Can 7,000 lb Square Direct Weld Jack TJD-8000 be Trimmed

Question:

Hello, Just curious this particular jack was put onto my trailer. However when the Fab Shop put it on it is a bit too low for my driveway. It is only about 4 inches or 5 inches fully retracted off the ground. Obviously they should have welded the jack at least 4 or 5 inches higher in the Trailer Hitch area to prevent this issue. I have no idea what they were thinking. Can I cut this jack to make it a few inches shorter to prevent it from being so low? Is there a standard for how high off the roadway a jack should be to the footplate? Thank you.

asked by: Mark R

Expert Reply:

You won't want to cut a jack like the Square Direct Weld Jack # TJD-8000, with the issue being that doing so you would cut the lift rod inside the jack, not to mention void the warranty, and compromise its capacity. So I would avoid doing that, though I can sympathize with your issue, as 4 or 5 inches is pretty low.

There isn't an absolute minimum standard for how high off the ground a jack should be, but generally you want a jack to be about 8 inches off the ground to ensure clearances for inclines, driveways, etc. I would love to give you a simple solution here but there isn't an easy one; if the jack is too low for your driveway, you'll want to have it removed and put in a proper height.

expert reply by: Kyle S