Troubleshooting Trailer Landing Gear Constantly Blowing A 30 Amp Fuse

Question:

Hi, The landing gear for my 5th wheel started constantly blowing the 30 AMP fuse. Is this an indication that the 12-Volt Motor for Atwood Landing Gear - 5,000 lbs 71119 is faulty and needs to be replaced? The wires are getting hot, indicating there is a significant current draw, and the motor is the logical place to start - no?

asked by: Randy W

Expert Reply:

I recommend checking the power wires for damage or corrosion tracing them from your battery to the motor. If the wires are in good condition and the ground wire is connected metal to metal without corrosion, then I'd check to see if the wires are hot when not in use or only when using the switch. Wires coming from the switch should not be hot if not being used unless the switch is bad.

If you test the switch and it is good using a circuit tester like # PTW2993, then the motor is being overworked, which could mean a bad motor or could mean bad gears or even a bad landing gear leg. If you can manually raise and lower the legs, then the motor is most likely the culprit and should be replaced.

If your trailer battery is bad or low, the motor will keep trying to draw power from it and that could also be the problem.

expert reply by: Jason S