This is something I never would have appreciated until I had one. I’ve had several trailers of varying sizes over the years, none with a hydraulic/electric jack, so I’ve done a LOT of cranking. Current trailer came with a factory-installed hydraulic jack and it’s AWESOME. I hook and unhook and lot and it is nice just to push a button!
We’ve had the same one for 22 years and love it. We had it on our two horse straight load bumper pull and transferred it to our 3 horse slant load bumper pull in 2007 when we got the larger trailer. It just stopped working this past week so we’ll have to check the battery or motor.
Having a hydraulic jack is definitely a great idea, so do not hesitate to get one! Since it is a useful item, I’m sure it will not just be a clutter in your garage. It can save you during annoying and emergency situations. You can find affordable and durable jacks on the Internet today, so be sure to check them out.
This. I currently have a 3 horse slant and am looking at a 2+1. I am 5’2" and 50, and have no problem with the manual crank. I too see it as just good exercise and am another who loathes going to the gym. But I also spread my manure by hand with a wheelbarrow and a shovel, again for the exercise, so yeah, I’m crazy like that. I’m putting that money towards WERM flooring if I get a new trailer. The lift, a nice luxury, but not a necessary one to my mind. If money is no object, then by all means…
As noted earlier, define “necessary.” 
Ours was a gift to myself about my 60th birthday. Number 71 is later this month. We are headed for a riding lesson this a.m. and the vet school tomorrow. I will reap the reward of my gift twice this week!
Sometimes things that make life easier are a Good Thing; sometimes they are a frivolity. One of the great things about living in America is I get to make that call!!! 
G.
3 Likes
A want and not a need if you are youngish and can crank…
(And you could ask for a discount on that item if you are ordering a new trailer)
Choices:
2 speed manual jack makes it easier to crank if needed but slower to travel up, this I would do for sure on a 2+1 if not going elect or hydraulic
Electric jack motor addition is lots cheaper than hydraulic but is slower and louder, be sure to have manual over ride
hydraulic jack is more heavy duty and much faster and would be a need for larger LQ trailers, with manual over ride
If you decided to go after market on an electric jack motor addition in the future be sure the trailer jack actually has a motor kit that would fit, not all brands of jacks match after market motor kits
1 Like
DH got me an electric jack for a Christmas present one year I was like “er, thanks”, thinking it wasn’t something I needed on my little 2H BP trailer. It was a pain finding someone to install it too. But, I love it! It is still going strong about 5 years later and while I have two trailers, I generally take the one with the jack, even though it’s the ‘old one’ just because it’s so much faster/easier/more convenient to hook and unhook. At some point, I want to get another one for the new trailer, because it is so much nicer to use. I’m only middle aged, but with some shoulder issues, not having to crank that thing up and down a time or three every week is great.
I have electric jack on my trailer, and it was definitely a perk. If you do buy an electric one, make sure you have somewhere to plug in the battery tender. I didnt and now 5 years later, my battery needs to be replaced. I checked the prices on Marine batteries and it is expensive. A battery tender is like $50 and worth buying to avoid replacing an expensive Marine battery.
