tongue jack switch???

[Dennis and Melissa]

After a long trip, while hitching Ollie back up to the truck for the drive to the storage unit, the tongue jack stopped working! 🤪

After a bit of panic, I noticed that it would go down, but not up.

Then I noticed that if I gave it a bit of help, it would, in fact, go up.  Then it started working again (so long as I gently mashed the ENTIRE switch up).

I am assuming this is the electronics IN THE SWITCH giving out.  Anyone ever replace one of those things???

[jd1923]

2 hours ago, Dennis and Melissa said:

Anyone ever replace one of those things?

Yes, there was just a thread on the wiring of the jack switch (link below). And these switches go bad regularly. What you described is very likely a switch that needs replacing.

Also, everybody should carry a simple spade jumper like pictured below. The Oliver has many toggle switches installed and this simple jumper can be used as a temporary override. I had a brake pedal switch go bad on a Class-C which would not allow me to move the auto trans gear selector out of park. We were stuck right were we had parked.

I used a jumper like this to bypass the switch which allowed us to drive an hour or two into the next town to get this common replacement switch at Napa. They also would likely have a replacement toggle switch for the jack. Nice little tool to have handy. I made one when we had the brake switch failure and have carried it with ever since. Used it once when the Oliver had a bad water pump switch under the pantry which allowed the switch under the bath vanity to work.

 

[SeaDawg]

12 hours ago, Dennis and Melissa said:

assuming this is the electronics IN THE SWITCH giving out.  Anyone ever replace one of those things???

Yes. And we carry a spare. And, a spare for the rear jacks, too. 

It is possible to raise and lower all the jacks manually. And, I'll also mention that it's slow and not so much fun.

Our 2008 trailer is now almost "old enough to vote", and has lived outdoors its whole life,  so replacing exterior switches due to corrosion, is not entirely a surprise.  Just can be inconvenient. Jd's jumper could be a helpful small addition to our tiny spare parts kit. 

With a newer trailer, you might just want to check to make sure you have enough battery power to the switch. The jacks draw a lot, quickly , and I've found over the years that a low battery (i still have agms) can cause a temporary failure. 

Edited June 11, 2025 by SeaDawg

[Dennis and Melissa]

Thanks for the feedback.

Took me a while to get around to this, but I think it was just loose wiring.  Fingers crossed. 🤞

[Dennis and Melissa]

Years ago, I had a friend with a class A.  When I asked him what his ownership experience was like, he said: "Imagine picking up your entire house and shaking it for hours.  That's what happens every time you drive down the highway.  Eventually everything breaks."

I kept that warning very much in mind when we were purchasing our trailer.  But I guess even Ollie's wires aren't immune to road vibration. 

[srthomsen]

On 6/10/2025 at 8:20 PM, SeaDawg said:

With a newer trailer, you might just want to check to make sure you have enough battery power to the switch. The jacks draw a lot, quickly , and I've found over the years that a low battery (i still have agms) can cause a temporary failure. 

I"ll drink (in moderation of course!) to that.  I try to utilize the park power when availaable to raise and lower when needed.  

[Dennis and Melissa]

I need to buy a new one of these

 

Can someone who speaks electric tell me what it’s called so I can buy one on Amazon?

I think it’s some variation of “double throw momentum”. But not sure how to specify the exact one

Thanks

 

[Dennis and Melissa]

I just got off the phone with Oliver technical support
They gave me a Barker number

736-2300

which appears completely legit

 

However, getting that part is going to be tricky given our travel schedule. There’s an off-the-shelf six pin replacement that should work that I can buy for 10 bucks just about anywhere. But then I have to do some wiring myself.  I think I know what needs to be done, but I’ve never done it before. It could be a bit tricky.
 

[CRM]

1 hour ago, Dennis and Melissa said:

I just got off the phone with Oliver technical support
They gave me a Barker number

736-2300

which appears completely legit

However, getting that part is going to be tricky given our travel schedule. There’s an off-the-shelf six pin replacement that should work that I can buy for 10 bucks just about anywhere. But then I have to do some wiring myself.  I think I know what needs to be done, but I’ve never done it before. It could be a bit tricky.
 

This one off Amazon should work fine and you shouldn't have to do any rewiring. Waterproof Reverse Polarity Switch

[Snackchaser]

Those are momentary motor reversing switches (spring return to center).  Don't get a latching switch!  A knock-off version is available from Amazon https://a.co/d/01EAzrSv .  They are okay.   Amazon includes the waterproof rubber cap, but many suppliers don't.  No worries because they are available at ACE hardware and auto part stores.  You can also use a center off or momentary Double Throw Double Pole DPDT switch in an emergency, but you would have to make your own jumpers as can be seen in your picture.

Judging from the jumper wire in your picture, it looks like your switch was wired with the power leads going to the center terminals.  That jumper wire is power for the lamp switch, and it's doubled up with the +12v power wire for the jack.  Normally the power wires are on the outer terminals per the Barker jack wiring diagrams, but it makes no difference electrically.   The lamp -12v wire is spliced to the jacks ground.

Your jack motor leads go to the outer terminals (polarity is not important yet).  With wires hooked up, look at the position of the notch or flat side of the switch threads for correct alignment with the jack housing.  Then try the switch to verify that the jack is going the right direction.  Just reverse the motor leads on the switch to change direction if needed.  

Use a piece of heat shrink over all the switches terminal spades.  This prevents shorts, but more importantly it helps hole the spade terminals from coming off.  Sometimes it's also necessary to pinch the wire terminals for better grip on the switch spades.  

Hope that is not too confusing!  Cheers, Geoff

[Dennis and Melissa]

Thanks to both of you. Ordering tomorrow and will let you know how it goes.
Hooray for the Oliver community once again!

 

[jd1923]

5 hours ago, Dennis and Melissa said:

I need to buy a new one of these

Dennis, PM me with your address and I’ll put a brand new original in the mail to you. 😎

Barker is great. I purchased two reconditioned heads for our rears and they came with new plastic covers, switches, etc. which of course you don’t need when replacing the rears.

It would be my pleasure!

Edited 16 hours ago by jd1923
Pic added

[dewdev]

13 hours ago, CRM said:

This one off Amazon should work fine and you shouldn't have to do any rewiring. Waterproof Reverse Polarity Switch

@Dennis and Melissa

What is the area code for Barker?