I think I might need a new front landing leg motor. My problem started the last few times out where when I use the extend/retract switch it either starts extremely slow and gains a little speed as it goes and will vary between slowing and gaining speed. Its not like its a constant speed once it runs. Or it will do nothing at all, so I grab the bar that goes between the legs and start to turn it myself and press the button for the extend/retract and it might start, although when it starts its slow as molasses and once again will vary between slowing and gaining speed.We went out this weekend and when I came back to the storage yard it did nothing so I hand cranked it down.I know the battery is good since I can put the slides out with no problems and even tried the landing legs with jumper cables from my truck to the fiver battery with no difference. The lights don’t dim when pressing the extend/retract button either.My question is, since I have never taken off the motor or gearbox off before and the fiver is sitting in the storage lot, can I pull the motor and gear box off without fear of the landing legs giving way while I take them off?I think that answer is yes but wanted to double check with you guys. I think that one the legs are down they are down and the motor and gearbox is not ‘holding them’ so its safe to remove them.I wanted to take them off, check the motor itself with some jumper cables to see if it works and take apart the gearbox and grease it up since I already have it off. When I was de-winterizing a few weeks ago I did pop odd the tops of the landing legs and the gears were lubed but I also put some more in. I don’t think that the gearbox or lack up lube is the problem because hand cranking it was not a big deal and everything moved freely, just time consuming to crank them down.Let me know what you guys think

I would check/replace the circuit breaker for the landing legs, before removing/replacing motor.Jerry

Along with that breaker clean all the wiring connections, especially the grounds. When you press the switch to raise or lower the legs can you access the wires at the motor to ensure they are receiving power?

I pretty sure mine has just a fuse on it and no breaker.

austinjenna wrote:I didnt think about the circuit breaker. I guess I will have to follow the wires to see where that it is.Should be right close to battery. Mine (slide and landing gear breakers) are on inside basement wall, right behind battery, that is outside the wall. You may just try switching them at the storage lot, if they are same amperage.Jerry

Austin -- I just went through something like this -- although mine ended up being bad legs...and I am having new BullDog legs installed today (I hope) at the dealership cause I can't get into the space myself.Before I made this decision -- I changed out the gearbox, but that did not fix the problem. Then I changed out the motor, and that didn't fix the problem.(I have the venture/lippert single motor set-up)Both times, there was weight on the legs. You can take off the motor and the gearbox without fear the rig lowers.Best of luck to ya!

Front landing leg motor replacement help/question

Njmurvin
Explorer
May 03, 2018
X2 on the lubrication of the big worm gear. It made a huge difference on mine. That said, I believe there is dual motor setup in my future. BTW, there is an option (at least for my Stromberg Carlson) for a higher output motor.
austinjenna
Explorer
May 03, 2018
You may just have a defective motor - but what caused the defective motor may be the lack of good useful grease on the jacks.

No the motor is shot. If you read my first post I had lubed everything up when getting it out of storage. Also when I had to lower the legs manually with the crank it was easy peasy - just a lot of turning! but cranking it was effortless so I know that everything else is lubed up good. Thanks for the info
jodeb720
Explorer
May 03, 2018
I've been to this movie myself.

My fuses kept blowing
The motor turned extremely slow.
I thought the motor was going bad.

Then read posting here on Rv.Net and found that someone said the screws needed to be lubricated.

After pulling apart the motor I found:

The drive gears had old, dry & crusty grease (or what was left of it)
both Jacks had hold dry crusty grease.

After disassembling everything, and cleaning it all with brake cleaner and a wire brush down to bare metal, I reassembled the entire thing and haven't looked back.

my BIL had a similar problem and he replaced his motor (which was warn from teh dried out grease) and it worked better for a couple of years but eventually he had the same problem.

You may just have a defective motor - but what caused the defective motor may be the lack of good useful grease on the jacks.

Josh
austinjenna
Explorer
May 01, 2018
The Bulldog dual motor system is wonderful, and it's one of the best things I've done to my toyhauler. It was more money than I wanted to spend, but it turned out to be money well spent. Just another thought

Thanks but I have a single motor system on mine and honestly in the fifth wheels that I have had this is the first time I have had to replace a landing leg motor. It took all of 5 minutes to get it off and I ordered the new one already so I am happy to just be spending 100 bucks on it and be able to do it myself.
4bearhug
Explorer
May 01, 2018
I had to do the same thing when our front leg switch malfuntioned while towing and ran the motor continuously which burned up the motor. I ended up replacing the legs because it was cheaper to just replace the whole assembly than just the motor. It wasn't too bad of a job on our 5er. I jacked the front end up with a bottle jack and then supported it with wood blocks just to be safe.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Apr 30, 2018
The Bulldog dual motor system is wonderful, and it's one of the best things I've done to my toyhauler. It was more money than I wanted to spend, but it turned out to be money well spent. Just another thought.
austinjenna
Explorer
Apr 30, 2018
I just went and pulled the motor off, its dead - if I hook it right to my truck battery it does not turn. Time for a new one
nayther
Explorer
Apr 30, 2018
mekkerl wrote:
Austin -- I just went through something like this -- although mine ended up being bad legs...and I am having new BullDog legs installed today (I hope) at the dealership cause I can't get into the space myself.

Before I made this decision -- I changed out the gearbox, but that did not fix the problem. Then I changed out the motor, and that didn't fix the problem.
(I have the venture/lippert single motor set-up)

Both times, there was weight on the legs. You can take off the motor and the gearbox without fear the rig lowers.

Best of luck to ya!

I went down this road MANY TIMES with my toy hauler. After rebuilding the screws, adding a second motor, rebuilding again, I went to the Bulldog setup. Not cheap, even doing it myself. but WOW! What an enormous improvement. New trailer we're waiting on has the auto levelers so shouldn't have same issues.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Apr 30, 2018
You should be fine when removing the motor and gearbox. The screw should be enough to support the trailer just fine, but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to have a jack or some support underneath, just as a backup. Not strictly necessary, but better safe than sorry.
mekkerl
Explorer
Apr 30, 2018
Austin -- I just went through something like this -- although mine ended up being bad legs...and I am having new BullDog legs installed today (I hope) at the dealership cause I can't get into the space myself.

Before I made this decision -- I changed out the gearbox, but that did not fix the problem. Then I changed out the motor, and that didn't fix the problem.
(I have the venture/lippert single motor set-up)

Both times, there was weight on the legs. You can take off the motor and the gearbox without fear the rig lowers.

Best of luck to ya!