If your travel trailer's tongue jack is bent, corroded, or just plain worn out, the Lippert Components 285420 is the straightforward bolt-on replacement you need. Designed for A-frame trailer tongues, this sidewind (side-crank) style jack lets you raise and lower the coupler without crawling under the trailer -- just crank from the side, drop the foot, and unhitch. It's the same style and footprint used on thousands of factory-built travel trailers, making this one of the most common direct-replacement tongue jacks in the Lippert lineup.
The 285420 is a manual sidewind tongue jack -- meaning the crank handle is on the side of the unit rather than on top. This orientation is ideal for A-frame trailer tongues where vertical clearance is limited or where a top-wind crank would interfere with the coupler, chains, or wiring harness. Side-crank operation keeps your hands clear of the hitch and gives you better leverage when raising a loaded trailer nose.
Lippert Components is one of the largest OEM suppliers of RV running gear in North America. Their tongue jacks are installed at the factory on travel trailers from Forest River, Keystone, Heartland, Grand Design, and dozens of other manufacturers. The 285420 is a proven replacement-grade unit that matches the bolt pattern and travel range of common OEM installations.
Side-mounted handle keeps knuckles clear of the coupler and hitch hardware. Easier to operate than top-wind in tight tongue configurations.
Mounts directly to the A-frame tongue tube with standard bolt-on hardware. No welding required for most direct replacement applications.
Integrated drop foot swings down to extend reach on uneven ground, keeping the jack body compact during travel.
Manufactured by Lippert Components, OEM supplier to Forest River, Keystone, Heartland, Grand Design, and more. Matches factory bolt patterns on many travel trailers.
This jack is aimed at travel trailer owners replacing a failed or damaged OEM sidewind tongue jack. If your current jack uses a side-mounted crank and mounts to the A-frame tube with bolts (not welded), the 285420 is very likely a drop-in fit. Measure your existing jack's mounting plate hole pattern and tube width before ordering to confirm compatibility.
Before purchasing, confirm your existing jack style. A sidewind jack has the crank handle extending horizontally from the side of the unit. A top-wind jack has the handle on top. These two styles are not interchangeable without modifying your mounting setup. The 285420 is a sidewind unit.
Installation is a straightforward bolt-on process for most travel trailers:
No special tools are required beyond basic hand tools. The jack ships ready to install -- no assembly of the crank mechanism is needed.
During towing, always retract the jack fully and secure the crank handle so it cannot rotate. An extended or partially extended tongue jack creates a road hazard and can contact the ground on dips and inclines. The drop foot should be folded up and locked before travel.