Forum Discussion

jvawter's avatar
jvawter
Explorer
Sep 19, 2015

Landing gear operates only with vehicle cable connected

The landing gear used to operate just from the battery on the 5th wheel, or when the cable was attached to the vehicle. I was unhooking from the hitch when the cable caught on the tailgate of the truck and pulled some wires out of the terminal box. I opened it up and found a ground pulled out and one wire skinned and a wire pulled out of a wire nut. I put the wires back and insulated the skinned wire. When I went to operate the landing gear it wouldn't work. I plugged in the cable to the running vehicle and it works. I checked the 30 amp fuse to the motor and it's good. I can't find any other fuses for the landing gear. Does anyone have any idea what might have happened to prevent the landing gear from operating as it used to without the vehicle connected. If the connected vehicle isn't running, the landing gear won't operate. It's getting power from the running vehicle. I check the DC fuses in the converter panel as well.

8 Replies

  • rseymour21's avatar
    rseymour21
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2015
    jvawter wrote:
    Everything in the camper works fine from the battery, even when not plugged into AC. I'm thinking there must be some sort of fuse or relay somewhere that I can't find. The one from the motor that's just inline 6" from the motor is a 30 amp and good. If that fuse blew, the motor couldn't operate at all. Somehow, I'm missing something obvious. Thanks for the reply.



    Did You find your problem? Update?
  • jvawter's avatar
    jvawter
    Explorer
    Sep 19, 2015
    Everything in the camper works fine from the battery, even when not plugged into AC. I'm thinking there must be some sort of fuse or relay somewhere that I can't find. The one from the motor that's just inline 6" from the motor is a 30 amp and good. If that fuse blew, the motor couldn't operate at all. Somehow, I'm missing something obvious. Thanks for the reply.
  • NMDriver's avatar
    NMDriver
    Explorer
    Sep 19, 2015
    Check the battery. Switch it out with the truck battery. Just because it has 12 volts on a meter does not mean it has amps enough to move legs.
  • Pipeman's avatar
    Pipeman
    Explorer
    Sep 19, 2015
    I don't know about your trailer but a few years ago, while disconnecting the batteries, I managed to short the cables. Jacks and slides would not work. I came onto the forum, stated my problem and got the help I needed. So I'll pass this along in case it might help you. Follow your positive battery cable up to where it connects to the trailer. If there is a square type box there, feel along the top. Do you feel any little buttons? If so feel for one that might be up higher than the others and press it down, back into the box. I say box for lack of a better description. By doing this my problem was resolved. Good luck.
  • Sport45's avatar
    Sport45
    Explorer II
    Sep 19, 2015
    When you pulled the wires you may have grounded the feed coming from the battery resulting in a blown fuse or burnt wire(s). Check the in-line fuse that Old-Biscuit mentioned above.
  • 4huskers's avatar
    4huskers
    Explorer
    Sep 19, 2015
    Had the same thing with a slide.with the trailer connected it worked, disconnected nothing. The battery was shot.
  • rseymour21's avatar
    rseymour21
    Explorer
    Sep 19, 2015
    If it works fine while plugged into your truck. Are you sure your trailer battery is okay? Have you also tried plugging your trailer into AC?
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Sep 19, 2015
    Trace the wiring back from Landing Gear Motor to where it is connected to get power.

    My landing gear is wired directly to trailer battery with an in-line fuse.

    Even when connected to truck.trailer battery supplies power and truck when running helps maintain draw on trailer battery

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