Remote Control 5th Wheel Landing Gear

[Hitchhiker]

I recently installed a remote control unit to operate the landing gear on my 5th wheel trailer and have found it to be a very helpful and useful addition to the rig. The unit is called a "Zaxis" and is manufactured by Westhaver Associates, Inc. in Columbia, MD.

The "Zaxis"� unit simplifies the difficult and time consuming trial and error process of hitching and unhitching the trailer. No longer will I need several attempts before obtaining the correct kingpin height for hitching. Using the "Zaxis"� landing gear remote control transmitter, I can conveniently raise or lower the trailer's landing gear from the cab of my truck.

The transmitter is a key fob style and I have attached it to my key ring making it conveniently available either in the cab, outside the rig, or inside the trailer to adjust the fore and aft level. I installed the receiver in a utility area of the trailer's storage area that was in close proximity to the original manual landing gear switch. It's hard wired to the existing landing gear circuit.

My "Zaxis"� has a security system that insures only my key fob transmitter will operate the landing gear, preventing anyone else with a "Zaxis"� in a crowded RV park from operating my landing gear. Each transmitter goes through a "learning"� setup process to train it to be recognized by the receiver. Once done, only that key fob transmitter will be recognized by the receiver.

Installing the "Zaxis"� was a snap and should be an easy job for most of us who enjoy tinkering with our rigs. In their manual, Westhaver Associates suggests that you have the unit installed by a competent TV technician. In my case, that was me.

Choosing a location with convenient access seemed to be the largest criteria to the installation, I put mine on the inside of the lower front wall next to the back side of the manual switch. The wiring merely involves cutting into the existing 12 volt power source leading to the OEM landing gear rocker switch and connecting the resulting wires to a terminal board located on the "Zaxis"�. Two additional wires are then run from the terminals labeled "motor"� to the landing gear's motor and you're done.

I've used the "Zaxis"� while hitching and unhitching several times and have found it makes the process much easier and convenient. It eliminates climbing in and out of the cab to make small height adjustments with the manual switch. The OEM landing gear switch continues to work as always allowing its use if necessary.

Westhaver Associates are advertisers on iRV2 and are offering the "Zaxis"� to iRV2 members at a reduced cost.





_{12/6/05: Edited to fix photos.}

[Hitchhiker]

I recently installed a remote control unit to operate the landing gear on my 5th wheel trailer and have found it to be a very helpful and useful addition to the rig. The unit is called a "Zaxis" and is manufactured by Westhaver Associates, Inc. in Columbia, MD.

The "Zaxis"� unit simplifies the difficult and time consuming trial and error process of hitching and unhitching the trailer. No longer will I need several attempts before obtaining the correct kingpin height for hitching. Using the "Zaxis"� landing gear remote control transmitter, I can conveniently raise or lower the trailer's landing gear from the cab of my truck.

The transmitter is a key fob style and I have attached it to my key ring making it conveniently available either in the cab, outside the rig, or inside the trailer to adjust the fore and aft level. I installed the receiver in a utility area of the trailer's storage area that was in close proximity to the original manual landing gear switch. It's hard wired to the existing landing gear circuit.

My "Zaxis"� has a security system that insures only my key fob transmitter will operate the landing gear, preventing anyone else with a "Zaxis"� in a crowded RV park from operating my landing gear. Each transmitter goes through a "learning"� setup process to train it to be recognized by the receiver. Once done, only that key fob transmitter will be recognized by the receiver.

Installing the "Zaxis"� was a snap and should be an easy job for most of us who enjoy tinkering with our rigs. In their manual, Westhaver Associates suggests that you have the unit installed by a competent TV technician. In my case, that was me.

Choosing a location with convenient access seemed to be the largest criteria to the installation, I put mine on the inside of the lower front wall next to the back side of the manual switch. The wiring merely involves cutting into the existing 12 volt power source leading to the OEM landing gear rocker switch and connecting the resulting wires to a terminal board located on the "Zaxis"�. Two additional wires are then run from the terminals labeled "motor"� to the landing gear's motor and you're done.

I've used the "Zaxis"� while hitching and unhitching several times and have found it makes the process much easier and convenient. It eliminates climbing in and out of the cab to make small height adjustments with the manual switch. The OEM landing gear switch continues to work as always allowing its use if necessary.

Westhaver Associates are advertisers on iRV2 and are offering the "Zaxis"� to iRV2 members at a reduced cost.





_{12/6/05: Edited to fix photos.}

[Joe-K]

Looks like nice product Richard.

I've heard folks from time to time yelling out over the sound of the truck engine to raise or lower the landing gear. Sounds like this product enables the driver to make the adjustments themself from inside the cab.

Great to know the installation is a do-it-yourself project as well, as it will save the folks the time and expense of locating an installer.

Joe

[ISLAPP]

As an ex-fiver owner, I think this would be a great product. Throw on some HWH jacks along with this and you are good to go!!
Mike

[NYMoose "Lenny"]

I installed the Zaxis, and after a few uses I have to say I love them! It is so nice sitting in the cab of the truck being able to lift or lowere the trailer a bit to get hooked up easier without running back and forth from the drivers seat!

All those who cam with me know I love my gadgets, but this is definatly a plus is my book.

[rtluft]

I must say that of all the things I either want or have bought for the trailer this is one that I see little need for. I have never had difficulty hitching up the trailer, never had to jump in and out of the cab to adjust the height or yelled to the wife to do the adjustment.

[NLOVNIT]

Hubby just installed ours. Luv, luv, luv it. My previous job was the button pusher raising or lowering the landing gear. That meant being stuck hunched under the bedroom overhang. Now, while I'm pushing the button on the remote (either lowering or raising) I'm also doing other stuff (unlocking bay doors, watching the bubble in the level, unloading stuff out of the truck..etc) Or, if Dave's got the remote working it from inside the cab, I'm still out doing the other stuff. May not seem like much or a luxury to some, but I sure like it better.
L-


Hitchhiker, thanks for great review (your review prompted me to buy one) and here are my additional comments. I installed the ZAXIS on our 2004 Cougar 286. Installation was straightforward and simple, although I did spend some time looking at several different mounting locations (following installation recommendations about electrical interference sources and large metal objects which could interfere with reception). I decided on inside the front basement wall, near the left side access door. The front storage compartment (where the front jacks reside) would have been ideal (proximity wise), but this is not a waterproof location on my trailer (can get slight road-spray from around the jacks). The basement location is within 6 ft of the jack motor and manual rocker switch and did require drilling a pass-through hole in the basement wall to run the wires. I initially wondered what the transmit/receive range would be with the control unit placed inside the trailer. With the access door open and a clear line-of-sight, I was able to operate the ZAXIS from 400 feet away from the trailer with the key fob. With the door closed it operated from about 200 feet away while walking around the trailer. Even from about 75 feet away from inside the tow vehicle (in driver's seat, windows up), operated with no problems. (Actual transmit distances could have been farther, but I was limited by surrounding boundaries.) The more obstacles you have between the transmitter and receiver can limit distance, but I found the transmitter signal strong enough for any situation I was likely to encounter. Hitching and unhitching can now be done in one motion from inside the tow vehicle. The ZAXIS is a solid unit and works as advertised. I foresee a big smile on my face the next time I need to hook up in pouring rain.

The ZAXIS may not be a necessity, but it is certainly a convenience (and let's face it, doesn't RVing have its share of conveniences?)

Note: ZAXIS can remotely control other devices too. See ZAXIS website.
Dave

[charliez]

Looks neat, but at almost $300, I can get out and hit the button. Yor button must be in a weird place. Mine is easy to get to without any trouble at all.

[WesWesthaver]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by charliez:
Looks neat, but at almost $300, I can get out and hit the button. Yor button must be in a weird place. Mine is easy to get to without any trouble at all. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
The ZAXIS is still being offered at a reduced cost of $149.95

As another poster said: "The ZAXIS may not be a necessity, but it is certainly a convenience (and let's face it, doesn't RVing have its share of conveniences?)"

[Ray,IN]

My height gauge is a length of small chain, and a hook on the pin box. I just attach the chain after driving out from under the 5er so the chain just touches the ground. Whenever I get ready to hook-up I merely raise/lower the 5er to where the chain just touches the ground again.

[NYMoose "Lenny"]

Ray,
As you are sitting outside in the rain holding your button waiting for the chain to touch the ground I will stay in the cab of my truck nice and dry and warm.

[Hitchhiker]

I re-installed my Zaxis unit to operate the hydraulic landing gear on my recently purchased 37CKRD HitchHiker Champagne. It also operates the rear hydraulic stabilizers.

I powered it using a 30 amp unused fused circuit that I found in the 12 volt fuse panel which was conveniently already labeled "Landing Gear" by the NuWa factory. It was probably the circuit intended for the standard electric landing gear if I didn't have the optional hydraulic system.

Since the unit was originally installed in my previous rig, (2002 HitchHiker that I traded in) it was intended and designed for use with electric landing gear. I had to add an additional external 12v relay to handle the hydraulic safety valve and wired it a little differently to make it compatible with the Champagne's configuration. The OEM landing gear switch continues to work as before, allowing its use if necessary. The two on/off switches for landing gear and stabilizers need to be turned off when operating the hydraulic slides which isn't a problem for me because we always turned them off anyway.

I think NuWa offers a factory installed remote system, however I don't see it listed in the options on their website. Might be by special request item, not sure. Since my rig was bought off the lot I chose to go this route to have remote on my new rig.