Hope this topic is Okay for this forum.

I have been setting up my "traveling kit" and have a dilemma about the type of jack to include.  I have a 20' Skeeter and want input from different sources about jacks that work well on trailers of that size.  Any other tips on roadside emergencies would be appreciated.

i use a regular automotive HD floor jack. Although it's heavy & cumbersome, it's worth it's weight in gold. If you got the room, carry a 2" thick oak plank to set it on for soft ground conditions. I also carry a spare hub, lug nuts, 2 or 3 assorted size wood blocks for blocking the tires on the other side of the trailer, and a couple of orange road cones. Or you can get the fold flat variety. A good flashlight is a must.

Small floor jack, or a block of 4X4 that I cut to use if I cannot get it under the axle. The block will work on a tandum trailer only though.

flyboy, forgot one more thing, a shovel.

If you pull off the road onto the sholulder & it's been wet or you're halfway down a drainage slope, you may need some light excavation just to get the jack under . been there.

The scissor jack that came with my van works just fine for my 19' Astro. I do put a piece of plywood in just to be sure I will have a fairly resonably flat spot.

Hi-Lift.

I use a bottle jack under the frame, just be sure you get one that's long enough to lift the tires clear of the ground.  You're second option is a small floor jack under the axle, the down side to that is you may find yourself having to lay on the ground to get it under there .   

Part of my standard load that's alway in my pickup is an e-tool (that's one of the folding shovels the military issues you when you go to the field), a foam bed role (again one of the olive drab ones the military issues you) to lay on if needed (a small carpet role will work) and a 12" sqaure piece of 3/8" thick aluminum plate (3/4" plywood will work) to put under jacks (vehicle or bottle) when in soft dirt/mud.  I also keep three road flares and a couple of foulding emergency triangles, and a "Sling Shot" (heavy nylon tow strap).  Then there's always a magniesum fire starter and LED flashlight in my truck and boat.

I have been up and down the east coast many times and have only had to use a jack once that I recall - and the truck jack was sufficient.

Please , above all else, make sure your trailer bearings are in good shape and full of grease. The idea of a spare hub is great and I bought one only to find that it woudn't work on my trailer because I have trailer brakes and my hub needs to have the rotor for the brakes as part of the unit.

I just came back from a trip to Fla. and on the way down I spent 11 1/2 hrs. broken down along side the road and $1075 to get back on the road because of bearing failure. :'(

I don't wish this on anyone.

This is so true.... Not as much of an issue with big boats with big wheels - and setups like Ranger's oil filled cool hubs.... but on little trailer with little wheels.... you MUST be prepared to swap out bearings on a long trip.... with a small trailer always carry extra bearings... an extra hub is even better...

Shortly after owning my first trailer a good friend taught me how to repack bearings, change the hub, test for signs of failure, etc...  That was 25+ years ago and it has served me very well over the years...

Please , above all else, make sure your trailer bearings are in good shape and full of grease. The idea of a spare hub is great and I bought one only to find that it woudn't work on my trailer because I have trailer brakes and my hub needs to have the rotor for the brakes as part of the unit.

I just came back from a trip to Fla. and on the way down I spent 11 1/2 hrs. broken down along side the road and $1075 to get back on the road because of bearing failure. :'(

I don't wish this on anyone.

Been there done that > girlfriend didn't know why one back wheel was SMOKING :'( DUHHHH!  junebugman