Last year I didn't run into this a single time and this year I've had it happen a few times and it's kinda got me puzzled.A few times now when running the legs up or down if I have to go very far the motor just stops. If I let off the button and press it again it'll work fine for a while and then shut off again. I have a couple guess' as to what's going on but if someone knows exactly what it is I'm all ears. I'm guessing it's either a thermal protection feature for the motor because it seems to only happen if I'm running the gear for a longer time than usual. My other guess is perhaps a battery draw issue since I *think* it's only happened when on 12v. It's done it both going up and down. The last couple of times it's done it I'll give it 30 seconds or so to cool down in case it is a thermal protection deal. I'm just curious as to why it didn't do it last year. One thing I noticed this last time that I'd never looked at before is the motor when the gears are running....the motor is moving around quite a bit. Is it supposed to do that or be rock solid?

0rion wrote:Last year I didn't run into this a single time and this year I've had it happen a few times and it's kinda got me puzzled.A few times now when running the legs up or down if I have to go very far the motor just stops. If I let off the button and press it again it'll work fine for a while and then shut off again. I have a couple guess' as to what's going on but if someone knows exactly what it is I'm all ears. I'm guessing it's either a thermal protection feature for the motor because it seems to only happen if I'm running the gear for a longer time than usual. My other guess is perhaps a battery draw issue since I *think* it's only happened when on 12v. It's done it both going up and down. The last couple of times it's done it I'll give it 30 seconds or so to cool down in case it is a thermal protection deal. I'm just curious as to why it didn't do it last year. One thing I noticed this last time that I'd never looked at before is the motor when the gears are running....the motor is moving around quite a bit. Is it supposed to do that or be rock solid?I think you're probably right that it is either thermal protection,or perhaps an auto-reset breaker. For some reason your gear motor is drawing more than the design current. Have you lubed the gears and lead screws? As for why it is happening this year, but not last year, could be simply that your battery is getting weak. When the battery voltage is lower, the current draw increases.I will sometimes leave the cord connecting to my running truck while leveling the trailer. Particularly if it looks like I will have a long travel to reach level. I do it mostly to save my battery power, because I will be without hookups. Might as well start out with as much battery reserve as possible, and use the truck power while it is easily available. But the 14 volt power from the truck also improves the efficiency of my gear motor.It is normal for the motor to bounce around. It is designed that way.

Hi there,The drive motor does normally move around on the assembly so thats probably no issue.Sounds as though there may be a thermal type breaker in the pink or faded red color wire to the motor.Could be it's getting a little sensitive to load.The breaker is most likely just plugged in to the wire and is easily replaceable.

Landing gear are wired directly from battery...usually 30A wire/fuse or an auto reset CBSo if battery voltage drops.....amp draw goes up.

thanks guys......I've been doing a little reading the last few minutes since posting this and I think it could be a lack of maintenance. I've never done any maintenance to the legs or gears. Wasn't aware until just a few minutes ago that I had to. I'll get out there tomorrow and take care of that. Wonder if everything just needs lubed down. I do keep the inner tubes and foot pads lubed with silicone but wasn't aware I need to do anything else.also....battery is new. I just replaced it this year. I will also try leaving it hooked to the truck running if it keeps doing it after I've done the maintenance.

another sorta related question.....if I want to mark the furthest point that my legs can travel in how would I do that? The place I started staying at lately is pretty unlevel front to back so I have to start with the legs extended out quite a ways to get the truck out from under the trailer and then run them way in to get the nose level. I'd love to have a visual point there to look at so I knew where my stop was when traveling in.

landing gear question.... | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

deleted-2
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
Just another small note:

Since replacing the in-line fuse with a self resetting breaker my fuse blowing problems are gone.
Evidently the automotive breaker can handle the current spike when hitting the stops.
I bought the breaker at Oreilly's auto for $14.99
arnko37
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
I leave the driven legs down (not all the way) quite a bit(all the time) so the the drop legs don't have far to go. This results in a sturdier position and less use of the motor.
T-10_Parabolic
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
0rion wrote:
another sorta related question.....if I want to mark the furthest point that my legs can travel in how would I do that? The place I started staying at lately is pretty unlevel front to back so I have to start with the legs extended out quite a ways to get the truck out from under the trailer and then run them way in to get the nose level. I'd love to have a visual point there to look at so I knew where my stop was when traveling in.

If you have Atwood landing gear the driven legs have 15" travel and the drop legs will drop 15".. So what I did is run the driven legs down 8" and punch marked the driven leg for a reference point..T-10
bpounds
Nomad
Oct 07, 2013
0rion wrote:
another sorta related question.....if I want to mark the furthest point that my legs can travel in how would I do that? The place I started staying at lately is pretty unlevel front to back so I have to start with the legs extended out quite a ways to get the truck out from under the trailer and then run them way in to get the nose level. I'd love to have a visual point there to look at so I knew where my stop was when traveling in.

I just ran mine to the end of travel - carefully so I didn't blow the fuse - then ran it out about 1", which is the point I want to be my visual limit. Then took a can of black spray paint and painted a line around the leg. Others use a felt tip pen, tape, sticker, etc.
0rion
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
another sorta related question.....if I want to mark the furthest point that my legs can travel in how would I do that? The place I started staying at lately is pretty unlevel front to back so I have to start with the legs extended out quite a ways to get the truck out from under the trailer and then run them way in to get the nose level. I'd love to have a visual point there to look at so I knew where my stop was when traveling in.
0rion
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
thanks guys......I've been doing a little reading the last few minutes since posting this and I think it could be a lack of maintenance. I've never done any maintenance to the legs or gears. Wasn't aware until just a few minutes ago that I had to. I'll get out there tomorrow and take care of that. Wonder if everything just needs lubed down. I do keep the inner tubes and foot pads lubed with silicone but wasn't aware I need to do anything else.

also....battery is new. I just replaced it this year. I will also try leaving it hooked to the truck running if it keeps doing it after I've done the maintenance.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 07, 2013
Landing gear are wired directly from battery...usually 30A wire/fuse or an auto reset CB
So if battery voltage drops.....amp draw goes up.
deleted-2
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
Hi there,

The drive motor does normally move around on the assembly so thats probably no issue.

Sounds as though there may be a thermal type breaker in the pink or faded red color wire to the motor.
Could be it's getting a little sensitive to load.
The breaker is most likely just plugged in to the wire and is easily replaceable.
bpounds
Nomad
Oct 07, 2013
0rion wrote:
Last year I didn't run into this a single time and this year I've had it happen a few times and it's kinda got me puzzled.

A few times now when running the legs up or down if I have to go very far the motor just stops. If I let off the button and press it again it'll work fine for a while and then shut off again. I have a couple guess' as to what's going on but if someone knows exactly what it is I'm all ears. I'm guessing it's either a thermal protection feature for the motor because it seems to only happen if I'm running the gear for a longer time than usual. My other guess is perhaps a battery draw issue since I *think* it's only happened when on 12v. It's done it both going up and down. The last couple of times it's done it I'll give it 30 seconds or so to cool down in case it is a thermal protection deal. I'm just curious as to why it didn't do it last year.
One thing I noticed this last time that I'd never looked at before is the motor when the gears are running....the motor is moving around quite a bit. Is it supposed to do that or be rock solid?

I think you're probably right that it is either thermal protection,or perhaps an auto-reset breaker. For some reason your gear motor is drawing more than the design current. Have you lubed the gears and lead screws? As for why it is happening this year, but not last year, could be simply that your battery is getting weak. When the battery voltage is lower, the current draw increases.

I will sometimes leave the cord connecting to my running truck while leveling the trailer. Particularly if it looks like I will have a long travel to reach level. I do it mostly to save my battery power, because I will be without hookups. Might as well start out with as much battery reserve as possible, and use the truck power while it is easily available. But the 14 volt power from the truck also improves the efficiency of my gear motor.

It is normal for the motor to bounce around. It is designed that way.

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landing gear question....

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