Anyone take apart a 5th wheel landing leg?

[Jeff_in_The_Dalles]

On the driven leg of my 5th wheel, the drop tube (I think that's the proper term?) of the leg binds hard in the ram part. I thought I had it fixed by cleaning it up and greasing, but it still binds hard.

I jacked it up and removed the drop tube. Some of the holes were peened a little, so I hit it with an angle grinder and cleaned it up. That didn't help. I also checked it for straightness, and it isn't bent.

I believe the landing legs are Atwood heavy duty.

Anyway, I'm thinking the ram part may be bent, or chewed up inside. It looks like a person drives the pin out of the bevel gear, remove both bevel gears and a pin, and the ram can be removed?

Anyone done this? Can the ram be purchased as a seperate part, or does one have to get the entire leg? I'm thinking if it is bent slightly, I might try straightening it in a press...

Also, I've seen reference to an installation manual MPD 71125. Does anyone have a link? Came up empty searching the internet...

[Shaun and Amy]

Hey Jeff,

My Dad just had his fifth wheel leg all apart. He was converting a one motor system into a two mortor system. He needed the top spindle that mounts to the motor. When he talked with Atwood they fax him a complete parts list. So, you should be able to buy the parts separetely.

Good luck,
Shaun

[Jeff_in_The_Dalles]

Thanks.

I just went out there in the daylight, and I think I can see where one side of the ram is bent in.

I may see if I can bend it back into shape, maybe with the help of the handy dandy torch.

It would be nice to know I can get the ram part seperately if I mess up.

[Jeff_in_The_Dalles]

By way of update, I have the leg out and apart, and the ram is indeed bent.

Looking at it I figured there must be more than the two flimsy brackets holding it in, but there isn't.

Taking it apart is just a matter of popping the top off, and driving the pin out that holds the gear to the horizontal shaft.

I put some pressure on the thing but wasn't able to spring it back. I was thinking I'd take it to a friend's shop who has a big hyd press, but I might try heating it a touch first.

Googling, I haven't been able to find anywhere on line that a person can buy just the inner ram...

[Paul R. Haller]

Hi jeff, I had exactly the same trouble with a Jayco I owned some time back. I ended up going to a frame shop and gave them the pieces. They were able to use a press with finess and got it all back working again. I think they charged me 75$ but I live in the Bay Area and labor is 135$ an hour here. I was happy because I couldn't find pieces seperately either. If you do it yourself use no heat and go easy with a press. Sneak up on it because after some preload is on the tube just a little more pressure will go too far and you'll have to get a new leg. GO EASY!!! Good luck,
-Paul R. Haller-

[Jeff_in_The_Dalles]

Yeah, I went after it with a press (went and bought one) a little at a time.

The leg has a bit of a twist, as well as being bent. I eventually got it straight but one side buckled, but I also got that straightened out.

Its about as straight as I can get it but the drop down leg still drags, so I just went down and ordered a leg. Actually not that expensive (local RV shop charged me just a few bucks over their cost, and they will wait until they have an order large enough to not get charged shipping).

Anyway, thanks for the tip. I think mine might have been too tweeked, though someone who works with steel professionally might have done a little better.

At least I got it useable for now, so I could get the trailer off the truck.

[Jeff_in_The_Dalles]

Well, $138 got me the whole leg assembly including the drop down extension.

Although I got the part number for the driven leg, I apparently got the wrong part number. Looking at the drawing of part numbers they show the motor on the passenger side, or else the view is from behind the legs.

I just swapped out the outer housing, so it worked fine.