It’s been about 2,300 years since Archimedes explained the concept of leverage. Using a tool to lift heavy objects is more efficient than only your arms and spine. A good trailer jack can lift the front end of a trailer to exactly the right height to attach the hitch to the vehicle. It can then unhitch and lower the trailer into a resting position—all without risking damage to the trailer or injury to the driver. 

Trailer jacks can be manual or powered, are sold in a variety of shapes, sizes and weight capacities and cover a broad range of budgets. Be sure to check the height range and know where your trailer hitch sits on your vehicle. A jack too tall at its lowest setting might be useless for lower-profile vehicles, and one that doesn’t extend high enough could be just as poor a choice for lifted trucks or SUVs.

The Pro Series EJ sidewind swivel jack has a 1,000-pound maximum capacity with a height range of 10.5 to 20 inches. It’s a standard fit for most boat trailers and among the most often recommended jacks for owners looking to replace an OEM jack. It sits on a six-inch poly wheel and the jack handle is side-mounted. Reasonably priced, the only reported issues are low gearing, which results in slower raising and lowering, vague installation instructions and overly long mounting bolts.

An extra 500 pounds of maximum capacity can make a big difference. The Fulton XP15L has a 1,500-pound max, is also a sidewinder and looks similar to the Pro Series EJ until you grab it and find it’s nearly 11.5 pounds heavier. It’s built to handle a heavier load and rests on an eight-inch spoked hard plastic wheel. It offers a full foot of travel, from 13 to 25 inches. Reported downsides are the price, which edges close to jacks with even greater weight capability, and a long crank handle that leaves little room between itself and the hull of the boat. Some buyers also report missing installation hardware.

The Fulton HD kicks things up several notches. The 2,500-pound maximum capacity and 28 inches of height range (7.5 to 35.5) provides maximum flexibility in terms of vehicles and angles (important on short boat ramps). This jack features a foot rather than a wheel for better stability and higher weight capacity. The price is reasonable given its capability and build quality. Some users report difficulty turning the crank and say the crank handle should be longer. Others report missing hardware and that the cap covering the gears and grease broke during shipping.

The aptly named Brute Power trailer jack is actually a brute that runs under its own power. A ball screw and steel gears suggest long-term durability. It features 4,500 pounds of maximum capacity and 18 inches of travel (raising 10 inches takes about 38 seconds). Running on 12-volt power with soldered connections, it also features a three-sided LED light system that illuminates the hitch and spring bar area. Switches and the connector storage bracket can stand up to rain. It’s by no means cheap, but you get what you pay for. Owner gripes are few. A handful reported missing hardware, bad instructions and electrical failures that were later solved under warranty.

The world needs basic, no-frills products at low prices. The Reese TowPower 74410 is one of those.  With a 1,000-pound maximum capacity and a height range of 12.75 inches to 22.7 inches on a six-inch poly wheel, it’s a solid choice for a basic trailer jack. User complaints appear to be about bolts that are too long, balky dolly wheels and gearing that requires more turns of the jack handle to raise and lower than some customers would like.

Best-selling Trailer Jacks on Amazon Sponsored Sale Bestseller No. 1 382 Reviews Seachoice 52021 Fold Up Trailer Jack, 22-7/8 Inch Max. Lift, 1,000 Pound Max. Load Convenient, spring-loaded, plunger-pin swivel feature - Swing up to stow parallel to the tongue for travel; move back into an upright position for use.Corrosion-resistant zinc finish - Can pass the 48-hour salt spray testMax Load: 1,000 pounds $52.19 −$2.43 $49.76 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 2 786 Reviews Fulton XP10 0101 Swivel Trailer Tongue Jack, 1200 Lbs. Capacity Bolt-On Swivel Tongue Jack, 1200 lbs. capacityBolt-Thru mount with minimal deflection and maximum supportSturdy 6" Poly wheel, 1/2" swivel pull pin $67.63 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 3 269 Reviews Fulton XP15L 0101 Swivel Trailer Tongue Jack with 8" Wheel - 1500 Lbs. Capacity Bolt-On Swivel Tongue Jack, 1500 lbs. capacity, with an additional 2" of travelBolt-Thru mount with minimal deflection and maximum supportSturdy 8" spoked wheel, 1/2" swivel pull pin ; Handle Style: Sidewind $99.64 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 4 8,373 Reviews REESE Towpower 74410 Trailer Jack, Heavy-Duty Swivel Mount, 6-Inch Wheel, Chrome Features 1000 pound capacity. Caster Material-PlasticSide winding handle with 1:1 gear ratio provides fast operationHeavy duty swivel mechanism for easy use $36.17 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 5 2,190 Reviews MAXXHAUL Trailer Jack Wheel Bolt-on trailer jacks for use with utility and boat trailersOur Jack features a swivel or swing back bracket that allows jack to be out of the way when not in useHeavy duty pull pin securely lock jack into place in the horizontal or vertical position $42.99 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 6 300 Reviews Fulton (141133) XLT Sharkskin Finish Bolt-On Swing-Away Jack - 1500 lb. Weight Capacity Capacity: 1500 poundsTravel Distance Length: 12 inchPatent Pending TruTurn 360 Castering System $159.99 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Sale Bestseller No. 7 349 Reviews Seachoice 52051 Drop Leg Trailer Jack, Heavy Duty, Fixed Mount Jack with Drop Leg, 28.6 Inches of Lift, 2,500-Pound Max Load Heavy-duty trailer jack reliably raises and lowers trailer to the desired heightsCapable of lifting significant loads; maximum load capacity of 2,500 poundsDurable fixed-mount jack designed for mounting on trailer frames of up to 3 inches x 5 inches $115.80 −$9.78 $106.02 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 8 635 Reviews CURT 28112 Marine Boat Trailer Jack with 6-Inch Wheel, 1,200 lbs. 11 Inches Vertical Travel DEPENDABLE STRENGTH. This boat trailer jack is rated to support up to 1,200 lbs. trailer tongue weight, and it comes with bolt-on mounting hardware to readily attach to the trailer tongueCONVENIENT MOBILITY. For easier coupling and positioning of your boat trailer, this jack comes with a 6-inch diameter trailer jack wheelEASY OPERATION. This trailer tongue jack allows for 11 inches of vertical movement and operates using a side-wind handle (12-1/2-inch retracted height, 23-1/2-inch extended height) $60.58 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 9 822 Reviews WEIZE Swivel Trailer Jack, Heavy Duty Boat Trailer Jack with Dual Wheels, 10" Lift, 1500 lbs Weize trailer jack supports, lifts and lowers your boat or recreational trailer, lift capacity: 1500 lbs, 25-1/2" to 35-1/2"Bolt-on installation - Fit for Mounting Plate width 4" to 5"(no more than the length of the bolt size M10*110MM) and vertically 4" height(3 holes for you to adjust, it is 2inch, 2 - 3inch, 3 - 4inch).Corrosion-resistant zinc finish prevents rust even in the harshest environment. $64.99 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 10 584 Reviews Fulton 1413020134 F2 Twin Track Trailer Tongue Jack Corrosion resistant coatings cover internal and external components - will hold up in harsh environmentsErgonomic design - crank, release pin and integrated wheel wedge are made of strong, engineered plastic for a comfortable touchTwin track wheel design with 1600 pounds capacity, 10 inch screw travel, 8 inch mount travel $278.24 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer

In order to determine the best trailer jacks, we considered the products most accessible to the widest swath of consumers in the U.S., which also includes performance, price and value. We also considered a broad range of end-user ratings and evaluations by multiple testers.

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