has a flat recessed surface rather then some of the special pads that so many vehicle jacks use these days..

 

My TV jack is a mechanical bottle jack with great lift. It works perfectly, so I rely on that without the extra thing taking up space.

 

Have an mid 80's Toyota 4X4 screw jack

 

I have a hydraulic jack right now for my single axle pup but I'm joining up with the dark side in a couple of weeks and have found a great solution. I ended up with 2 flats last time out 1 on the way there and 1 on the way home(bummer). needless to say the second one was worst because I already used my spare. But on to the better solution for those of you that have tandem axles Anderson Rapid Jack is awesome. Also they make RV levelers also that can be used for single or tandem axles. I will post the videos below.

Jack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jE_x_TjlOI&nohtml5=False

Leveler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4JQV15VzBc&nohtml5=False

 

We rely on the TV jack. When we first got our 2012 Explorer I took the jack out and to make sure it would do the job. It worked just fine, but needed to place Lynx blocks under it because of the height. So no need to carry an extra jack.

 

Scissor jack from an early Chevy Cavalier along with a ratchet, a 3/4 " socket, and a few blocks of wood if needed which are always in the pup anyway.

 

Floor jacks are very stable.

 

I got a sissor jack for a Mercury marquis at a junk yard for 5$. It has a ear on one side that keeps from sliding around on the frame rail. Most junk yards have a bin full of these jacks for cheap. Just pick one that gives you the height needed. I like the ones with the bolt end so a ratchet can be used to crank.

 

Ever use one on the side of the road in gravel? Stable wouldn't be my first choice of description.

Floor jacks are great on level, hard surfaces. Any slant or soft ground and you're asking for trouble.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

While towing I use the bottle jack from the TV. Around the house I use a similar bottle Jack. Both are hydraulic. I won't have any problem getting it under the camper when flat. My problem is at home on level surfaces I have to put the jack on some 2xs, jack at the spring hanger, and extend the jack most of the way to get the wheel off.

Sent from my Z959 using Tapatalk

 

I don't see how a bottle or scissor jack would be any better.

 

I have a inherited scissor jack from a previous pup with plenty of height plus length of 2x4 to provide some stability on soft ground.

 

Because a bottle or a scissor jack goes straight up, compared to a floor jack that raises in an arc. If the floor jack can't roll it pulls the lifting pad from under the vehicle being lifted.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

Correct. I have had a situation where my floor jack was unable to move and I had the other side of the PUP jacked up and on jack stands. I could hear the other side scooting in my direction because the floor jack was indeed rising in an arc. It was not a desirable situation as the stands could have reached a point where they could have tipped over. Always make sure your floor jack can move on its own or understand what is going to happen on the other side when THAT side does move.

 

I will stick with my floor jack. I have worked on cars on the side of the road during snowstorms on ice and my floor jacks have never let me down. I have also had bottle jacks and scissor jacks wobble and start to tip when the ground is not level. I am sure that there are circumstances where one jack may excel over the others but in general a floor jack is best in my opinion. Most bottle jacks are incredibly unstable.

 

While discussing jacks... Should also point out to double check the pups lug nuts and get something that fits as many times they will be a different size then you TV lug nuts.. No good if you can jack your trailer up but still can't change the wheel cause your lugs are different...

 

I have 3 scissor jacks, 2 front stabs, 1 under the rear slide out. Any can be used for a flat!!

That I cut off the handles and use an 18v cordless impact (works for lug nuts also!)!!