Landing Gear Emergency

[Hoppypoppy]

So happy for this site. I run here every time I have an issue. Usually get good advice.

I have 30 ft Cardinal. While parked in storage, at the end of a row of RVs, another tenant clipped the left front corner of our trailer while making a turn. Luckily, he is a stand up guy. He contacted the facility management and they contacted us. He has agreed to pay for all damage. There is significant damage to the fiberglass on that corner, but that is not my major concern at this point.

When he hooked the 5er he drug it 6 to 8 inches, bending the right landing gear. The 5er did not drop, but it looks like any movement could cause it to. I thought of using jacks to get it high enough to get it on my hitch, but there is no framework near the gear. The weight would be on the trlr undercarriage. (4 seasons) Compounding the problem, the impact put us within inches of the next door trailer. If my 5er should drop it would most likely hit the one next to us. We are in the process of trying to locate the owner to see if they will move their trlr during our operation. Hoping they are not Snowbirds as we are in the Phoenix area. Anyone have any helpful ideas? Hope this was not too long

[Sport45]

You mention significant damage to the fiberglass along with the landing gear issues.

Are you planning to tackle that yourself too? I wouldn't suggest doing any of the repairs yourself unless you're planning to do all of them. His cost for the insurance claim is going to be the same either way.If you fix the landing gear and he pays you for that and then turns around to pay an insurance claim for the body work he's actually out more money than if you had just let somebody else do it all.

[Stefonius]

ratrod47 wrote:
I would use sufficient wood blocking and 20 ton bottle jacks under both sides of the main trailer frame just behind where the kick up is. One jack on each side. Raise the first jack under the frame rail and support the undamaged side first. Then raise the jack under the frame rail on the damaged side jacking that side up level with the other side. Then jack both sides together evenly raising the camper evenly to hook up to the tow vehicle. The camper would have to be supported as such to make repairs to the damaged leg any way.

That's what I did when I had to replace a damaged leg. 20 ton bottle jack to lift the frame under the main part of the camper, then support on big jack stand, and repeat with other side. Once both landing gear legs are just a little bit off the ground, you can remove the damaged leg from inside the front compartment pretty easily. Heaven help you if you have an installed generator. Hitching to the TV isn't a great option, because it leaves you with no room to work between truck and front compartment.

[bbaker2001]

yes the Cardinalrvclub.org is also a great place for help on your Cardinal. just came home from the Cardinal Ralley in Jackson, Ca and have learned so much about my Cardinal I did not know. so much fun and ideas.

[Imaroadrunnr]

First off, be careful. I had a similar experience due to my stupidity but I had Good Sam Towing and a tow truck lifted the 5er and I was able to hitch the truck up to it and get it home. No charge. The tow truck driver put a loop around the front of the unit (34ft) and I called a mobile RV service to fix the landing gear which had a stripped gear. That was 10 years ago and hopefully I am older and wiser. Probably just older. Don't go crawling around under the trailer with a bottle jack 'cause it's HEAVY. My 2 cents worth.
Stan Mitchell
Las Vegas

[MainerBob]

FWIW, we just had the slave side jack replaced due to it getting bent (long story) and the shop was able to take it our through the front compartment. I was able to completely retract the bent inner leg by slowly lowering the trailer onto blocks, a bit at a time, and using the weight of the trailer to push the leg in while holding the pin out. That allowed it to come out the compartment. Otherwise they would have just cut it off. Once the inner leg is bent the jack is toast.

[Hoppypoppy]

Thanks again for all the suggestions. Won't be able to actually tackle it till Thurs and the wait is killing me.

[Dave_H_M]

I know you have good intentions but may be getting yourself into a river of no return.

I am with Chris, it is time for a recovery dude to get it in there and take it to a shop that can and will fix the landing gear damage and then go to the body work.

hopefully you or the recovery folks can locate a full service repair facility near by.

[Me_Again]

You all are missing the fact that the bent leg will most likely not retract. And that to remove the existing leg(s) requires lifting the front-end quite a bit beyond normal.

OP did not state the year of the trailer, however on the 30' statement I assume it has the same single electric motor on the driver's side leg with a connection to the passenger side leg that our Cardinal had.

Get a wrecker via his insurance to move it to a repair shop. They can pick it up and if necessary disconnect the drive to the right leg(1/4 20 bolt) and retract the left one. Drop the right leg extension out if it can be lifted high enough or cut it off.

Chris

[Rvpapa]

SRW will give lots of clearance for that other trailer that you are worried about being too close to. As long as the pin box touches the angle of the hitch you are good to go. Chock between the wheels especially on the side that is close. If you leave the other side clear the trailer will shift away from the close one. Might help a bit to put a bit of grease on the hitch ramps. If you need more than a couple of inches you can always deflate truck tires a bit for a bit more. If the pin box will hit the angle of the hitch, line everything up, move ahead five or six inches and then back in one shot. Don't try to ease into the pin, it won't break or bend. More than five inches all bets are off.
Art.

[rhagfo]

Well if it were me I would build up cribbing under the frame rails on both sides. Then I would build up a platform to allow the use of a bottle Jack to raise the damaged side. Rase damaged side a bit then take the weight off the undamaged to allow any side stress on that side to be released. Continue until you have it at a height necessary to hitch to TV or remove or repair the landing gear.

[Sport45]

Me Again wrote:
Let the insurance companies handle.

^^ This. He was a nice guy and all, but you're not saving him anything by doing things yourself. He is only paying his deductible anyway. With the insurance claim you will also have the damage documented so if anything crops up down the road from hidden damages you're still covered.

If you mess around with it and it falls against another trailer that's on you, not the guy that bumped you.

[ratrod47]

I would use sufficient wood blocking and 20 ton bottle jacks under both sides of the main trailer frame just behind where the kick up is. One jack on each side. Raise the first jack under the frame rail and support the undamaged side first. Then raise the jack under the frame rail on the damaged side jacking that side up level with the other side. Then jack both sides together evenly raising the camper evenly to hook up to the tow vehicle. The camper would have to be supported as such to make repairs to the damaged leg any way.

[Me_Again]

Let the insurance companies handle. The front has to be raise to drop the jack(s) out. Most people replace two dual operated jacks with individually operated ones. The gang on the Cardinalrvclub.org should be able to help you with the parts details. We sold our Cardinal, so I no longer have access to the forum there. Chris

[Nicholsfamily05]

Dano1955 wrote:
You could try some three-quarter inch plywood with two by fours for strength. The two by fours would give it the strength to be lifted the plywood what distribute the listing and weight of the vehicle. Then use a floor jack or bottle jack to lift that side of the trailer.

X2