Opinion on 5th gear Landing Gears

[trueweb]

The front landing gears have failed on my 2008 Keystone Raptor. The leg without the motor continues to get "out of sync" with the powered leg. I think gears are stripped or something else. I have to detach the connecting rod get them even then continue.

I'd like your help with what to do and what your preference is since I have to tear a good part of the camper apart to get to the leg. It's buried deep between the generator and propane box (2008 Raptor mp299).

If I replace should I use independent motors or go with a direct replacement?

Are there hydraulic solutions that may work better?

Any specific brands?

What would you do? I'm trying to get exposed to ideas or products I have not found yet. Thanks!

[chuckster57]

Changing to hydraulic could prove costly. If you don't have the pump, or if you do, if you don't have 4 ports on the manifold.

Changing to independent motors would be good as long as the space is there for the motor. Properly lubricated landing gear should last a long time, my last trailer was 13 1/2 yrs old when I sold it and they worked just like the day I bought it.

If you can, measure the length of the outer leg, before ordering so you know which ones to get. Info may be on the motor.

[randy69]

The front landing gears have failed on my 2008 Keystone Raptor. The leg without the motor continues to get "out of sync" with the powered leg. I think gears are stripped or something else. I have to detach the connecting rod get them even then continue.

I'd like your help with what to do and what your preference is since I have to tear a good part of the camper apart to get to the leg. It's buried deep between the generator and propane box (2008 Raptor mp299).

If I replace should I use independent motors or go with a direct replacement?

Are there hydraulic solutions that may work better?

Any specific brands?

What would you do? I'm trying to get exposed to ideas or products I have not found yet. Thanks!
I had same problem .. Mine had one dc motor and a cross shaft for the other landing gear. Bought additional landing gear motor and switch. For installation I made a craw through door from inside front storage compartment. extra switch was installed next to the orginal landing switch. Much easer with two motor landing gear. Easer to level the front now.

[trueweb]

Thanks Randy! I think I'm headed down the "two motor" path even though the one buried deep behind the generator and propane makes me nervous and I'm not sure how I'll access it with a manual crank either.

As far as leveling goes I have always been told not to level the rv with the landing gears or stabilizers. Side to side level should always be done at the tires (ramps, etc). The landing gears are used to level front to rear and the rear stabilizer jacks are just for stability.

Thanks for your reply!

[randy69]

Ok not hard to do just time consuming. First of all there two ways to support your tt to remove landing gear. Use your truck (hitch up ) or what I did was 2 heavy duty. Jack stands and a 4x6x8 lumber floor jack in the center 4x6x8. Bring up your landing gear. To acess that hard to get landing gear. I cut a door with hindges,big enough So could excess the landing gear. Don't forget to remove the square tube drive shaft. Unbolt the old landing gear and install new one. Bolt on motor. Next I used a hole saw where the propane compartment is to acess the manual crank option. Now to install your switch trace arounid your new switch next to your old one. Used a small drill bit and finished off with a drimminal motor. Switch wiring harness is long enough to reach your battery and landing gear. If you have a remote landing gear control also I would remove the fuse from the receiver on the other side of storage compartment. You have to press both switches at the same time. You will notice a lot more power.

[CWSWine]

Deleted wrong thread

[Festus2]

CWSWine -
I think the OP's question was about repairing and replacing the landing gear for his 5th wheel. Perhaps your post is in response to a different member's question about TT 's, shifting weight and tongue weight.

Are you sure your response is in the correct thread?

[CWSWine]

CWSWine -
I think the OP's question was about repairing and replacing the landing gear for his 5th wheel. Perhaps your post is in response to a different member's question about TT 's, shifting weight and tongue weight.

Are you sure your response is in the correct thread?

Wrong Thread Sorry...

[trueweb]

Ok not hard to do just time consuming. First of all there two ways to support your tt to remove landing gear. Use your truck (hitch up ) or what I did was 2 heavy duty. Jack stands and a 4x6x8 lumber floor jack in the center 4x6x8. Bring up your landing gear. To acess that hard to get landing gear. I cut a door with hindges,big enough So could excess the landing gear. Don't forget to remove the square tube drive shaft. Unbolt the old landing gear and install new one. Bolt on motor. Next I used a hole saw where the propane compartment is to acess the manual crank option. Now to install your switch trace arounid your new switch next to your old one. Used a small drill bit and finished off with a drimminal motor. Switch wiring harness is long enough to reach your battery and landing gear. If you have a remote landing gear control also I would remove the fuse from the receiver on the other side of storage compartment. You have to press both switches at the same time. You will notice a lot more power.

Wow, this is good advice Randy! Thank you! Do you have any pictures of what you did with regard to the door? I'm thinking I have to go through the propane door and remove the aluminum shield around the propane tanks.

Thanks again!

[randy69]

Wow, this is good advice Randy! Thank you! Do you have any pictures of what you did with regard to the door? I'm thinking I have to go through the propane door and remove the aluminum shield around the propane tanks.

Thanks again!

Went out to day for pictures. If your main concern on how to get at it. Not that hard just time consuming. I used a jigsaw to cut one vertical and two horizontal lines. Put two hindges on the vertical and finishing second vertical. Now I have a perfect door that's alighn. Even if your lines are little. Bit crooked,your door will match.

[randy69]

My landinging gears were venture brand electric dc motors. If that's what you have you can order it from them. Skip the middle man. The kit comes with landing gear , motor, wiring harness ,fused and switch.

[bigbluthundr]

Trueweb - are you sure that the gears have stripped ? I ask because I have owned 2 Cougars (still have 2011 HC) any way - same problem - 3 times and I SHOULD have caught it second time.

My 2003 uses a hex tube - one slides into the other to help remove it.

Problem IS, HEX will NOT fit properly on a ROUND SHAFT - which is what the driving motor is. The constant up and down motion of the landing gear will become sloppy - and BREAK something. My problem was it broke the SHAFT on the motor at the drilled hole that connects the bar.

I must tell you we thought it was gears - but nay-nay. We wound up taking it out anyway and drilling another hole on the motor shaft - fortunatly we had enough BEEF to hold it.

I then made shims to fit the motor shaft - and used grade 8 shoulder bolts & nylocks to lock everything in place - no more troubles.

Unfortunatly I did NOT get to my HC to do the same - until our first trip, when basicly the SAME thing happened - only JUST the bolts broke.

So I repeated the above repair by replacing the bolts with grade 8's shoulders and shiming.

Much more solid now and NO clinking and clanging of the hex drive shaft.

Hope this helps.

BBT