front jacks on 5th wheel will not retract

[sshipley]

We have a 2014 wildcat 293rex 5th wheel , while unhooking it last week discovered that the jacks will only extend. While trying to retract it acts as if there is no power to the switch. The fuses all seem fine.
Any other advice on what it might be would help a lot.
Thank You

[JohnD10]

If you extend or retract them all the way it will pop a fuse!

Generally, this is an inline fuse right by the battery (on one of the wires attached to the battery post) in a little plastic housing.

Might have electrical tape wrapped around it.

Mine is 50 amp (green) fuses...

Needless to say, I bought a whole package of that size fuze!

Very easy to replace!

I put marks with a Sharpie on both front legs so that I know where to stop before it is fully extended or retracted (about a half inch margin).

[5picker]

I would think if the jacks extend but not retract, the likely hood of a fuse being blown is slim.
I've never seen separate fuses for extend and retract.

Have you checked the switch and the connections on the back?
Do you own a multimeter and are you able to use it?

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by 5picker

I would think if the jacks extend but not retract, the likely hood of a fuse being blown is slim.
I've never seen separate fuses for extend and retract.

Have you checked the switch and the connections on the back?
Do you own a multimeter and are you able to us it?

Well...

If they are extended all the way and the fuse blew...

Then I guess that might explain it!

[5picker]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

Well...

If they are extended all the way and the fuse blew...

Then I guess that might explain it!

Sorry John,
I read the OP as being able to extend the jacks but not retract.
I see no where where they say the jacks won't extend or retract.

Guess we all read differently.

We have a 2014 wildcat 293rex 5th wheel , while unhooking it last week discovered that the jacks will only extend. While trying to retract it acts as if there is no power to the switch. The fuses all seem fine.
Any other advice on what it might be would help a lot.
Thank You

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Sorry John,
I read the OP as being able to extend the jacks but not retract.
I see no where where they say the jacks won't extend or retract.

Guess we all read differently.

Again...how would they know that they won't retract if that fuse is blown?????????????????

Think about it...it's common sense!

[5picker]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

Again...how would they know that they won't retract if that fuse is blown?????????????????

Think about it...it's common sense!

How can they extend if the fuse is blown... think about it.
The OP admitted they extend... they never mentioned they extended them until the fuse blew.
That's jumping to conclusions.

[sshipley]

I checked the fuses and they are fine. Will look at the switch next. Thanks for the advice

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by 5picker

How can they extend if the fuse is blown... think about it.
The OP admitted they extend... they never mentioned they extended them until the fuse blew.
That's jumping to conclusions.

Geeze....REALLY?????????????????????????????????

OK...if the legs were extended all the way and the fuse blew (which is what happens with these almost every single time)...

That means that they may not retract BECAUSE THE FUSE MIGHT HAVE BLOWN!

Get it now?

[onetonford]

Bad switch had it happen with mine. Found switch for it at O-reillys.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by sshipley

I checked the fuses and they are fine. Will look at the switch next. Thanks for the advice

Did you look for the one in the battery compartment like I suggested?

90% of the time this is the cause of this issue.

Not sure if this is the problem, but might just be.

I did it a couple of times when I first got my 5'ver...now I don't have this issue!

[5picker]

John, you seem to want to get intro a pissing match with me and I'm done.

The OP has indicated the fuse(s) are NOT blown but if you want to continue to jump to conclusions they extended the jack until they somehow blew the fuse, go right ahead.

Should we find out the fuse is miraculously blown even after checking them... feel free to raise the Jolly Roger and shout from the rooftops that I'm an idiot.

You are right .... GEEZ!

[Bama Rambler]

I had to replace the switch on ours because it burnt one set of contacts in the switch. Ours was the extend side so they would only retract.

Also, there are some small jumper wires on the back of the switch and one (or more) of them may have burnt or came loose causing your problem.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by 5picker

John, you seem to want to get intro a pissing match with me and I'm done.

The OP has indicated the fuse(s) are NOT blown but if you want to continue to jump to conclusions they extended the jack until they somehow blew the fuse, go right ahead.

Should we find out the fuse is miraculously blown even after checking them... feel free to raise the Jolly Roger and shout from the rooftops that I'm an idiot.

You are right .... GEEZ!

Really seems to be the other way around...

So I'm done with you, too!

Thanks for playing!

[5picker]

As Bama mentiioned, there are often times jumper wires on the back of the switch that can come loose and/or burn off. (especially if the crimp connections are poor)

Here's what the typical switch looks like.


Sometimes the switch has jumper bars built onto it.

Here's an internet snag of a schematic.
Wire colors may not be the same but the principal is.

[sshipley]

Thank you , will check out O Reilleys

[sshipley]

thanks , very helpful

[Oaklevel]

I would check the switch if no fuses have blown. I have never blown a fuse while extending or retracting the landing gear but it is possible. If in a bind you should be able to hand crank the legs.

[5picker]

One other thing worth mentioning... often times the landing gear switch is mounted in the front compartment wall so that the connections are open to the inside of the compartment.

I had a 5th wheel once where I hurriedly threw something in the front compartment and knocked a wire off the switch and had a similar problem. Sometimes it can be something simple.

[Decon Blue]

I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. 😂😂😂