Don’t really see many jacks on boat trailers that have the foot plate on them instead of the traditional wheel. Why is that? I have a tandem axle trailer that’s not exactly easy to move around a garage or anything, and I’m considering going to a foot plate jack instead of a wheel. There are lots of times when my trailer rolls slightly when I don’t want it to. Thoughts?
I just replaced a few wheel jacks, noticed a few models with interchangeable plate and wheel. Or, you might want to look into a jack with some sort of wheel brake? I don’t know if I would want a plate on a boat trailer that I could move by hand; even if it wasn’t exactly easy to move, I’d want the option to move it a bit as needed.
Wheels roll – that is the benefit of having a wheel
Dog
Or….Buy a fancier wheel with a lever brake.
That way you can set the wheel when you want it to stay and release the brake on the axle – when you want it to move.
I have seen them in a couple of smaller trailers. They must make them in larger jack wheels
Dog
Here you go….
Seasense Trailer Jack 1500lb Mighty Wheel with Brake Galvanized #50017584
Thanks for the thoughts. The more I sit here and think about it….I never really need a wheel on my jack. More than half the time it rolls when I don’t want it to, and I don’t really have a place where I park it where it needs to roll with the jack. And in my garage, it doesn’t happen anyways. I’m slowly leaning towards just a foot.
This seems more ecimonical than replacing the jack. Still gives you options if you do need to roll it.
I forgot to mention: replacing the jack is mandatory this year. The old one is, uh, jacked up. 
It took a tumble last year, and it’s bent real good.
You must have a back up camera in your vehicle because for me hooking up my boat without a wheel jack would be a nightmare.
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You must have a back up camera in your vehicle because for me hooking up my boat without a wheel jack would be a nightmare.
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You must have a back up camera in your vehicle because for me hooking up my boat without a wheel jack would be a nightmare.
Depends on the boat. My bro-in-law has a Mastercraft ski boat on a tandem axle trailer, and even with the jack wheel, you’re not moving that sucker without 2-3 guys. It’s a nightmare either way! 
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This seems more ecimonical than replacing the jack. Still gives you options if you do need to roll it.
THey don’t like a lot of weight FYI.
I use one for my boat.
I hear that. I can’t move my boat at all though, even with a wheel jack, when hooking it up. A real pain.
Back up cameras on the newer trucks are fantastic for hooking up trailers. Spot on 1st time just about every time. Still a little spendy to pay 35k for a back up camera.
Many after market cameras available. Less than $200.
My biggest question, now, is the range of the foot plate jacks. Seems to me they don’t lift as high as the wheels? That a true statement?
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