Lipper Electric Stabilizing Jacks - Problem

[brulaz]

Well the first major problem with the new trailer is the rear Lippert electric stabilizing jack. On our trip to Florida, it went down one night but would not retract the next morning.

Not manually either. The thing was jammed solid. The night was cold (6 below) so perhaps the mechanism was froze up somehow. But then it looked free of ice so figured maybe it was a mechanical jam somewhere.

Anyway, we had to get going, and as the whole thing is only attached with 4 bolts and an electrical cable, I decided to just remove it. But first I wanted to lower the front of the trailer to lift the rear jacks off the ground a bit.

Unfortunately I had left the trailer hitched to the truck that night as it was level with the WDH bars removed (and it was cold and late). So there was no way I could lower the front of the trailer without first raising it to unhitch the truck.

Maybe if I had had my morning coffee I would have realized that this was a stupid thing to do. Raising the front with the rear jacks extended puts more weight on them than they are designed for. They get crimped a bit, as I found out. Anyway, I got the assembly off and got going. I should have just removed the bolts, cut the cable and pulled ahead. Or, even better, ...

I later discovered that it was actually the motor/gearbox assembly that was frozen up. After removing the motor I could easily close up the jacks by hand. And after the motor/gearbox warmed up, it worked fine too. So I could have fixed the problem by just removing the motor/gearbox, hand cranking the jacks up and replacing the motor, (waiting for it to unfreeze), and drive off. Or by heating the motor/gearbox.

Since then I've put the whole thing back in place and it still works, sort of. With the jacks crimped as they are, they can't be as rigid as they originally were and may not last too long, we'll see.

So be careful of putting these things down when it's going to get below freezing, and when you've been driving in the wet all day.

EDIT: I see others have water problems with the Lippert jack motors
Full-of-water

[oilslick]

I took my damaged motor apart and one of the drive gears had sheared off. I know when I did it and was not overly cranking the stabilizers down. There is a shear pin but the drive gear sheared first, after looking at it and coupled with the fact they are sooooo sloooow I decided to just use a battery drill on the other end manual drive.

[brulaz]

Highway 4x4 wrote:

...
About the jacks, will the electric motor stop before it damages itself? Perhaps a mud flap of sorts in front of it to keep road spray off the motor would help. With my old TT I used the jacks to fine tune the level but not with these.
...

When my motors froze solid, they started working again when thawed. They don't seem damaged. Not sure if that answers your question though. My guess is that the struts will bend before the motor goes, but not sure. And prolly over-working them could damage them eventually. But all cases of dead motors that I've read about on the web have been due to internal corrosion from water. And sometimes that has been fixed.

[Highway_4x4]

BTW, the Lippert electric jacks are made in,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,yes,,,,,,CHINA. Just look at the sticker next to the motor.

[Highway_4x4]

OK, I'll jump in here as I have a new Wind River 250RDSW. I hope all that Lippert stuff doesn't turn the new TT into a pile if fix-it lists. About the jacks, will the electric motor stop before it damages itself? Perhaps a mud flap of sorts in front of it to keep road spray off the motor would help. With my old TT I used the jacks to fine tune the level but not with these. I do like the remote awning idea but have not used it yet. At least the frame of my TT is made in-house by Northwood and they make the walls. Those frameless thermo windows are a Lippert company and the big one on the back has to be replaced due to a broken part that can't be replaced on it. Well, no one forced me to buy it.

[6_7_tow_rig]

Thats the one thing I would order my trailer without if I had to do over. I absolutely hate those things and when they break I will replace them with the manual crank ones with the drill adapter like on my old trailer. I could get all four manual ones down before one set of these junk electric ones gets down

[oilslick]

Mine failed third or fourth time using, I took off the motor then turned the jacks 180 degrees and now us a lithium 18 volt drill, in the manual hole on the curb side, it's way faster and can crank further. The factory system is just way too sloooow when it's raining.

[Downwindtracke1]

My rear motor seized, too. I had lubed the screw (my mistake)and the dust stuck. OK, when I went to manually raise them, the spring roll pin sheared. I took the unit off and went to town for $.30 part. The motor is held on by allen head cap screws, so you have to have the correct socket, which I had. You need a pin punch for the pin, which I don't have and used a cut off and filed nail .

The local RV dealer had a motor, which he didn't know what it was for, so I got a good deal.

[brulaz]

Ozlander wrote:
About what I would except from Lippert.

I too criticized Lippert (jacks and remote) to the warranty guy at Outdoors RV and was told that Lippert seems to be buying up more and more independent RV parts manufacturers.

My Al-Ko axles are now manufactured by Lippert and a string of other RV odds and ends that Outdoors RV uses, according to him.

He said there just wasn't much choice any more.

[Ozlander]

About what I would except from Lippert.

[brulaz]

Glendale 290 wrote:
Thanks for this great info. It all makes sense and I will be travelling with a set of four manual jacks that I'll keep in the trunk when doing late season travelling in colder temps.....modern push button conveniences come with their unexpected limitations..... I can't wait till one of my tiny schwintek slide out motors quits while travelling....I am considering buying a spare (worth a few bucks $$$.) Has anyone else bought one and have you had to replace one yet on your unit??

Lou

Update: I've started checking the jack motors after traveling in the rain, and the rear one consistently fills with water inside its rubber jacket. So beware. But the front jack motor is always dry.

Also found more reports of long-term corrosion in the motors and consequent loss of function at different sites on the web.

After drying out the rear motor for the second or third time, I tried wrapping it in duct tape to keep the water out. Helped a bit but not completely. Maybe a water-proof box can be built around it ... dunno. We'll see.


As for slide motors, my slide isn't schwintek, but I do know the motor is hidden in the under-belly, protected from the elements. I now think that's a good thing even if it's less accessible. The dealer pointed out the flap I need to open to get at it. Apparently the slide is easily movable by hand. One of these days I'll give it a try just to be sure.


And here's another issue: I was pleasantly surprised when picking up the trailer that it came with a Lippert remote control for the exterior lights, awning, slide and stabilizing jacks. It was actually quite cool as you could walk around and watch the devices extend and ensure that nothing was in the way.

But then the remote stopped working! Even when fully charged. Or rather would only work when held within 1-2 ft of the receiver which made it useless. Outdoors RV is sending me a new one.

But at this point I sort of wish the trailer hadn't come with any of this unnecessary motorized stuff. I keep wondering when the motor in the Awning will stop working as well. And there's even little motors that raise and lower the Fantastic Fan lids. Good Grief!

[Glendale_290]

Thanks for this great info. It all makes sense and I will be travelling with a set of four manual jacks that I'll keep in the trunk when doing late season travelling in colder temps.....modern push button conveniences come with their unexpected limitations..... I can't wait till one of my tiny schwintek slide out motors quits while travelling....I am considering buying a spare (worth a few bucks $$$.) Has anyone else bought one and have you had to replace one yet on your unit??

Lou