6 Best Trailer Jacks With A Wider Footplate For Soft Ground Experts Swear By

You pull into that perfect, secluded campsite after a long day, only to find the ground is softer than you thought. As you unhitch, you watch in horror as your trailer’s tongue jack sinks straight into the mud, tilting your entire home-on-wheels. This single point of failure can turn a dream spot into a frustrating, muddy mess.

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Why a Wide Footplate Matters on Soft Ground

The concept is simple physics. A standard, small jack foot concentrates your trailer’s entire tongue weight onto a few square inches. On soft ground like grass, sand, or wet gravel, that immense pressure forces the jack to sink like a stake.

A wider footplate spreads that same weight over a much larger surface area. This drastically reduces the pressure per square inch, allowing the jack to "float" on top of the soft surface instead of digging into it. It’s the difference between trying to walk on snow in high heels versus snowshoes. One sinks, the other provides stable support.

This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about safety and stability. A sinking jack can cause your trailer to become dangerously unlevel, putting stress on the frame and making it impossible to operate appliances like refrigerators correctly. A solid, wide base is the foundation of a stable and safe setup, no matter where you park.

Bulldog A-Frame Jack: Heavy-Duty Stability

When you see a Bulldog jack, you know it’s built to work. These jacks have a reputation for being overbuilt and incredibly durable, which is exactly what you want when you’re relying on one component to hold up a significant part of your home. They are the go-to for anyone with a heavier rig or those who frequently travel on less-than-ideal roads.

Most Bulldog A-frame models come with a reasonably sized footplate, but their true strength lies in their robust construction that easily supports larger, aftermarket footplates. The heavy-gauge steel and simple, powerful mechanics mean you aren’t worried about the jack failing under load. It’s a no-frills workhorse.

The manual crank is a key feature for many off-grid enthusiasts. There are no electronics to fail and no batteries to drain. For pure, brute-force reliability, the Bulldog is a legend for a reason. It’s a simple machine that does one job exceptionally well, providing a rock-solid base you can count on.

CURT 28204 Jack: Top-Wind Reliability

CURT is a massive name in the towing world, and their A-frame jacks are a testament to their focus on reliable, accessible equipment. The 28204 is a classic top-wind model, meaning the crank is on top of the jack. This design is often easier to operate and provides a smooth, consistent lifting motion.

While the stock footplate is standard, the jack is designed to easily accept a variety of aftermarket wider feet. This makes it a great, affordable starting point that you can easily upgrade for better performance on soft ground. Its simple, proven design means there are fewer things that can go wrong.

Choosing a manual jack like this is a deliberate decision. You trade the convenience of electric power for absolute dependability. In a remote location with a dead battery, this jack will still work every single time. It’s a smart choice for those who value simplicity and self-sufficiency above all else.

Lippert Power Tongue Jack: Effortless Leveling

Stepping up to an electric jack like the Lippert Power Tongue Jack changes the entire setup experience. Instead of manually cranking, you’re raising and lowering your trailer with the push of a button. For anyone who has struggled with a manual jack on an unlevel site, the appeal is immediate and immense.

Lippert understands the forces involved. Their electric jacks typically come standard with a wider, more substantial footplate than their manual counterparts. This is crucial because the motor delivers consistent torque, and a stable base is needed to prevent shifting or sinking during operation. Many models also include built-in LED lights, which are incredibly useful for unhitching after dark.

Of course, the tradeoff is a reliance on your trailer’s 12V battery system. However, Lippert builds in a manual override crank for emergencies, giving you a backup plan if your power fails. For frequent travelers or those with physical limitations, the convenience of a power jack is a genuine game-changer.

Fulton F2 Swing-Up Jack: Sleek and Strong

The Fulton F2 breaks the mold of the traditional A-frame jack. Its swing-up design, which pivots and stows horizontally along the trailer tongue, offers a clean look and excellent ground clearance during travel. While popular in marine applications, its strength and innovative design have made it a favorite for custom campers and teardrops.

What sets the F2 apart for soft ground is its wide, solid wheel or optional footplate. The wheel itself provides a broader contact patch than a standard jack foot, and it has the added benefit of making it easier to maneuver the trailer by hand on a hard surface. The entire assembly is engineered as a single, robust unit, eliminating weak points.

This isn’t a direct replacement for every A-frame jack, as the mounting system is different. But for builders and those with compatible trailer tongues, the F2 offers a unique combination of sleek aesthetics, incredible strength, and improved stability. It’s a premium option that solves multiple problems at once.

Stromberg Carlson JET-3555: Electric Powerhouse

Stromberg Carlson is another top contender in the electric jack space, and their JET series is known for power and thoughtful features. The JET-3555, for example, is a beast, offering significant lift capacity for heavier trailers. It’s designed for people who need serious power without compromising on stability.

These jacks are built with soft ground in mind, featuring a large, concave footplate that helps center the jack and prevent sinking. The design focuses on durability, with features like a water-resistant housing for the motor and switches to protect the electronics from the elements. It’s an investment in both convenience and long-term resilience.

Beyond the wide base, features like a built-in level can simplify your setup process. The raw power and speed of the motor also reduce the time you spend hitching and unhitching. For those with large, heavy travel trailers, the Stromberg Carlson provides the muscle and the stable footing you need for peace of mind.

Pro Series Square Jack: Versatile Sidewind Model

Not every trailer uses an A-frame tongue. For utility trailers, flatbeds, and many custom-built tiny homes, a square tube jack is the standard. The Pro Series offers incredibly versatile and strong sidewind models that can be either bolted or welded directly to the frame.

The key advantage here is strength and customizability. The square tube design is inherently resistant to bending, and the sidewind crank can provide better clearance from propane tanks or other items on the tongue. More importantly, these jacks are often paired with a heavy-duty footplate or are easy to modify by welding on an even larger custom steel plate.

This is the tinkerer’s choice. If you’re building your own rig or need a non-standard solution, a square jack offers a blank canvas. You can create an incredibly stable platform by welding a massive 8×8 inch plate to the bottom, creating a permanent snowshoe for your trailer that will never sink.

Choosing Your Jack: Key Factors to Consider

Picking the right jack isn’t just about the footplate. You need to look at the entire system to ensure it’s the right fit for your trailer and your travel style. The best jack for a 1,500-pound teardrop is very different from the one needed for a 9,000-pound travel trailer.

Start by looking at the hard numbers. Your jack’s lift capacity must safely exceed your trailer’s maximum tongue weight, not its total weight. Also, check the travel or lift height. You need enough range to lift the trailer coupler high enough to clear the hitch ball, even on an uphill slope.

Then, consider the user experience and your specific needs. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Manual vs. Electric: Do you prioritize simplicity and off-grid reliability (manual) or speed and ease of use (electric)?
• Mounting Style: Does your trailer have a standard A-frame coupler, or do you need a side-mount or weld-on jack?
• Footplate: Does it come with a wide foot, or can one be easily and securely added? An integrated foot is often stronger than a removable one.
• Budget: A simple manual jack can be had for under $100, while a high-end electric model can cost several hundred. Your budget will narrow the options significantly.

Ultimately, the goal is to find the jack that gives you the most confidence. Confidence that it can lift your trailer, hold it securely, and won’t leave you stuck in the mud when you find that perfect, but slightly soft, spot.

In the end, your trailer jack is more than just a lifting device; it’s the foundation of your stationary home. Choosing one with a wide, stable footplate isn’t a luxury—it’s a fundamental requirement for anyone who plans to venture beyond the perfect pavement of a commercial RV park.