Atwood Landing Gear hand crank

[rarebear.nm]

I have a 2007 30RSO Classic with Heavy Duty Atwood electric landing gears. No present issues, but I have a question about the backup hand crank system. The stub for the hand crank points towards the driver side propane compartment. There are no holes in the generator compartment or the propane compartment for the hand crank So if I did need to use the hand crank, I'm SoL. I have considered using a hole saw and cut about a 1 1/2" hole through these compartment walls and reseal both holes with a metal plate with a gasket for a good seal. Perhaps use a large O-ring or some automotive sheet gasket material. I want to ensure that the propane compartment is sealed from the gen compartment. This maybe why no access was provided by PI. If anyone has already solved this issue or have other solutions I'd love to hear.

[BFlinn181]

Not sure what model of Atwood jacks you have, but some have a bolt head on the electric motor shaft. That's how they retract in a failure. The gearing means about 100 turns per inch of retraction, many use a socket in an electric drill to make it work faster.

[rarebear.nm]

I have never seen a model number on the landing gear, only the Atwood name and city, state. By design I can determine its an Atwood Heavy Duty model. I know the shaft extension, except this one is a round shaft with a pin through the end for the extension to grip to.

The issue is the shaft access is blocked by the propane compartment. Please review the original post.

[easdsa]

Fred, I have never owned a 5'er, but I have run into some strange situations, so I'll ask a question that may seem strange. Just ignore it if it doesn't fit your situation.

Do you have propane tanks on BOTH sides or just on one? Does one motor tun the legs or two motors?

What I'm getting at is that if there is only one motor, and both propane tanks on one side, maybe the access is on the other side.

To my thinking, if I needed to use a hand crank to raise/lower the landing gear I think I'd rather have it on the curb side than on the street side. If there is only one motor to run both legs, and the manual crank access is on the street side then either the propane bottles have to be mounted somewhat aft of that point or they both have to be on the street side.

Just thinking "out loud." As I said, if this isn't helpful ignore it.

[BFlinn181]

I read and understood your first post, I was just wondering if you've gone to the Atwood website and made sure that the crank is for the jack. I was hoping by replying to your question it would bump it out in front of more eyes, maybe another Excel owner would reply since Peterson closed their doors last March. Often the model # will be on the control panel for the jacks. I'd also suggest keeping a good hefty gauge of jumper wires so if the control panel goes out you can jump the motor directly with a battery.

If you're sure that the only access to the manual crank is by drilling through the LP and generator compartment, I agree, the hole should be sealed to prevent LP gas from leaking into the generator compartment. You might think about a kayak hatch
https://www.google.com/search?q=kaya...w=1276&bih=701

or for a 2" hole you could use something like this:
Oatey 2 in. Inset Knockout Test Cap-39101 - The Home Depot

[rarebear.nm]

On my 30RSO there are two tanks, one either side of the gen compartment. No place to move such a thing around. There is only a single motor with a drive shaft across the top connecting the two jacks.

I'll be drilling a hole through both the gen compartment and the back of the propane compartment as I see no other reasonable option and then seal both holes well.

Thanks for the comments.

[chief02]

I have a RSO that had the same situation. I replaced my single drive landing gear with 2 independent Jacks that use a socket drove on each for manual operation

[copilot]

Our 2006 is independent jacks and not Atwood. You never know from year to year, model to model.

[rarebear.nm]

At last I got a wrap on this issue. Drilled a small pilot hole next the motor shaft in the gen compartment into the propane compartment, tank removed. Then used a 2 inch hole saw to drill through both walls from the propane compartment. Next cut two 5 inch square aluminum plates and fixed rubber gasket material with silicone caulk to the plates. These plates were screwed to both holes. With both a long hand crank and a drill attachment I can operate the landing gears if the requirement ever arises, hope not.

[Max1]

This could sure be good to know and apparently in advance, are you sure that is the only way to manually operate? Have you tried it? or could do damage trying
When I sortta looked/what if before thought maybe turning bar that conects the two jacks with say an adjustable wrench, maybe not the best idea?

[chief02]

I tried turn the cross shaft w

[chief02]

With a wrench, no way would it move. I put a cheater bar on the wrench, shaft started to bend....fooo get about it..lol..I replaced mine with independant jacks with higher capacity and faster.

[rarebear.nm]

I have tested operating the landing gears with the hand crank. it will raise and lower as required. Just don't be in a hurry because of the gear reduction, but it works on mine at least. Someday I may upgrade mine, but its not the budget right now.