Re: [a/s] Electric trailer jack

[Randall Reynolds <aplaceinthewoods@xxxxxxxxx>]

Electric jacks are a wonderful thing, I frankly would
never go back to the manual jack.
 
When you raise the jack too high, it puts tremendous
pressure and weight on it. Not only the truck weight
but the whole front of the trailer as well. The jack
is rated for about 1500 to 2000 pounds (old ones), a
person can easily overload that if they are abusing
the jack.

When you hook up your level bars, and your trailer is
locked on the hitch, raise the jack just enough to
raise the tongue off the hitch ball (still locked in
place). You will hear the jack start to slow a bit,
immediately release the switch and "STOP", hook up
your level bars, and lower the jack. (If the level
bars are still not easy to hook up, raise the jack
just a little more).  The situation you describe is a
classic "raising the jack too high" and putting too
much weight on it. The clicking you hear is a safety
feature in the jack that prevents it from burning up.
The motor gears release at (all the way up) and (all
the way down), and if the jack is stressed to the max.
They also have a "sheer pin" in them that will sheer
off in severe conditions, be thankful that hasn't
happened yet. You also might get the jack to perform
the way you are saying if you raise it to it's maximum
height with a load on it. You should rarely, if ever,
have to raise a jack that high. For one thing it could
put the rear of the trailer on the ground and possibly
damage it. Make sure when your level bars are on and
your jack is up, that your trailer is perfectly level
with your tow vehicle, (must be on level ground) if it
is not, you are not hitched properly, and this could
be part of the problem as well.  
I hoped I have helped a bit, I have a Reese Electric
jack, I service it myself, (needs to be greased)
occasionally. I have a 1000 pound hitch weight and
Reese level bars just like you. I know these jacks in
and out. Mine is nearly 25 years old, and still
performs like new!