Not sure if I have a problem with landing gear or not

[phemens]

While travelling to our most recent destination, I noticed that the passenger side landing gear was hanging lower than the other side. Thinking that this might have been related to breaking the bolt on the connector bar (extending too much, then maybe didn’t notice one leg extended more than the other), I disconnected the connector bar Ann manually retracted the passenger side leg until even with the driver’s side.
When we got to the campsite, I extended the landing gear, but I noticed that the passenger side leg wasn’t pounding the ground the same as the driver’s side (i.e. it lowered but wasn’t as tight or solid as the other side. Once fully extended and levelled, the driver side leg is solid, but the passenger side is lowered but rattles (if that makes sense). Is this indicative of a stripped worm gear, and is there any way to verify this?
If the gear is stripped I assume there is no choice but to replace?
If I do have to replace, do I have to replace both legs, and if yes, is there a particular model that has a significantly longer extension than others? Reason I ask is that I have a slope in my driveway, so the most extension I can get is best.

[phemens]

So, Dutchmen came back to me and told me that the landing gear was likely Lippert, which I guess is Venture? They can’t say for sure as they say they were acquired by Keystone in 2014 and their records prior to then are spotty.

[phemens]

I pried off the top cap and there are no markings. I’ve sent off an email to Dutchmen to see if they can tell me what the equipment installed was based on the VIN.

[Allworth]

If Atwood, the name is (usually) cast on the square cap at the top of the main tube. Pry the cap off to check.

[phemens]

Here’s a silly (maybe) question... I poked around inside and checked the legs for markings, could not find any, how do I know who the manufacturer is, is there something i’m Missing?

[Allworth]

If your gear is NOT Venture, it is probably Atwood. They also have excellent customer service. I had to replace a thrust bearing inside the leg and they talked me through ordering so I got exactly the right parts the first time.

Also, the advice to block the front of the trailer up on jack stands or cribbing and pull the leg assembly out to work on it is exactly right.

[padredw]

Phemens wrote:
Not sure I understand. Ground is level, but even if it wasn’t, by lowering the extension to match on either side, should still work the same, no?

That's the way it works for me. So. . . I think the OP's problem is not related to unlevel ground.

[Bayley]

If your landing gear is from Venture Manufacturing (Lippert), you can call them direct. They will answer the phone and help you with your issue including ordering the part directly from them if you need something. They recently helped me when my landing gear gearbox went out. They quickly identified my problem and sent me the part. I installed it myself in about 15 minutes and I was back in business.
Fantastic customer service!!

[jamway]

phemens I forgot this bit of information. At least they wanted that when I replaced ours.

If you just replace the gear you will need to count the teeth on the gears to get the correct gear for your landing gear.

Good luck.

[phemens]

john&bet wrote:

phemens wrote:
While travelling to our most recent destination, I noticed that the passenger side landing gear was hanging lower than the other side. Thinking that this might have been related to breaking the bolt on the connector bar (extending too much, then maybe didn’t notice one leg extended more than the other), I disconnected the connector bar Ann manually retracted the passenger side leg until even with the driver’s side.
When we got to the campsite, I extended the landing gear, but I noticed that the passenger side leg wasn’t pounding the ground the same as the driver’s side (i.e. it lowered but wasn’t as tight or solid as the other side. Once fully extended and levelled, the driver side leg is solid, but the passenger side is lowered but rattles (if that makes sense). Is this indicative of a stripped worm gear, and is there any way to verify this?
If the gear is stripped I assume there is no choice but to replace?
If I do have to replace, do I have to replace both legs, and if yes, is there a particular model that has a significantly longer extension than others? Reason I ask is that I have a slope in my driveway, so the most extension I can get is best.

I suspect that the ground is not level between the two legs. I happened to me all the time.

Not sure I understand. Ground is level, but even if it wasn’t, by lowering the extension to match on either side, should still work the same, no?

[john_bet]

phemens wrote:
While travelling to our most recent destination, I noticed that the passenger side landing gear was hanging lower than the other side. Thinking that this might have been related to breaking the bolt on the connector bar (extending too much, then maybe didn’t notice one leg extended more than the other), I disconnected the connector bar Ann manually retracted the passenger side leg until even with the driver’s side.
When we got to the campsite, I extended the landing gear, but I noticed that the passenger side leg wasn’t pounding the ground the same as the driver’s side (i.e. it lowered but wasn’t as tight or solid as the other side. Once fully extended and levelled, the driver side leg is solid, but the passenger side is lowered but rattles (if that makes sense). Is this indicative of a stripped worm gear, and is there any way to verify this?
If the gear is stripped I assume there is no choice but to replace?
If I do have to replace, do I have to replace both legs, and if yes, is there a particular model that has a significantly longer extension than others? Reason I ask is that I have a slope in my driveway, so the most extension I can get is best.

I suspect that the ground is not level between the two legs. I happened to me all the time.

[Carl_n_Susan]

You likely have landing gear from Venture Manufacturing. They have a complete set of parts from bevel gears to shear pins and even complete legs. Their web site has a ton of information about the legs and how they work.
Venture Link

[phemens]

Yeah, I drew a line once I broke my second bolt. So I guess I disassemble the leg when I get back and see if I can replace the gear? Any idea what the part is, I could preorder it online so it is there when I get back?
In the meantime, am I safe with the leg as is or should I jack up that side? It seems stable enough with the strong arms locked in, and the leg itself seems to retract and extend fine, it just doesn’t really lock in.

Thanks for all the advise!

[RoyF]

I recently had a stripped gear on one side of my landing gear, and it would not move at all, either up or down. For what it's worth, I had to replace that one side only. I'm not a mechanic, so I had the dealer do it: $260.

The mechanic told me what probably caused the problem: raising the landing gear too high. He painted a line on the leg and told me never to extend higher than that painted line. I wish that they came come the factory like that.

[jamway]

I do not know about yours but on ours I just replaced the gear that had a tooth missing. There was no reason to replace the landing gear assy.

It was a lot easier to take the landing gear out of the trailer than to try to work on it in the `trailer.