The right landing gear has been cranky for awhile and we have an appointment to get it replaced. But it couldn't wait. We've been both using the switch and crank at the same time. This time it sheared off completely leaving us without anyway of raising it for the truck. Luckily, we carry a bottle jack and managed to raise it enough to hitch up. But now of course, there's no way to get the truck off. Sooo, we'll take the entire parade to the repair place and let them deal with it. Things like this make a new rig very appealing.

Why? Replacing landing gear is pretty simple for an average DIYer. Order the parts online from the manufacturer and have them in a few days. As far as getting it off the truck. Thats easy too. A couple of hydraulic jacks under the front frame and you can drive right off.

Drill a hole to lubricate the new ones-that is generally why they go bad-rust at the jackscrew nut.Good luck

A large Alfa Ideal came into our rv park in march and they had 2 bottle jacks set up to un hook. the landing gear was a new install that the fella had just done him self. when they started the trip both landing gear did not work. A phone call to the company was made and the answer was we know they are bad so will send out two more. No question on him doing the work incorrect. chevman

Had similar problem in South Carolina. Bottle jack to the rescue. For loading and unloading from truck on several more stops. A little more work but no real problem.Once we got to a place where we would be staying awhile, I called the manufacturer. They sent me a new one under waranty. But said that since I was not an authorized repair service they would not waranty this jack if anything went wrong with it. Since I could not get an authorized repair service to do the work on a timely basis, I accepted the free replacement. When I received the replacement, I discovered they had sent the incorrect part...too short. I can only imagine if I was an authorized repair service, wasting my time. A week later I received the correct free replacement. Installed in about an hour.An autopsy on the old one proved that the gear had stripped out, due to the torque multiplication at the end of the stroke. I'll buy a new set of gears and have a back up.

I have had my 5er for 10 years. My right landing gear has broken 2 times. Both times it was a broken shaft that leads from the motor to the gears. Both times I removed the entire assembly from the trailer, taken it to a local machine shop. They made me a new shaft (30 bucks). Then I would put the unit back on my 5er. Actually an easy fix...........

Landing gear is toast | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

kedanie
Explorer II
May 31, 2013
When the right side leg failed on the landing gear of the 5er we had before our current MH, we had the whole system replaced with an Ultra Fab Dual Motor System. It will double your capacity and ultimately cost less than replacing the stock setup. Another benefit is that you get rid of the cross bar from one leg to the other. Each leg is independent with dual switches and makes leveling a breeze.

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Keith
Vulcaneer
Explorer
May 31, 2013
KampingKris wrote:
It's a binding leg which had to be removed. Not an easy job. For starters, the leg is longer than the distance from the trailer to the ground while on the truck. Hmm... the repair guys solution was to position the leg over a shallow culvert and it took some pounding to get it out. It was messed up apparently resulting in the motor shearing off the leg.

"the leg is longer than the distance from the trailer to the ground while on the truck"...

I had a similar problem. So you jack it up. Disconnect from the truck. And jack it up some more. Use some wood blocks if you need to get it higher. Or...dig a hole under it.

Your RV repair guy, is like most. Not very bright. No common sense. Doesn't have the tools to jack it up, so he can get the leg out? A binding leg? No it's not. It's a front elevator leg that is bound up. Get it free off the ground. And get it out. If it is really bent up, then there is something that caused it to bend. Maybe lifting or hitching without chocks. This would cause the trailer to move, and the legs to bend.
uterep
Explorer
May 31, 2013
mobilcastle wrote:
Drill a hole to lubricate the new ones-that is generally why they go bad-rust at the jackscrew nut.Good luck

got a pic or how to on this very interested
KampingKris
Explorer
May 30, 2013
No digging on asphalt.
larry_barnhart
Explorer
May 30, 2013
I guess digging a hole wasn't thought about but your problems has made me think on what would be a good way to removed the landing gear.
chevman
KampingKris
Explorer
May 30, 2013
It's a binding leg which had to be removed. Not an easy job. For starters, the leg is longer than the distance from the trailer to the ground while on the truck. Hmm... the repair guys solution was to position the leg over a shallow culvert and it took some pounding to get it out. It was messed up apparently resulting in the motor shearing off the leg. For the time being, the truck is permanently attached to the rig now and we'll move it around the neighborhood. We'd use the bottlejack to get if off the truck in storage, but our particular spot is very unlevel with the nose of the trailer pointing down requiring height to get it off the truck. Since bad luck seems to be our friend right now, it doesn't seem like a wise idea to attempt offloading under that condition with visions of it coming off the jack due to the height. Maybe... just maybe the part will be in early next week.
MTPockets1
Explorer
May 29, 2013
Just assisted a fellow camper with my bottle jack after his landing gear elec motor/gear failed.... He said first stop was to get himself a bottle jack..
AlabamaTraveler
Explorer
May 29, 2013
I have had my 5er for 10 years. My right landing gear has broken 2 times. Both times it was a broken shaft that leads from the motor to the gears. Both times I removed the entire assembly from the trailer, taken it to a local machine shop. They made me a new shaft (30 bucks). Then I would put the unit back on my 5er. Actually an easy fix...........
Vulcaneer
Explorer
May 29, 2013
Had similar problem in South Carolina. Bottle jack to the rescue. For loading and unloading from truck on several more stops. A little more work but no real problem.

Once we got to a place where we would be staying awhile, I called the manufacturer. They sent me a new one under waranty. But said that since I was not an authorized repair service they would not waranty this jack if anything went wrong with it. Since I could not get an authorized repair service to do the work on a timely basis, I accepted the free replacement.

When I received the replacement, I discovered they had sent the incorrect part...too short. I can only imagine if I was an authorized repair service, wasting my time. A week later I received the correct free replacement. Installed in about an hour.

An autopsy on the old one proved that the gear had stripped out, due to the torque multiplication at the end of the stroke. I'll buy a new set of gears and have a back up.
larry_barnhart
Explorer
May 29, 2013
A large Alfa Ideal came into our rv park in march and they had 2 bottle jacks set up to un hook. the landing gear was a new install that the fella had just done him self. when they started the trip both landing gear did not work. A phone call to the company was made and the answer was we know they are bad so will send out two more. No question on him doing the work incorrect.
chevman