Necessary or not?
1700 for this perk, I’m thinking not worth it.
Define "necessary?!!! 
I put one on our gooseneck about six years ago and have been grateful to myself ever since. It makes a life a lot easier (and that counts for those longer in the tooth).
If you’ve got the spare cash I’d do it.
G.
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Ignorant question, but those things look like a glorified power window regulator. Which over the years can fail as often as they function.
Are the electric ones as reliable as the mechanical?
David
I had a manual jack on the Exiss 3H with 4’ SW. It was doable.
We have a hydraulic jack on the Merhow 3H with 10’ SW. No WAY I could manually crank that beast up and down.
So yeah- define necessary. On a 2H with just a small dressing room? Silly. On a real LQ trailer? Oh heck yes.
There are some relatively inexpensive electric ones available, which are very easy to fit.
http://equalizersystems.com/horse-cargo/
Battery maintenance will then be an issue.
I had one for 10 years until I sold the trailer. Never had a single problem with it.
(They have a lot more grunt than a window motor)
I have a hydraulic jack on my 3 horse gooseneck trailer. Like you, I went back and forth about did I really need it? Every woman I talked to said YES. I ordered it, and every time I hitch or unhitch I am so glad I did. I love that thing!
My new-to-me LQ trailer has a hydraulic jack on it that I used for the first time last weekend. OMG, life changing!!! Never had the luxury of one before and what a smile on my face as all I had to do was press a button:)
Now if I had a two horse trailer I would not put one on, but anything bigger and it is N.I.C.E.
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I bought my 2H GN LQ in '06 with the hydraulic jack already installed and it’s my favorite feature on the trailer. I haul alot - 3-4 times a month and 3-10 day camping trips where you sometimes need to unhitch. The hydraulic is MUCH faster than the electric and doesn’t run the battery down like the electric. Yes, they are pricey, but I figure my back is worth it.
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[QUOTE=Equibrit;7720341]
There are some relatively inexpensive electric ones available, which are very easy to fit.
http://equalizersystems.com/horse-cargo/
Battery maintenance will then be an issue.
I had one for 10 years until I sold the trailer. Never had a single problem with it.
(They have a lot more grunt than a window motor)[/QUOTE]
How does this work exactly, with post buying installation? I can’t tell based on your post if you recommend this route or not?
Trailer I’m buying is a 2+1 24’, no LQ, if that changes anyone’s opinion.
I have one. And then the battery died within literally 2 days of buying the trailer. I went a year before getting the battery replaced (long story) and didn’t miss the hydraulic jack as much as I thought I would. It is faster for sure. And on a long, hot, sweaty show day-- it’s nice to have. But of all the things you can put on a trailer for $1,700-- I can think of other’s I’d use/enjoy more. So I vote for very NICE to have but not essential.
I am generally cheap when it comes to “frills” but IMO they are worth it. Especially if you are financing the rig. It should add very little to the monthly payment. If you are ordering the trailer or an add on to a new one barter with the salesperson. Offer $1,000 and meet somewhere a bit north of that. This is gravy money to the seller so they should not be greedy and risk loosing the sale.
I would never buy a car without power windows and locks. My “for everything” farm Jeep is 13 years old and one power window broke only recently. Can’t complain. Easy fix also.
[QUOTE=Nickelodian;7720584]
How does this work exactly, with post buying installation? I can’t tell based on your post if you recommend this route or not?
Trailer I’m buying is a 2+1 24’, no LQ, if that changes anyone’s opinion.[/QUOTE]
You can fit it yourself very easily. The other thing you would need would be a battery in the trailer with a battery “tender” which you would plug in to the 110 when the trailer is not in use. I had a steel 2 horse with a dressing room, and the EL PAC 1 made life after mastectomy very easy.
Couldn’t pry mine from my cold, dead hands! Three back surgeries really, really hate cranking a trailer up manually.
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With a 24’ trailer you will never regret getting the hydraulic jack. My GN is small, a 16’ model so it’s manageable but if it were any bigger I’d have a hydraulic jack.
[QUOTE=Heart’s Journey;7720551]
I bought my 2H GN LQ in '06 with the hydraulic jack already installed and it’s my favorite feature on the trailer. I haul alot - 3-4 times a month and 3-10 day camping trips where you sometimes need to unhitch. The hydraulic is MUCH faster than the electric and doesn’t run the battery down like the electric. Yes, they are pricey, but I figure my back is worth it.[/QUOTE]
I hitch/unhitch at least 2 times/week so I most definitely want to install one on my 2h LQ. I figure the cabinetry adds a lot of weight, but I can manage without… however, I take my horses to my trainer’s before work every Friday morning and especially in the summer it’s a bit painful. It’s one of my projects for the fall, as well as getting more DC items tied in to a battery - right now they only run if the truck is hitched up.
WORTH IT!!
Well, I guess I’ll be the dissenter (surprise, not, LOL) – no way I would pay for it. My arms aren’t broken and seeing as how I am one of those people who DESPISE exercise for exercise sake (not that one needs it doing my job AND taking care of the farm), it’s all part my “free gym membership,” LOL. Everyone is always looking for exercises to be a stronger, more stable rider!
Naturally, some people have physical limitations/injuries. My back arthritis is mad right now, but as my PT says you either use the motion or you lose it. I do keep the crank, jack, and ball well-greased so they operate easily. And it’s one less battery.
Summary: Injured/pain restricted? Maybe. Fine? No. 
Didn’t have one for our first LQ and over the years, it took me longer to unhook as I would have to have a break from cranking. New to us LQ has one. LOVE it! I just stand there and thank it every time I have to unhook. It is bigger than our first LQ and don’t know if I would be able to crank it up myself.
So worth it. Came with my 2+1 I bought lightly used. I had to have the battery replaced right after I bought the trailer but only because the original installation was not a “marine battery”. Since the change out, four years later, no issues and I have left it sit for pretty long periods of time. Go for it.
I also switched to a Marine Battery when I finally got on replacing my dead one!
