Having a lot of storage is necessary when going out on a long trip or when you intend to take your family and friends with you. Though, most vehicles cannot provide this which is why people decide to go for motorhomes and trailers.
These come with numerous features to help you out but can be quite expensive. Additionally, keeping these maintained is essential to avoid running into problems while you are on your trip.
While it can be hard to keep a check over your trailers, some equipment should make this easier for you. Landing gears are one of these devices that help in keeping the weight of your vehicle stable.
Though, some people can run into issues with these as well. This is exactly why we will be using this article to provide you with some common problems that can be found on a fifth wheel landing gear as well as its solutions.
Fifth Wheel Landing Gear Problems
- Power Issues
The most common problem that people can run into with their landing gears is the device not working. This usually indicates that there is an issue with the current coming to your system.
Considering this, you can start by taking a look at your connections and battery without getting into any technical fixes.
Make sure that all the wires connected to your landing gear are tightly attached and not damaged. If you do notice any damages to the wires then you can replace them with new ones.
It is also recommended that you take readings for the current coming to your device. This will ensure if the power is stable or fluctuating.
The process is quite easy to do but can be dangerous for people who do not know how these connections work. If you are one of these users, then you should contact a specialist to check the wiring for you.
Once you have checked all of your connections, you can then move on to see if your battery is working fine. This usually requires an easy check but it should be done frequently.
You only have to fill up your batteries with water and check if the terminals are clean. If not then use warm water to wipe off any dirt or oxide layers that are stuck. Finally, once all of this is done, you should be able to start using your landing gear on your fifth wheel without any problems.
- Check Gears
When trying to stabilize your vehicle with landing gears, the user might sometimes notice that the device is making weird noises. Alternatively, it might be having a hard time trying to function correctly. Considering this, the most common reason why you can get this problem on your vehicle is due to an issue with its gears.
While these should last you a long time, they will eventually be worn out and require you to replace them. Though, you should note that there is a complete process that you need to follow for this.
Being prepared in advance is necessary because the user has to completely take apart their landing gear when replacing the gears. Additionally, you have to purchase these before starting with the process.
Make sure that you buy a good pair of gears that are supported by your system. There are tons of websites online that should help you out with it.
Just keep in mind that you have to enter the model of your landing gear system when searching for its replacement gears. Finally, another thing to remember is that you purchase both the motor side gears as well as the legs.
- Faulty Motor
If you have checked all the connections on your fifth wheel but the landing gear is still not working. Then this might mean that your motor has gone bad.
This usually happens due to an electrical surge though there are other reasons as well. However, once the motor has gotten damaged or faulty, you will most likely have to get it replaced.
While you can contact a workshop to see if this can be fixed, it should be highly unlikely. Also, keep in mind that you will have to take apart your entire landing gear to get the motor replaced. This is why it is a great option to replace the gears as well if they are old.
The motor runs, the controller does not work.