A trailer jack (or "jockey wheel") is one of those parts you never think about — until you're knee-deep in mud trying to reposition a loaded camper and a cheap stamped-steel jack bends sideways or seizes solid. On pavement almost anything works. Off-road, the jack becomes a tool you actually rely on, and the gap between a good one and a bad one is enormous.
This guide covers what actually matters when you choose an off-road trailer jockey wheel, and then maps the three ARK XO models — the XO350, XO500, and XO750 — to the kind of trailer you tow.
Static vs. dynamic load rating (the spec people get wrong)
You'll see two load numbers. Static load is what the jack can hold while parked and stationary — that's the big number. Dynamic load is what it can safely support while you're moving the trailer on the wheel. Dynamic is always lower, and it's the one that matters when you're walking a heavy trailer across a campsite. The ARK XO750, for example, is rated 1,650 lb static and 1,100 lb dynamic.
Your target is the trailer's tongue weight (the down-force at the coupling), not the trailer's total weight — usually 10–15% of loaded weight. Match the jack's dynamic rating to your tongue weight with margin to spare.
Wheels and bearings
This is where off-road jacks earn their money. Look for dual wheels (they don't dig in like a single narrow wheel), an off-road tread with enough diameter to climb out of ruts, and — most important — sealed bearings. Open bearings pack with grit and pit after one water crossing; sealed bearings keep rolling. All three ARK XO models use dual, sealed-bearing wheels.
Height range and clearance
Lifted tow vehicles and off-road couplings sit high. A jack that only extends to a low height won't lift the coupling clear. ARK XO jacks offer multiple height positions up to 28", which clears most lifted setups.
Corrosion resistance
Sand, salt, and winter roads destroy cheap jacks. A meaningful spec here is salt-spray testing — ARK rates the XO line to 600 hours, which is why they hold up in coastal and snow-belt use.
ARK XO350 vs XO500 vs XO750: which one?
| XO350 | XO500 / Black Edition | XO750 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static load | 770 lb | 1,100–1,102 lb | 1,650 lb |
| Max height | 21" | 28" | 28" |
| Handle | Ratchet arm | Magnetic side-wind | Magnetic side-wind |
| Best for | Teardrops, small utility & off-road trailers | Mid-size off-road campers & caravans | Tandem-axle / fully loaded overland rigs |
| Price | $199 | $249 / $275 | $299 |
- Light trailer (teardrop, small utility)? The ARK XO350 is the lightweight, lower-cost choice at 770 lb.
- Mid-size off-road camper? The ARK XO500 covers most builds; the Black Edition is the same jack in stealth black.
- Heavy, fully loaded rig? The ARK XO750 is the 1,650 lb original that overland builders spec as standard.
The short version
Match the dynamic load rating to your tongue weight, insist on dual sealed-bearing wheels and enough height for a lifted coupling, and don't cheap out on corrosion resistance. Do that and you'll buy one jack instead of three. Browse the full ARK XO off-road trailer jack collection — all ship fast from our warehouse in Upland, CA, and they're the same jacks fitted as OEM on Black Series campers.