Every electric trailer jack gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Jacks are grouped by rated capacity, under 5,000 lb and 5,000 lb and up, and use the same scale in both groups.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per 1,000 lb of rated capacity | 30% |
| Capacity | rated lift capacity, never the static rating | 20% |
| Lift range | vertical lift range including the drop leg | 15% |
| Features | 7-way plug, remote, manual override, work light, level, cover and circuit breaker | 25% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 10% |
Where the numbers come from
Capacity, lift range, connection, features and warranty come from the maker’s manual or product copy, including the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Drops in the maker’s own figures that conflict (for example a title that gives one lift range and a bullet that gives another) are left out rather than guessed. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the rated capacity, in dollars per 1,000 lb, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. $75 per 1,000 lb scores zero and $20 per 1,000 lb full marks.
Capacity is the rated lift capacity: 3,000 lb scores zero and 7,500 lb full marks. Makers state capacity in different ways. Some label it a dynamic load, meaning what the motor lifts, and print a higher static rating for what the jack holds without moving. Others print one number with no label. The rated capacity here is the headline rating in the product’s name. A static rating, where a maker publishes one, is shown on the product page and is never scored or mixed with the dynamic rating.
Lift range is the vertical lift the maker states, including the drop leg: 16 in scores zero and 24 in full marks.
Features is 20% for a 7-way plug (no wiring to the trailer battery), 20% for a wireless remote, 15% for a manual crank or socket override, 15% for a built-in work light, 10% for a built-in level, 10% for a weather cover and 10% for a circuit breaker or overload cutout.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Weight, retracted and extended height, the static rating, whether the jack is hardwired or uses a 2-way connector, and release date are listed but not scored.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Features score neutral only when none of them is published; a feature the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as a one-year warranty, and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.