I notice recently a company advertising an electric jack.Basically its a scissor jack that is wound up and down by a 12 volt motor.Has anyone any experiece of these?
Electric jack
- Thread starter Morganic
- Start date
- Mar 14, 2005
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No experience but I would have thought that an electric jack is rather a waste of money considering how rarely one uses it. By the time you've hooked it up to a battery, you will already have raised the caravan using a hand jack, especially if it's a hydraulic one.
I agree. Bit of a gimmick if you ask me. I don't like scissor jacks due to their instability on anything but a perfectly level surface, but for probably the same money, you'll get a decent small trolley jack which would be a far safer bet, and far more useful.
A trolley jack is quick, easy and stable to use, and I always carry one in the boot/rear footwell of the car when towing. Best buy you'll ever make. That's why the breakdown services use them.
I hasten to add, although you probably know it already, that you should NEVER go under any vehicle supported solely by any kind of jack. Always use proper axle stands, blocks or chocks etc to ensure that the vehicle cannot possibly move, especially on places like the hard shoulder of a motorway where gusts from passing large lorries can be extremely dangerous.
A trolley jack is quick, easy and stable to use, and I always carry one in the boot/rear footwell of the car when towing. Best buy you'll ever make. That's why the breakdown services use them.
I hasten to add, although you probably know it already, that you should NEVER go under any vehicle supported solely by any kind of jack. Always use proper axle stands, blocks or chocks etc to ensure that the vehicle cannot possibly move, especially on places like the hard shoulder of a motorway where gusts from passing large lorries can be extremely dangerous.
Seen them in the mags, as has been said they just seem like a gimmick. Extra weight and lets be honest how hard is it to wind a jack up.
Agree with the comment regarding using a trolley jack. However, it is not the lightest thing around, but worth the effort. I also use it for the car as the supplied one is not the best either.
Thanks for the responses.I have a trolley jack but its heavy so I wonder if theres any benefit to be gained carrying it.As far as being in RAC etc I do belong to a breakdown organisation but is there one that will come out and jack your van up if you want to take your wheels off in winter or to check the tyres?
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