Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-23-2018, 08:21 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 17
5th wheel lift motor

I just bought a new 35’ 5th wheel last week. Tonight went to lift it to load and it was super slow. Then motor stopped. I waited 10-15 minutes for it too cool down. Then attempted to lift again and gained maybe 1 1/2” then stopped. Dry weight is 10,300 and hitch weight is 2k. Anyone have referrals for a better more powerful motor?

Btw it is not a forest river camper it is a 2004 pilgrim open road bunkhouse. Ive tried researching pilgrim and seems they went out of business in 2008 and not much info after. Sort of regretting this buy but it was cheap and almost brand new looking.
Witzke24 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2018, 08:26 PM   #2
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 85
I too have a pilgrim. Almost all of the parts you may need are sourced directly from lippert or other manufacturers. There are very few things that are proprietary. I have yet to find anything I couldn't find. Im not awaYou just have to search.
4x4FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2018, 08:27 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
NMWildcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,523
A lot of front landing gear moves very slow due to gearing.
First thing to check is if your battery is fully charged. Having it plugged into the truck or shore power will help, but not a great deal if your battery is dead.
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
NMWildcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 02:51 AM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat View Post
A lot of front landing gear moves very slow due to gearing.
First thing to check is if your battery is fully charged. Having it plugged into the truck or shore power will help, but not a great deal if your battery is dead.
Sorry I forgot to mention that it was plugged into the house. And also have two new batteries in series installed. And yes it sounded like the batteries where dead but both have been on a battery tender since last Friday.
Witzke24 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 04:10 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 597
Quote:
Originally Posted by Witzke24 View Post
Sorry I forgot to mention that it was plugged into the house. And also have two new batteries in series installed. And yes it sounded like the batteries where dead but both have been on a battery tender since last Friday.
Do you have 6 volt or 12 volt batteries? 2 six volts will be in series, 2 12 volt will be in parallel.
wildcatter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 06:03 AM   #6
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
Make sure that the onboard charger/converter is supplying power to the batteries while you're operating the landing gear. Those things use so much power that you need battery and converter power to operate them.

If you do decide that it's the motor or gear box, post some pictures of them and someone will be able to give you some ideas of what to replace them with.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 07:27 AM   #7
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildcatter View Post
Do you have 6 volt or 12 volt batteries? 2 six volts will be in series, 2 12 volt will be in parallel.
2 12 volts

Bama what is the easiest way to check if it’s charging while running?
Witzke24 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 07:37 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
onetonford's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lodi CA
Posts: 1,211
The Landing gear use almost 30 amps. On mine I found that both Jacks needed greasing if they are Lippert Jacks they have a cap on top you can pop off and grease the gears some I'm told have grease zerks on them mine did not. Also on mine the main gear box was plastic and was broken almost in two. Bought a new aluminum one on eBay was around $54. part #276602
__________________

2001 Ford F-350 DRW 7.3
2011 25 RL Wildcat
former fiver 1976 Fourwinds had for 35 years
onetonford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 09:18 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 3,862
confirm the batteries again. you say 2 12 volts in series (post #4 and #7). if that is true it is wrong and the improper voltage may be a contributing factor.
__________________
2015 cardinal model 3825fl
2015 dodge ram 3500 dually
CHICKDOE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 09:25 AM   #10
Recently new!
 
Paulie1138's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Arizona, in The Land of Scorch!
Posts: 1,206
Send a message via AIM to Paulie1138
As old as the trailer is, i would check the lubrication/grease as another poster added. On my last trip out, mine started slowing. Used silicone spray on, and in the leg tubes, popped the cap and cleaned out the very thickened grease in the gear box, added new....all seems well.

All this, on a 2013 rig.
__________________
1987 Starcraft Nova tent trailer, purch. '87, sold 8.14
2013 Crusader 290RLT bought new, 8.14 lotsa mods!
2001 Ford F-250 7.3
Loving wife, R.I.P., 6/6/19
and Mason the always dirty dog! R.I.P, 2/19
Paulie1138 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 09:28 AM   #11
Recently new!
 
Paulie1138's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Arizona, in The Land of Scorch!
Posts: 1,206
Send a message via AIM to Paulie1138
To test if your voltages are right, put your volt meter across the motor leads and run the legs down, as to lift the rig. If you drop below 11 volts, i would start looking at the wiring or batteries. Same method, meter on the batteries, voltage drops below 12 v, you have battery problems.
__________________
1987 Starcraft Nova tent trailer, purch. '87, sold 8.14
2013 Crusader 290RLT bought new, 8.14 lotsa mods!
2001 Ford F-250 7.3
Loving wife, R.I.P., 6/6/19
and Mason the always dirty dog! R.I.P, 2/19
Paulie1138 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 10:04 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Islander's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nanaimo
Posts: 487
Witzke24...

You have gotten some good leads here to try for solving your problem.

The 'running then slowing' does sound like it is a power issue to me.

e.g. perhaps the motor is not getting the proper power requirements.

As others suggested:
After greasing the top gears, spray lubing the drop legs and checking the batteries are getting the proper charge....

Try checking all the heavy connector leads to and from the batteries and leading to the motor...clean them with a wire brush then coat with dielectric grease.

The landing leg gear box , if it has a plastic housing, it is inferior... it will contort under heavy load and the gears inside will bind... this was happening on mine... until I replaced it with the gear box that has the cast alloy housing. <<LINK

It made a world of difference lifting the heavy front end of my 5th wheel...especially when it's loaded.

You can remove your gear box and open it to make sure the gears are in good condition and it has ample grease inside.

Given the age... it just may be the motor has reached it's life span (?)

Islander
__________________
'07 WildCat 30 RLBS ~ West Coast Edition ~
Trail Air - Tri Glide Pin Box
2000 F350 Lariat DRW 4x4 7.3 Diesel 89k miles
Edge programmer, 4" SS exhaust turbo/back,
Tru-Cool Max Trans Cooler, Bilstein Shocks
Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada
Islander is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 10:15 AM   #13
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHICKDOE View Post
confirm the batteries again. you say 2 12 volts in series (post #4 and #7). if that is true it is wrong and the improper voltage may be a contributing factor.
Sorry I’m not electrician so I obviously said that wrong. It had a single battery and I added another along with a boat switch. So I can run each battery on there own or both.

I just pop the cap off the top of the landing gear and put new grease in it.. I’ll have to run up to town to grab lube for the legs. As for the motor I’ll try and get it apart but I’m leaving in 2 hrs.

Thanks for all the help everyone I really appreciate it!!!
Witzke24 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 12:12 PM   #14
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 17
Ok so far I have greased the legs.. opened the gear box up and cleaned out grease n put new in. Ran it down about 8” and motor was hot. I think I just need to upgrade motors and gear box after this weekend.

I still haven’t tested voltage since my meter is at work. So going to grab one here in an hr on my way to the campground. I’ll try and attach a picture of my motor
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	6F092E45-408F-47A4-9FBA-469B5A7B8948.jpg
Views:	83
Size:	381.6 KB
ID:	184224   Click image for larger version

Name:	70914A74-10DD-4152-926D-DF709117118D.jpg
Views:	81
Size:	412.9 KB
ID:	184225  
Witzke24 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 12:20 PM   #15
Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,882
There should also be a green 50-amp inline fuse near the batteries.

Might want to look at that to see what shape it is in.
JohnD10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2018, 02:29 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Telstar's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: La Mirada, CA
Posts: 528
If the jacks have never been greased they may be shot. After ten years, not knowing they require service, I replaced mine. New ones race have their own motor and switch. Makes it real easy to adjust level of front end.
__________________
Gary and Donna
2005 Cardinal 33TS-LX
Trail Air pin box
Center Point suspension
2018 Ram Laramie 3500 6'4" box 2WD
Demco AutoSlide 18k
Telstar is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
5th wheel, lift, wheel

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:42 AM.