Barker or Lippert Electric Jack?

[stratos175]

Hello All,
I hope this finds everyone doing well Not been spending to much time on the forum and also not getting to use our home on wheels much these days either, so sad. I do have someone coming to look at our Escape tomorrow, they just retired and starting their search, they know little about trailers so during first conversation told them I would buy nothing but a molded fiberglass trailer and why. I bet they end up buying a new Escape .

OK time to add the electric tongue jack option to our Escape, one of my friends who bought our Casita just added one. I see both the Barker and the Lippert discussed on the forum but not a whole lot of why one over the other so......

If you were about to do this what would you install?

Enjoy the journey and THANKS,
Steve

[rubicon327]

Hi Steve. Hope all is well. I've done some research on power jacks and my choice would be the Barker VIP. The 3500 has a precision ball screw and limit switch shutoff. Per the manufacturer "this low-friction design provides up to 25% less amperage draw and gives more life to virtually all components. The special limit switch provides a silent shut-off in place of torque limiter at end of travel."

I also like the patented bubble level on top, 2 year warranty and that it is made in the USA.

[Ops]

Our new 21NE has the Lippert electric jack.

I can't personally compare one with the other, but I did note a neighbour had an issue with his Barker electric jack. The trailer is about 4-5 years old and the jack crapped out because of water infiltration. Taking it apart, cleaning the corrosion and rust solved some of the problem, but the unit will need to be replaced.

As for our Lippert...the power head prevented the tailgate from opening in its original configuration. BUT the head can be turned 90 degrees with a very easy modification which I've done. Now the tailgate has enough clearance to open fully.

Here's a video that demonstrates the ease of doing this modification:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeWl1CYH94U&t=86s

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by stratos175

Hello All,
I hope this finds everyone doing well Not been spending to much time on the forum and also not getting to use our home on wheels much these days either, so sad. I do have someone coming to look at our Escape tomorrow, they just retired and starting their search, they know little about trailers so during first conversation told them I would buy nothing but a molded fiberglass trailer and why. I bet they end up buying a new Escape .

OK time to add the electric tongue jack option to our Escape, one of my friends who bought our Casita just added one. I see both the Barker and the Lippert discussed on the forum but not a whole lot of why one over the other so......

If you were about to do this what would you install?

Enjoy the journey and THANKS,
Steve

A couple years ago purchased and installed the Barker . I have to be honest saw that was what Oliver installs on their trailer so bought it .Very easy to install and have been happy . Like the bubble level on the top . Pat

[gbaglo]

How do you patent a bubble level? Be like patenting fire.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

How do you patent a bubble level? Be like patenting fire.

A good patent attorney I guess...
United States Patent: 6840541

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

How do you patent a bubble level? Be like patenting fire.

Glenn the bubble level really helps to see where I am at . We like in the winter to keep front down a bit so water will run off roof just in case we get rain . Pat

[gbaglo]

I've got a bubble level. I'm just astounded that you could get a patent for gluing the level to the jack.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I've got a bubble level. I'm just astounded that you could get a patent for gluing the level to the jack.

It is inset and has adjustments on all 4 corners you need to level up first . Pat

[gbaglo]

I can see a patent for inventing the bubble, but not the rest.

[KirkB]

Does the jack also level the trailer from side to side, then?

You could patent that, for sure.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

How do you patent a bubble level? Be like patenting fire.

More like patenting the use of fire to cook food, since they are patenting the use of a level on top of a jack in a "trailer leveling arrangement", not the level itself. Still not worthy of a patent...

Originally Posted by rubicon327

A good patent attorney I guess...
United States Patent: 6840541

Clerical help with the patent application is useful, but as long as prior art is appropriately listed and acknowledged, you can patent almost anything now. It no longer needs to pass the traditional requirements of non-obviousness (meaning that it wouldn't be obvious to someone skilled in the relevant area of technology), or even of proven usefulness. In this case the prior art is merely listed, not even mentioned... and the first one listed shows a level (but not a bubble level) mounted on a tongue jack.

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I've got a bubble level. I'm just astounded that you could get a patent for gluing the level to the jack.

Sadly, this kind of crap no longer surprises me. I've read dozens of U.S. patents for similar non-inventions. The patent holder hopes that a competitor won't copy it, even though the patent couldn't possibly be successfully defended in court, due to the risk of high legal expenses.

If you want a bubble level (or any other type of level) on top of (or anywhere else on) your jack (of any brand), go ahead and stick one on.

[Voyager]

In 1987 Honeywell of Mpls. Patented the word ‘Round’ for their thermostats, in 1990 another patent for the shape itself (round).