Raising the tongue by hand

[a70eliminator]

Anyone else have this problem:
I use the jack post to unhitch the boat, then throw my back out trying to lift up the whole works, I have an empty (pony keg) that I use to set the post wheel onto, it's just the right height to where the outdrive is not touching ground and bow is high as possible which keeps rain water from ponding on my cover and helps drain any residual bilge water.
Anyhow I'm wondering if there's any type of telescoping or two stage post jack available? One that has higher lifting capability, I can't add anything to the existing one cause it already almost touches ground reatracted as it should, the only way would be to have another section the comes out kinda like a retractable car antenna works.
I'm going to end up designing something before I injure my back.
My wife tries to help me and that little extra does make it possible but we still struggle, probably have 400lbs tongue weight there I've never actually weighed it.

 

[22Angler]

Re: Raising the tongue by hand

Fulton makes a tongue jack witch extends (like an antenna). West Marine sells it.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Raising the tongue by hand

Thanks angler, I did visit the site but not seeing what I'm looking for, I do have a fulton that does retract, only has 1 section though. I may have missed it but didn't see one that had two stages?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Raising the tongue by hand

Ayuh,...

Does your's Swing away,..??

I've never seen a telescopic jack with more than 1 section,....

Maybe you should just buy a Wagonjack,...You know the 4' jacks that sorta look like a Massive bumperjack...

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Raising the tongue by hand

Yea it's a swing away, typical nothing trick. There's photo in this link http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=242286 the post is at it's highest, it does put the boat in an upward attitude but I like to get it wayyy up there. if you look close you can see the pony keg in the backround sitting behind the boat, I was getting set up to remove the boat from the trailer that day. I'm just looking for a way to get the tongue up about a foot higher without having to drag any junk out, ultimately another telescoping section is what I would like, I thought about another swing away post on the other side with an extention welded onto it, so once the first one is up then the second one could swing down and do the rest, but then again thats just adding more stuff. I guess I'll have to start lifting weights. Oh yea the licence plate has since been moved up, that plate was just temporary I had just gotton the boat.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Raising the tongue by hand

I'd just block the tongue with some block/bricks/wood, then retract the wheel; put more blocking under the jack then crank it up to its highest. Save in the back & in the wallet. (Just don't try to lift the tongue with the trailer jack if the transom is blocked)

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Raising the tongue by hand

I like that idea, doesn't get any easier! And thats just what I'll do, until someone invents a two stage swing away jack.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Raising the tongue by hand

I buy some cement blocks, jack the boat up, then place the blocks under the frame near the jack, with some wood on top to keep from scratching the trailer.

Then lower the jack. put some blocks under it with wood again, and repeat until I am high enough.

I like the cement blocks and wood as they are very stable and discourage anyone from trying something.

 

[fondafj]

Re: Raising the tongue by hand

http://www.championtrailers.com/JACKS.htm

I use the drop foot jack ---- the swing away was way too unstable fully loaded (800+ lbs on my rig) and looked like it would collapse at any minute. The drop foot is perfect and due to the design, there is no need to pivot the assembly.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Raising the tongue by hand

Yep, drop leg is the way to go. Retracts all the way, so it doesn't hit anything while driving down the road, yet you can have the jack leg on the ground before you even start cranking. Heck of a lot simpler than jacking it all the way up, then putting a block under the tongue, then cranking the jack all the way into the retracted position, then putting a block under there, then crank it all the way up again. I see that as 3 full cycles of the jack handle for every time you want to hitch or unhitch. Not to mention moving blocking twice every time you want to hitch or unhitch. In a boating day, you are then cranking the jack handle for 6 whole cycles, and moving blocking 4 times. I would probably get lazy and just strain my back after a while (I know that from experience, as I used to have to do just what you are doing to block a trailer at a height to prep and paint it)