Landing gear lock pin sheared.

[bighatnohorse]

Our friends and neighbors had a landing gear problem in the campground yesterday.
It appears that the large lock pin was too weak and it sheared off.

There was a loud "boom" and none of us knew what it was.
He was hooking up in preparation to depart when this happened.
It was soon discovered that one leg would not retract.

After much hassle we were able to remove the lock pin assembly and found that the pin had sheared - leaving half of itself within the retracting leg.

His is a large newer Arctic Fox camper - maybe in the 36-foot range.
Sorry, I'm not a fiver type camper and don't know much about those machines. But the question I have is;
Is it common for a supporting lock pin to fail? That is to simply shear off?

[fj12ryder]

I know there is a bit of play in the pins and holes on my legs. So I would think that you're okay with the sizes you have. They probably do it that way so the pins will move freely.

[Durb]

Bought a used trailer (11,000 GVW) that has 3/8"Lippert pins for the landing gear. The holes in the lower leg take a 7/16" drill bit with no play at all. Lower leg 2" square, upper 2 1/4" square. Do I have the correct pin or is 3/8" undersized?

[shepstone]

Had the pin go on a forest river fiver but it was the pin that went through the square rod that rotated the front jacks down, it was located in the basement compartment at front .

[csamayfield55x]

I wonder if he maybe didn't have his pin all the way through both sides? I have caught mine kinda hung up and needing a little help to go all the way through. If this happens twice as much sheer force is put on half as much pin and could cause an issue

Chris

[fj12ryder]

Wow, I can't imagine the amount of force it would take to shear one of the locking leg pins. A common 3/8" bolt has a shear strength around 10,000 lbs.

[azrving]

My pins were becoming deformed like they would shear off. I replaced them with the Ultra Fab spring loaded type that bolt on. I never lifted the truck but I could see how that could damage them. Mine are 3/8 diameter but they also sell a 7/16 model.

[bpounds]

Not common, but not unheard of either. Can be a problem if you inadvertently lift the truck with the hitch.

[dezl_dr]

Not common, must have got more pressure on that side. Maybe the other side sunk down.
In shear pins are strong, one 5/8" pin holds in a Reese hitch.

[fj12ryder]

I'm not sure I know what the "large lock pin" you're referring to. Could you elaborate? There are shear pins located in a few places, but this doesn't really sound like it's one of those.

It almost sounds like you're talking about the spring loaded through pin that supports the inner section of the leg.