Has anyone tried a Fastway Automatic Jack Foot?

[LeonW]

I am thinking of getting one of these for my 17b:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CE283I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

It seems like it might be a bit easier than positioning the bit of wood that Dave@Escape was nice enough to give us when we picked up the trailer, and it would minimize the cranking.

Thanks for any info.

Leon

 

[Jim Bennett]

Never tried one, but would be keen to hear from someone who has.

 

[thoer]

Leon,

I bought one of thesehttp://www.amazon.com/Reese-500244-Bulldog-Trailer-Jack/dp/B000UVMJBW/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1345902189&sr=1-1&keywords=trailer+jack+foot and it works fine too.

Eric

 

[J Mac]

I like using a hitch wheel on my front jack. The Escape trailers are light enough to push into position on hard surfaces. I bring a 2x6 plank to rest the wheel on should the campsite pad be soft or gravel.

 

[Bruce Wray]

An old chunk of 4x6 does me fine, and is a lot cheaper. As in $0 cost.

Bruce

 

[gbaglo]

Further advantage of an old chunk of wood is that it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb in photos.

baglo

 

[LeonW]

You are right the chunk of wood cost $0.00, and doesn't show up in photos. My wife keeps asking me if the flip down foot doesn't come in blue so that it matches the trim on The Lark.

J Mac, you are right, the trailers are light enough that one can push them into position if there is a hard surface. But we very rarely camp where there is a hard surface, so haven't been able to use the hitch wheel since we left the Escape Factory.

What I am really after is the convenience of not having to crank 6", not having to fumble for pieces of wood in the trailer box, and not having to get down to move the wood over so that the post lowers on to it.

You can see a demo video of the "automatic foot Jack" here:

http://www.fastwaytrailer.com/videos/

I already have the zip breakaway cable, which I like a great deal. I have never gotten as frustrated as the actors in the video, and admittedly these are small inconveniences. But I think I am going to give it a try. Baglo, if I like it, I will paint it black so it doesn't stand out in the photos.

 

[Donna D.]

Frederick Simson (moderator on FiberglassRV) has one on his Fiberstream and loves it. The only negative I've read (CasitaForum), is that it shouldn't (or couldn't) be used on sloped surfaces.

Personally, I'd rather modify the tongue jack and use an rechargable drill to raise and lower the jack. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[cpaharley2008]

My Escape came with the foot mentioned in Eric's post above, steel, flat and no wood needed. As Donna mentioned, the extra 6" used by the 'Fastaway" can sometimes bite you on sloping sites where you may have to dig out the front to level the unit.

 

[bvansnell]

We bought the jack wheel but have not been using it We use Lynx Levelers with a small scrap of wood, as shown in this photo.

The Levelers also can be used for adjusting side-to-side elevation, weigh very little and are compact to store.

As Baglo says, the colour of the Levelers is bright, but this means you don't leave them behind, and I can handle the appearance.

 

[dave macrae]

or just get a electric tounge jack, i have always wanted to put one on all our other trailers and never got around to but when i ordered the 19ft i had one put on and love it, i just got a old fashioned steel foot that goes on before i put the jack down and it is nice and quick and easy, i also changed the hooks on the safety chains to regular chain hooks with the spring loaded safety latch so hooking up and un hooking is super fast and easy.

 

[fudge_brownie]

This jack stand reduces cranking, is hard to leave, stores well and for under $20 works well for me.

Changing the safety chain connectors was one of the best things I did. One downpour while hooking up and they pay for themselves. I think they are called clevis hook with latch and make chaining up a breeze.

 

[hippo]

I did just what Paul uses on his trailer. I to was in a rain storm and spent some time hooking up the chains. I also use the red cone instead of blocks it is safer.
Chuck