As every RV owner will tell you, using the hand crank on an RV jack is not the highlight of any camping trip. If only there was a way to speed up the process, at no cost to your muscles and time.
While there are some automatic electric RV jacks, most people prefer heavy-duty steel scissor jacks because you can easily bolt, screw, or weld them to the underside of the camper. The traditional stabilizers are usually cheaper too. But the question remains, how can you automatically crank a manual RV stabilizer?
Don’t worry, I went ahead and made a list of great cordless drills for RV jacks. At the end of the article you will also find some recommendation for some drill adapters that you can use.
Top Power Drills for Stabilizer Jacks
You won’t ever have to manually crank RV jacks by hand again!
1. Makita XFD131 18V LXT Brushless Drill
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
The Makita XFD131 is another well-rounded cordless drill bundle. The drill features two speeds, 500 and 900 RPM, and 440 inches of max torque.
It weighs about 3.8 pounds, making it very easy to handle.
The components are protected with Makita patented Extreme Protection Technology which protects the drill from all kinds of debris, dust, and even water.
While only 18V, this Makita drill has more than enough power to lower and raise RV stabilizers in seconds. I recommend using the first speed, with a max RPM of 500, for vehicle jacks and bolts.
In the kit, you’ll find one 18V Lithium Battery (3.0 Ah), a convenient tool bag, a battery charger, and the drill body. Overall, a really nice and durable cordless drill bundle.
If you want to read more about this drill then read this review article I wrote on Makita XFD 131.
2. Milwaukee M18 2691-22 18-Volt Drill and Impact Driver Kit
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Milwaukee is a reputable power tool company, so you can be sure that their products are top-notch. The Milwaukee bundle I found here is perfect because it includes two power tools; a compact drill and an impact driver, both of which should be able to handle RV jacks.
The compact drill has a max voltage of 18, weighs 3.8 pounds, and has 500-in pounds of torque.
You’ll also receive a free hard-plastic carry-on box, two batteries, and an M12 battery charger. Overall, a really nice drill bundle that you can use on different scenarios around the house or when you go camping
The impact driver can come in handy too, and although it doesn’t have as much torque as the drill, it can be used to tighten RV jacks too. I highly recommend this bundle.
3. DEWALT DCF885C1 20V MAX Impact Driver Kit
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
The DEWALT DCF885C1 is a versatile cordless drill that is the perfect companion for camping trips. With the right drill bit adapter, this drill can easily lower and raise an RV stabilizer.
The drill itself weighs a total of 2.8 pounds and has a 1,400 in-lb rated torque, the RPM range is controlled via pressure on the trigger.
Customers have also mentioned this specific drill is perfect for removing car bolts. You can also use it as a power screwdriver with hex bits.
Inside the kit, you’ll find two batteries, a solid case, and a battery charger. From my research, the battery lasts for a decent amount of time. A really nice well-rounded lightweight drill.
4. CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Drill Bundle
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Craftsman is another high-quality power tool company, and this cordless drill combo is definitely worth checking out.
The included drill is a V20 cordless drill with a 280 UWO motor with 2-speed settings, one with a max of 350 RPM and the other rated at 500 RPM.
The drill is very light, only 2.84 pounds.
The other item is an impact driver that has 460-in lbs of torque, and a max RPM of 800 – ideal for heavy tasks such as bolts.
The kit also includes two batteries, a simple storage case, and a battery charger. When it comes down it, this is a really nice power drill bundle from Craftsman.
5. Porter-Cable 20V Max Cordless Drill PCCK600LB
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
Here we have a simple cordless drill that comes with one battery, no other tools or items in the kit.
The drill is a pretty decent battery-powered compact drill that you can use for a wide variety of tasks.
It has two gear settings; 400 RPM and 1,600 RPM, which makes this drill great for both light and heavy work. Weighing in at only 3.5 pounds, it’s a great tool for tight spaces and long term use with minimal fatigue.
I recommend using the lower speed for RV jacks and other similar tasks.
It also has a convenient battery level indicator near the handle, so you can always know when the battery needs to be charged.
Best RV Scissor Jack Drill Adapter
You won’t be able to use a drill with an RV jack unless you have the right adapter.
The type of adapter you need varies depending on your drill’s chuck size, but most drills have a ¼ inch chuck that’s compatible with this adapter.
I recommend the PANOVOS 2pc leveling scissor RV jack drill adapter (Amazon affiliate link). It’s a socket made from heavy-duty stainless steel, and it can easily attach to most drills.
These little sockets attach to almost any drill that you have lying around, even corded ones, but battery-powered drills are much more convenient to take on camping trips.
Check it out right now on Amazon (Affiliate link).
You can also check this adapter from Camco that will fit 3/8″ and 1/2″ power drills and is working very well with al 3/4″ hex drive jacks.
Buyer Guide
To wrap up, there are a few topics and pointers to cover if you want to pick a cordless drill for your RV jacks.
Can You Use a Drill for RV Jacks?
With the use of a drill adapter, you can use a drill to level an RV jack almost instantly. What would normally take you 15 – 20 minutes of manual labor can be done in a matter of seconds using a decent drill.
That’s where drills come into the picture. Contrary to what you might think, almost any drill can rotate a jack. Since rotating a vehicle jack doesn’t require much effort (it’s mostly time-consuming!) almost any drill can be used.
You can even use some handheld electronic screwdrivers. Remember, you’re not lifting the vehicle with the jack, but rather stabilizing it.
As a matter of fact, it’s better if the drill doesn’t have a very high RPM because that can strip the gears on the jack.
I recommend using a cordless drill on a low setting to avoid any friction-related problems. The specs to look for are RPM and torque.
How to Use a Drill for RV Jack?
Remember, an RV jack is usually used to stabilize the RV, not for lifting it off the floor. So you don’t need to apply a lot of pressure; raise the jack until it’s tight and stable.
Simply insert the RV jack adapter into your drill, as you would a normal bit, and it should click in place.
Don’t forget to tighten the chuck. Then, place the socket end on the crank, and press the trigger on the drill, it should raise or lower the jack as needed.
Once the crank is tight, the drill should automatically turn off, it usually only takes a few seconds. Just put the drill on low speed, pull the trigger, and you should be done.
To summarize, an RV stabilizer jack can make a huge difference to the stability inside the vehicle, but cranking it by hand on hot summer days can be a challenge.
To eliminate that problem, a portable cordless drill with a crank socket adapter can instantly get the job done. They’re highly recommended, and well worth it.
I hope this article was useful to you! Have fun on your next camping trip!
Cheers, tools owners!
