trailer jack on tube framed trailer

[ski1559]

Well,
I brought home an old starcraft 14' on an even older trailer. I did not have a trailer tongue jack, so I went to Tractor Supply and got a Reese marine trailer jack.
My problem is that I have a 3" tubular frame and a jack made to bolt to a square frame.
I bolted the jack to the frame, the jack keeps sliding sideways when I put a load on the jack.
What should I do to get a good "bite" on the frame? Should I just tighten the bolts even more, or do they make an adapter for the tubular frame?

ski

 

[bruceb58]

Re: trailer jack on tube framed trailer

Post a picture of your trailer where you would like your jack.

 

[woosterken]

Re: trailer jack on tube framed trailer

get a couple muffler clamps , put them on the tube ,now the bottom of the clamps have a flat serface looking at you put you jack on there and put a second set of nuts on the ubolts to hold it on.

woosterken

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: trailer jack on tube framed trailer

use something like this

 

[reelfishin]

Re: trailer jack on tube framed trailer

With a round tube tongue, your only options are either weld on a flat plate to accept a standard jack, or use the muffler clamp U bolts which are round as stated above. Then if needed you could add a screw or bolt as a stop to prevent it from turning.
I can't imagine a 14' Starcraft being all the tongue heavy either, most of my smaller boats like that just have a stand or sort of a kick stand on the tongue and a grab handle.

 

[ski1559]

Re: trailer jack on tube framed trailer

Thanks for all the input guys. I bought some muffler clams and am going try them this evening. Here are some pictures to show you.




ski

 

[Lrider]

Re: trailer jack on tube framed trailer

Although the clamps will help if you have a lot of contact surface on the tongue, you still will have the problem of slipping.

After attaching the u-bolts have someone tack the U-bolts to the tongue

 

[reelfishin]

Re: trailer jack on tube framed trailer

If it were mine, if I were to do any welding on the tongue at all, I'd just weld on a flat mounting plate and bolt the jack right to it and be done with it.
Keep in mind that the farther back you mount the jack, the higher it will be able to raise the boat.

 

[ski1559]

Re: trailer jack on tube framed trailer

thanks guys. The muffler clamps are not going to work. I'm going to get a piece of steel and weld it to the frame. that will give me something fixed to mount the jack to.

ski

now on to other problems.