Atwood Power Tongue Jack 3500

rebellious78 · 02-02-2011, 08:41 PM

We are looking to replace our crank jack with an Atwood, but there are no local places that carry them that we can find. Has anyone here in the SOC done business with AdventureRV.net?

Thanks!

**JohnB** · 02-02-2011, 08:56 PM

Dave

Do you mean these guys?
Atwood Power Tongue Jack 3500 lbs Heavy Duty RV - $229.79

If have seen them in my searches before but have not bought from them so I do not know good or bad experiences.

I have bought from these folks with good results. Same price on the 3500 jack.

Power Jacks from Atwood on Sale

And here is one not on sale but $10 more and I have bought a lot from these folks and had good results
Trailer Parts Superstore - Utility Trailer Tongue Jacks

That $229 price if the best I have seen for that high end jack. I bought mine out of Southwest Wheel but right now they are $244 on Amazon.

I did not check the freight. Some may be cheaper freight.

I really like my Atwood 3500. Good luck and hope this helps

John

kanyonkitty · 02-03-2011, 11:44 AM

Gary & I have used Adventure RV numerous times, all with good, fast results. They have about the best prices around. I would not hesitate to deal with them again.

One additional comment, I much prefer a Barker power tongue jack over Atwood or Ultrafab.

This would be "MY" Choice:
http://www.adventurerv.net/barker-vi...lb-p-4360.html

Kitty

Gene · 02-03-2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanyonkitty

....
This would be "MY" Choice:
Barker VIP Power Electric Tongue Jack 3500lb. - $185.99

Kitty

That is the one I have.

Love it.

One small word of caution, when changing direction, wait until the motor stops before pushing the switch in the other direction of you will blow a fuse. I now carry a few spares.

**JohnB** · 02-03-2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene

That is the one I have.

Love it.

One small word of caution, when changing direction, wait until the motor stops before pushing the switch in the other direction of you will blow a fuse. I now carry a few spares.

This is one difference with the Atwood. The Atwood has a ratcheting slip clutch like on the cordless drill/screwdriver. If you reach end of stroke or some how pull max torque, it ratchets in place of tripping the fuse. It was one of the reasons that pointed me towards the Atwood.

Don't get me wrong, the Barker is a good one too just different features.

Really can't go to far wrong with any of the larger ones. For sure if you have a heavy tongue, 1,200# etc get the 3,500. It works a lot less.

John

Gene · 02-04-2011, 07:21 PM

I was refering to reversing direction while the motor is spinning. When you release the up/down switch the motor still spins a bit. If you instantly change direction before it stops the fuse blows.

**JohnB** · 02-04-2011, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene

I was refering to reversing direction while the motor is spinning. When you release the up/down switch the motor still spins a bit. If you instantly change direction before it stops the fuse blows.

HI Gene, understood.

I thought the Barker did not have an overload clutch. Does yours on the 3500? and if not what is the overload protection on end of stroke or over load? I had heard it was the fuse.

While I have not had the Barker I had the H & H a division of Barker. It was a 2,000# jack and it just stalled at the end of stroke. Sounded bad stalling at end of stroke but it just rain out of power and as such I jogged it at the end of the stroke on the way up to not pinch it so hard to the end. On the Atwood when it reaches full up or down it just ratchets. But I still jog it towards the end by habit.

John

kanyonkitty · 02-05-2011, 08:57 AM

I have a Barker that I have had for gosh knows how many years and it has been on I don't know how many Sunlines. I don't remember what model it is, but it is the one that Gary repaired about 18 months ago. All I know is that when I would extend it all the way up or all the way down it would make this "LOUD CLACKY" sound, and I knew it had gone as far as it was gonna go.

When it finally broke, Gary took it apart, contacted Barker, and they shipped the "tiny" parts. I'm guessing that jack is probably about 15 years old. I'm sure he will be able to add more about this, but he's working right now, and I hope he can get home as there is a lot of ICE out there. We also have a brand new Barker 3500 with the level out in the shed that we purchased when we got the T-320 (That was one Sunline that should never have been purchased

because the floor plan just did not work for us). No matter which jack you decide on, it should provide you with many years of great service. The one that I hear the "most" negative comments about are the Ultra-Fab.

**Sunline Fan** · 02-05-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanyonkitty

I have a Barker that I have had for gosh knows how many years and it has been on I don't know how many Sunlines. I don't remember what model it is, but it is the one that Gary repaired about 18 months ago. All I know is that when I would extend it all the way up or all the way down it would make this "LOUD CLACKY" sound, and I knew it had gone as far as it was gonna go.

When it finally broke, Gary took it apart, contacted Barker, and they shipped the "tiny" parts. I'm guessing that jack is probably about 15 years old. I'm sure he will be able to add more about this, but he's working right now, and I hope he can get home as there is a lot of ICE out there. We also have a brand new Barker 3500 with the level out in the shed that we purchased when we got the T-320 (That was one Sunline that should never have been purchased

because the floor plan just did not work for us). No matter which jack you decide on, it should provide you with many years of great service. The one that I hear the "most" negative comments about are the Ultra-Fab.

Yes, my H&H ratchets too when it gets to the beginning/end of the stroke. I believe I did have one in that past (that came on my 2363) that just shut off at the end strokes. It was an Atlanta DTH jack. I'm pretty sure it just shut off, but keep in mind that was about five years ago... They still exist, but it looks like they no longer make tongue jacks: == ATLANTA DTH, INC ==

Gene · 02-06-2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

.... I thought the Barker did not have an overload clutch. Does yours on the 3500? ....

To be honest, not sure. The limit switch(s) always stop it at the end of it's travel. Just once I tried to reverse direction instantly and went "oh darn" .... (or something to that efect

)

**JohnB** · 02-06-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene

To be honest, not sure. The limit switch(s) always stop it at the end of it's travel. Just once I tried to reverse direction instantly and went "oh darn" .... (or something to that efect

)

Gene, that was what I thought the Barkers, at least the new ones, had limit switches.

Kitty's older one said she heard the "LOUD CLACKY" sound," Maybe they had a design change since she bought her last one. The "clacky" sound, sounds like the ratchet trip clutch.

Thanks

John

rebellious78 · 02-06-2011, 08:42 PM

We will get one that is 3500#'s since we do have a tongue weight of 1100#'s. Not sure which brand though. It sounds like they all can give service with proper maintenance. I will stay away from the Ultra Fab.

**Sunline Fan** · 02-06-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

Kitty's older one said she heard the "LOUD CLACKY" sound," Maybe they had a design change since she bought her last one. The "clacky" sound, sounds like the ratchet trip clutch.

Yes, her older one is just like mine, so it would be the ratcheting.

**Sunline Fan** · 02-06-2011, 09:27 PM

If you'd like I could try to get a video of it in the next couple weeks. For the one on the car trailer anyway (which is the same jack but in much better shape), I'm limited on space in the garage, plus the car inside isn't tied down, so I could only retract it fully after putting a jack stand under it.

Geez, this reminds me, I forgot to disconnect the battery for that... At least nothing else draws on it!

nasa42a · 02-07-2011, 06:36 AM

Had an Ultra-Fab on the Hi-Lo briefly...... Briefly because it apparently didn't have a limit switch & ate its' gears the 1st time it reached the top. Returned under warranty at once.

I'm most familiar with the Atwood models....our 2363 had a 3500, and everyone else I've spoken with who has one of those is just plain enthused...even after years of use. I'm always mildly envious these days, but just haven't been willing to part with the coin to powerjack the present TT.

Nothing bad about the Barkers- I'm just unfamiliar with them.

Frank

Gene · 02-07-2011, 01:13 PM

I just looked at the parts diagram(s) for the 3500 and the VIP 3500. The VIP 3500 shows a torque limiter in the gear drive but no limit switches. The 3500 doesn't call it a torque limiter but does have limit switches.

http://www.barkermfg.com/vip3500.pdf

#12 - part #28487 - TORQUE LIMITER

http://www.barkermfg.com/hipower3500.pdf

#12 - part #28917 - OUTER GEAR ASSEMBL

#12 looks the same in both diagrams.

**Sunline Fan** · 02-12-2011, 07:24 PM

John, here's a video of the H&H retracting and ratcheting. I had the floor jack waiting under the frame, so you can hear the jack lowering and then hear it lose the weight, which is when it went onto the jack. I'll admit I actually had to press the button again to make it ratchet because I'm just in such a habit of hearing the noise of just before it starts ratcheting that I let off before it gets to that point.

Click on the picture:

**JohnB** · 02-12-2011, 07:46 PM

Jon, Thanks

Is that an older one?

I had an H & H and it did not have an overload clutch. It was a 2004 vintage. It just grunted at the end and ran out of power. Some thing went wrong in it, I think a bushing in the end of the motor. It would squeal like crazy and stop lifting. I took the cover off, added more grease, didn't see any ground up teeth. Some times it would work smooth and then it went into the super squeal mode high vibration mode.

I still have it out in the shed, never had a need to fix it as I have the Atwood 3500 on the T310. Also on that H & H it unscrewed itself often after I unhitched, which was not great. A 1,200# tongue and it started dropping until the Bal jacks could get down. It may be unique that that vintage/model. It was a 2,000# model. I'll have to go dig out the model.

I see you videoed your slide action too.

Once Ron and Alice report back on what they found I was going to pull together a "How a Sunline Slide works" and what to look for. Your video will come in handy.

Thanks

John

**Sunline Fan** · 02-12-2011, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

Jon, Thanks

Is that an older one?

I had an H & H and it did not have an overload clutch. It was a 2004 vintage. It just grunted at the end and ran out of power. Some thing went wrong in it, I think a bushing in the end of the motor. It would squeal like crazy and stop lifting. I took the cover off, added more grease, didn't see any ground up teeth. Some times it would work smooth and then it went into the super squeal mode high vibration mode.

I still have it out in the shed, never had a need to fix it as I have the Atwood 3500 on the T310. Also on that H & H it unscrewed itself often after I unhitched, which was not great. A 1,200# tongue and it started dropping until the Bal jacks could get down. It may be unique that that vintage/model. It was a 2,000# model. I'll have to go dig out the model.

Was ordered from Camping World Belleville on 3/29/99, installed on the '97 2653 on 4/7/99. I do have the manual from it along with the original allen wrench, warranty card, and some other card. I have a picture, but I don't have the complete manual scanned. Let me know if you want it, but it'll be a while since I'll have to go dig it out and scan it. Plus, I just got a sweet box full of stuff in the mail to scan now too...

The original owner of my 270SR bought it on 9/4/98, so he probably had the jack added at that time or shortly after, so I don't think the two jacks were built that far apart. The one from that, which is on the 286SR, I think does unwind just a little, but not with the trailer only. I think it only does it when the vehicle is picked up too to snap up the WD bars. The Atwood on the toy hauler does that too though, even though it stops unwinding after a few (loud) clicks. I figure it's good insurance so that it makes me not get distracted when hooking up...

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

I see you videoed your slide action too.

Once Ron and Alice report back on what they found I was going to pull together a "How a Sunline Slide works" and what to look for. Your video will come in handy.

Oh yeah, I did that a long time ago...

kanyonkitty · 02-13-2011, 08:33 AM

OK, now I am totally confused (easy to do). Seeing Jons' video of his tongue jack, that "looks" exactly like my years old one, so maybe mine is an H & H and not a barker. But, whoever made it, it sure is a tuff son of a gun. And it makes the same sound as Jons' when it reaches the end of travel. Right now that jack is just resting in the shed.