Quick Tech From the Garage of Tom Zuloaga. This is a trailer tip, but a lot of us have them so it’s a good one. If you don’t already have one, a cool thing you can install on your trailer is a simple swing away tongue jack. The jacks are usually in the way and can hinder the opening of the tailgate on your truck, but with a swing away jack all you have to do is swing it horizontal and it is out of the way. Another plus is that you can weld a couple of pieces of heavy wall square tubing on the trailer frame behind each fender, and use the tongue jack to raise the trailer off the ground if you ever have a flat, or for maintenance on the wheels and tires. Follow along:

In the upright position the swing away jack can be used to raise or lower the trailer for hooking or un-hooking from the truck.

A quick release pin is pulled and the jack can be swung 90 degrees and lay flat and out of the way.

A couple of pieces of heavy walled round or square tubing welded to the trailer frame behind each rear fender can allow the tongue jack to be used for raising the trailer in case of a flat. The short piece of square tubing has a hole drilled in it that is the same size as the pin used to hold the jack in place on the tongue.

With the jack in place, it is very easy to raise both wheels off the ground, even with a car on the trailer. This method is by far better than having to get a floor jack out of the truck and finding a place to raise the trailer from. The best part is that you need the jack anyway. Remember to put the jack back on the tongue when you are done.

For more information or questions about this Quick Tech Tip please contact Tom Zuloaga.