A car jack is designed to lift one corner of a vehicle just high enough for tire changes or minor repairs, while an RV jack is built to handle much more weight and often includes stabilizing or leveling features. In short, a car jack is for lifting, and an RV jack is for lifting, leveling, and stabilizing.
When you lift a car, you’re only raising one wheel off the ground, so a simple scissor or bottle jack does the job. But an RV weighs far more and sits on a larger frame, so it needs a jack (or multiple jacks) that can either stabilize it while parked or level it on uneven ground. Some RVs use manual scissor jacks, while others rely on powered or hydraulic systems that lift the entire vehicle evenly.
If you tried to use a small car jack on an RV, it likely wouldn’t be strong or tall enough. RV jacks are built for heavier loads, extended reach, and long-term support, making them a core part of safe camping setup rather than just a roadside tool.
