Tongue jack mount repair

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My buddy is headed to his hunting lease this weekend and asked me to repair/replace the tongue jack on his trailer (which has been broken for some time now) It's a manufactured trailer and the original jack sat a bit low, coupled with the fact that he's using a drop hitch on his Avalanche (which is lowered) that he had on his old truck which was lifted (and never flipped it to gain some height) all added up to the jack hitting something (curb, whatever) ripping through the bottom support plate, bending the top plate, and breaking the mounting bolts.  He put a bolt on swing up jack on it, but he and his dad had a few hundred pounds of "junk" loaded on it (almost all of it in front of the axle) and it went to town on the poor little replacement jack.  If you couldn't tell by now my buddy isn't too swift (neither am I for that matter  )Machine: MM200Voltage: High #3Feed: 50%The old jack still in place and the damage caused when it bottomed outThe second victimBottom support trimmed with plasma, repair piece cut out of 3/16" plate scrap, top mounting plate "straightened"Fit-up (new jack bolted in place to center plate and c-clamps to draw both edges flush, then tacked at all 4 corners, jack and clamps removed before full weld)Welded in place (couple starts and stops on each side, had to go in with the gun through the top and look from the side, then had to look through the hole while I welded from the side . . . I need a lot of work, but it was good experience)Hold on for more . . .MikeConstans Fides et IntegritasLincoln Weldanpower 150 ACAirco Aircomatic MIGet CAV II w/ spoolgunMillermatic 30a wirefeeder
Reply:All finished.  Bolted on top with 3/8" grade 5 hardware. Just slides through the bottom "support".  Ground reattached in stock location.It still hangs a bit low, but I offered to build him a "tower" to bring it up a bit when he gets back.  As for the foot of it we're discussing different options (most likely build a tower and he'll put a wheel on it or I'll make something for him) but until then he'll leave it hitched up as it won't/shouldn't/can't support weight like this.MikeConstans Fides et IntegritasLincoln Weldanpower 150 ACAirco Aircomatic MIGet CAV II w/ spoolgunMillermatic 30a wirefeeder
Reply:That came out looking good. There's no winning on those jack stands. They always take a beating one way or another.
Reply:Nice work Brink.  I have one like the second photo. It swings up and out of the way. But there is a bolt in the center (for the pivot) that hits the frame and causes the four bolts attaching the jack to warp the mounting plate when I try to tighten them. I'm not sure what to do about it. I really like the jack because it has a caster that keeps me from using my back to lift the tongue. Thanks,SteveJunkYard Tools .com
Reply:I would have said to completely remove the 'dinged' bottom plate.  Your repair left your new plate sitting on top of the remains of the old bottom plate, which means there is a seam/gap between them.  That just means a moisture trap-point to start the rusting and rotting process.  Rust never sleeps!  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:We used this style on a 16' enclosed trailer- sorry no pics long time ago and the trailer was sold.but good for clearance issues.http://www.etrailer.com/p-DL22685/Pi...-2000-lbs.htmlEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Thank you all for the compliments and constructive criticism.  I would have liked to put a swing-up jack on it, but the original style replacement was chosen due to price and other factors.MikeConstans Fides et IntegritasLincoln Weldanpower 150 ACAirco Aircomatic MIGet CAV II w/ spoolgunMillermatic 30a wirefeeder
Reply:I installed one of these weldin drop leg jacks on my toyhauler. With the drop leg, you can mount it much higher and you can mount a pad type foot or a wheel. Attached ImagesLast edited by RaptorDuner; 12-27-2009 at 08:56 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseI would have said to completely remove the 'dinged' bottom plate.  Your repair left your new plate sitting on top of the remains of the old bottom plate, which means there is a seam/gap between them.  That just means a moisture trap-point to start the rusting and rotting process.  Rust never sleeps!