School me on landing gear

ok, coming from the slide in camper world I have no experience with landing gear. I have electric gear. It just seems so strange they would have a hydraulic system for the slide, then a separate electric system for the landing gear, oh well. Tell me, do they self level, how high can I go, can I damage them in any way by going too high/low? Give me the basics folks.. Thanks!

They do not self level, you have to do that using blocks of some sort before you unhook. Their is an adjustable foot (Screws up or down) that you can buy and it is well worth the $. Here is an example of one, it is a little different than what I have, but it gives you the idea http://winfieldrvproducts.com/LANDING_LEG_FOOT.html. You just put it on one side and it makes up for the fact that the holes are off just enough that you can't get level with the blocks that you grabbed from the house when you left home.

Edit: here is a copy to the link about the adjustable foot pads http://www.wildcatcamperforum.com/general-camper-topic-s-f6/adjustable-landing-gear-foot-pad-t1641.htm?highlight=adjustable+foot

They do have alot of travel to them. The most important thing to remember is to look at the situation before you pull your truck out. Sometimes you will have to lower the nose a foot or so to make things level. Make sure you have lowered the legs enough before "dropping" the feet so that you can retract them enough to make you level. I think we have all done it and you have to re-hook and extend the legs out more.

Another thing you will want / need is a good set of wheel chocks. We use these http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-jacks/tire-chocks-wheel-lock.htm and have really good luck with them. They also helped to stabilize the Cat when set-up. They stop the tires from being able to move at all.

As far as damaging them, I know you can pull them up too far, somebody on here had the switch malfunction while retracting the legs (if I remember right) and it seems like there was some damage. I don't know what happens if you extend them out too far, not sure it can be done.

Copycats,

I kinda like the electric landing gear. I don't trust the hydraulics to hold the front of the Cat up if the system fails open (like a broken hydraulic line). I like the idea of a geared motor holding the gear in position, once it's either up or down.

BTW, you can vary the height of each leg by using the different holes on each leg. I've often done that on unlevel sites. Works for me.

Happy camping .....

schrowang wrote:Copycats,

I kinda like the electric landing gear. I don't trust the hydraulics to hold the front of the Cat up if the system fails open (like a broken hydraulic line). I like the idea of a geared motor holding the gear in position, once it's either up or down.

BTW, you can vary the height of each leg by using the different holes on each leg. I've often done that on unlevel sites. Works for me.

Happy camping .....

The hyd landing gear system should have holding valves to prevent that, if the system is plumbed to good standards. But they may have went cheap. I have hyd landing gear but don't know if Lippert installed holding valves or not.

Earl

I'm with schrowang, I have worked with hydraulics on machinery and am glad our unit has electric gear.

We have the hydraulic landing gear and are extremely pleased with it. Have had no issues. It is way faster than electric and I also like the self leveling. If I was going to order a unit and hydraulic is available I would absolutley take that option.

KH

My dealer added HYD landing gear without our knowledge. Worst mistake he ever made. It never worked from day one. They sent it back to the factory with no luck so we had them but in electric landing gear with 2 switches. Greatest thing since sliced butter. HYD landing gear lovers you can keep them. They are the worst thing we have ever seen.

My hydraulic gear works perfect; always has.

My HYD landing gear has worked flawlessly from day one.

I like the fact I can be hooked up and gone 10 minutes before the electric ones are raised enough to back under.....

Great to here U alls worked. Mine was dangerous. A accident waiting to happen. You pull into your spot and rasied the trailer to on hook. After moving the truck and you returned to level the trailer watch out. You could not stand under the trailer or you would be hurt. When you went to adjust it the right side would drop about 2 inches while the left was going up or it would drop about 2 inches while the left was going down. An accident waiting to happen.

Anybody here have some instructions for adjusting a slide up or down? How do we know they adjusted it correctly?

Been told you need to lube the legs on the landing gear. What is your feelings about this?

Electric or hydraulic? I have never lubed mine and I have the electric.

I have Electric and have never put any lube on ours.

The Lippert hydraulic slideout / landing gear manual ( link attached ) states to spray with silicone. I use the same dry lube that I use on my slideout arms and cylinders. You want to use dry lube so it doesn't attract dirt.

http://www.lci1.com/OwnersManuals/hydraulic-slideouts/5th%20Wheel%20Hydraulic%20Slideout%20Landing%20Gear-Web.pdf

KH

Thank you all for the info.

Khuber, what brand of dry lube do you use?

It's Protect All and I purchased it from Camping World. I have since seen the dry lube at Lowes or HD ( I forget which one ) and would just purchase it locally next time. I don't know that the name brand really matters.

KH