6 Best Electric Trailer Jacks For Aging Farmers That Save Your Back
Tired of manual cranking? Electric trailer jacks save aging farmers’ backs. We review the top 6 models for effortless hitching and unhitching.
The sun is setting after a long day of mending fences, and the last thing you want to do is fight with a rusty, stiff trailer jack. You feel that familiar twinge in your lower back as you lean into the crank, arm burning, just to unhitch the utility trailer. For those of us who aren’t getting any younger, this small, repetitive strain is one of the quickest ways to turn a satisfying day’s work into a painful evening.
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Stop Cranking: Why Electric Jacks Are Essential
A manual trailer jack is a tool of attrition. Each turn of the crank puts stress on your shoulders, elbows, and, most importantly, your back. Over years of farming, that minor annoyance becomes a source of chronic pain, limiting what you can accomplish.
An electric jack isn’t a luxury; it’s an investment in your physical longevity on the farm. By replacing a high-strain, manual task with the simple push of a button, you conserve energy for the work that truly matters. It’s about working smarter, preserving your body, and ensuring you can keep farming for years to come.
The benefits go beyond just saving your back. Most electric jacks operate faster than you can crank, saving precious minutes every time you hitch or unhitch. Many also include built-in LED lights, a feature that seems small until you’re trying to line up a hitch in the pre-dawn dark or after dusk. It’s a simple upgrade that delivers an outsized improvement in your daily workflow.
Lippert Power Tongue Jack: Heavy-Duty Reliability
When you buy a tool for the farm, you want it to last. The Lippert Power Tongue Jack is built on a reputation for durability, making it a favorite for those who use their trailers day in and day out. This isn’t a flimsy, light-duty jack; it’s a solid piece of equipment designed to withstand the rigors of farm life.
What sets the Lippert apart is its attention to internal construction. It uses helical-cut gears, which run smoother and quieter than the straight-cut gears found in cheaper models. This design reduces wear and tear on the motor and drivetrain, leading to a longer service life. The outer casing is also textured and powder-coated, helping it shed water and resist the inevitable bumps and scrapes that come with working around equipment.
This jack is the right choice for the farmer whose trailer is a core part of their operation. If you’re hauling feed, moving equipment between properties, or taking livestock to market regularly, you need a jack that you can trust every single time. The Lippert provides that peace of mind, with integrated LED lights and a reliable manual override crank for backup.
Husky Brute HB4500: Power for Your Heaviest Loads
Some jobs require more muscle. If you’re hauling a heavy-duty flatbed with a small tractor, a stock trailer loaded with cattle, or a large dump trailer, a standard electric jack might not be enough. The Husky Brute HB4500 is engineered specifically for these demanding loads, offering a massive 4,500-pound lift capacity.
The Brute’s power comes from a ball screw mechanism, which is more efficient and durable than the standard lead screw designs. This means it draws less power from your battery under load and operates with less friction, reducing wear on the motor. It also features a "smart stop" function that automatically powers down the motor at the top and bottom of its travel, preventing the jarring stops that can damage the gearing over time.
This is not the jack for your small garden trailer. This is a specialized tool for the hobby farmer with serious hauling needs. Its higher price point is justified by its power, efficiency, and features designed to protect the jack itself from the stress of lifting heavy tongue weights. If your trailer pushes the limits, the Husky Brute is your safest bet.
Stromberg Carlson JET-3500: Top All-Weather Pick
Farm equipment lives outside, exposed to everything from blistering sun to freezing rain. A common failure point for electric jacks is moisture getting into the motor housing or switches, causing corrosion and electrical shorts. The Stromberg Carlson JET-3500 is designed from the ground up to combat this exact problem.
Its key feature is a robust, one-piece motor cover that eliminates seams where water can penetrate. The switches are also well-sealed, and the entire unit is built to withstand the elements better than many of its competitors. If your trailer sits out in the open year-round, this jack’s superior weatherproofing makes it a top contender. It’s built for the reality of farm life, not for being stored in a pristine garage.
Beyond its durability, the JET-3500 includes thoughtful touches that make life easier. A built-in leveling vial on the top of the housing helps you get your trailer perfectly level without pulling out a separate tool. It’s a small detail, but it saves time and frustration, especially when parking on uneven pasture ground. This is the jack for the practical farmer who values reliability in all conditions.
RAM A-Frame Jack: The Simple, No-Frills Workhorse
Not every trailer needs a high-capacity, feature-packed jack. For the simple 16-foot utility trailer used for hauling mulch, firewood, or tools, you just need something that reliably goes up and down. The RAM A-Frame Jack is the definition of a no-frills workhorse.
This jack focuses on doing one job well without the added cost of premium features. It offers a standard lift capacity (typically 3,500 lbs) that’s more than enough for most common farm trailers. The construction is straightforward steel, the operation is a simple up/down switch, and the installation is a standard three-bolt pattern.
The RAM is the perfect upgrade for someone moving from a manual jack for the first time. It provides all the back-saving benefits of an electric jack at a much more accessible price point. It proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to make a meaningful improvement to your daily chores. It’s a reliable, budget-conscious choice for light-to-medium duty applications.
CURT Electric Jack: Easiest DIY Installation
Your time is valuable, and spending a whole afternoon wrestling with a complicated installation isn’t an option. CURT is well-known for producing towing accessories that are user-friendly, and their electric jack is no exception. It is arguably one of the easiest jacks on the market for a farmer to install themselves.
The design is brilliantly simple. It uses the industry-standard 3-bolt A-frame mounting pattern, meaning it will drop right into the place of your old manual jack on most trailers. The wiring is often just a single wire with a ring terminal that connects directly to the positive terminal on your trailer’s battery. With a few basic wrenches and 30 minutes, you can have this jack installed and operational.
While it may not boast the highest lift capacity or the most advanced weatherproofing, the CURT jack is a solid, reliable performer. It’s the ideal choice for the farmer who values self-sufficiency and wants a straightforward, do-it-yourself solution. It strikes a perfect balance between performance, cost, and ease of installation.
Uriah Aluma-Tow Jack: Lightweight and Corrosion-Proof
Steel is strong, but it’s also heavy and prone to rust. The Uriah Aluma-Tow Jack offers a modern alternative by using an aluminum alloy body. This makes it significantly lighter than its steel competitors, which helps reduce the overall tongue weight of your trailer—a small but welcome benefit.
The real advantage of aluminum, however, is its natural resistance to corrosion. For farmers in wet climates, or those who have to haul on treated roads in the winter, rust is a constant battle. The Aluma-Tow jack eliminates that concern entirely, ensuring it won’t seize up or have its finish bubble and flake away over time.
Uriah also includes a clever feature: the ability to power the jack with a 7-way vehicle connector. This means you don’t necessarily need a dedicated battery on your trailer. You can plug it directly into your truck’s trailer connector for power, making it a great solution for simpler utility trailers. It’s a lightweight, low-maintenance, and innovative option for the forward-thinking farmer.
Choosing the Right Jack: Lift Capacity and Features
The most important factor in choosing a jack is its lift capacity. This number must be greater than your trailer’s maximum tongue weight—the downward force the fully loaded trailer exerts on the hitch. A good rule of thumb is to take 10-15% of your trailer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) to estimate the tongue weight, then add a healthy safety margin. Never buy a jack rated for less than your expected tongue weight.
With capacity sorted, consider the features that will make your life easier. A few key things to look for include:
- Travel Range: This is the total distance the jack can lift, from fully retracted to fully extended. Ensure it’s enough to lift your trailer coupler high enough to clear your hitch ball, even on uneven ground.
- Manual Override: If your trailer battery dies, you still need to be able to raise or lower the trailer. A good jack comes with a simple, easy-to-use hand crank for emergencies.
- Weatherproofing: Look for sealed switches and a one-piece motor housing to protect the electronics from rain and dust.
- Drop Leg: A drop leg or footpad allows you to make up for large height differences quickly without having to run the motor for an extended period, saving time and wear.
Ultimately, the best jack isn’t the one with the most features; it’s the one that safely handles your trailer’s weight and is built for your working environment. Don’t pay for a 5,000-pound capacity you’ll never use, but don’t skimp on the essentials like a manual override and decent weather protection. Match the tool to the job, and your back will thank you.
Making the switch to an electric trailer jack is more than a simple convenience. It’s a strategic choice to reduce physical strain, improve efficiency, and extend your ability to do the work you love. By investing in a tool that saves your back, you’re really investing in the long-term sustainability of your farm and your own health.
