Where would you look for 5th wheel landing gear switch?

   / Where would you look for 5th wheel landing gear switch? #1  

RobertN

Super Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2000
Messages
8,887
Location
Shingle Springs California
Tractor
New Holland TC40D
Where would you look for 5th wheel landing gear switch? My 5th wheel has the external switch on a panel, that has an extend/retract switch and a second keyed switch as a lockout.

Tried google, but only came up with single switch.

Last weekend, was all set to take the 5th wheel on a short trip. Backed up to it, went to lower it, and nothing... The switch had been intermittent before; usually jiggling it would get it to work.

Still went out; I know my manual handle that is usually stored, works...
 
   / Where would you look for 5th wheel landing gear switch? #2  
Sounds to me as if it would be one of 3 possible problems:
1) switch gone bad, possibly due to corrosion,
2) a loose connection somewhere, or
3) blown fuse, but I doubt this one since it had worked intermittently before.

But of course my experience is dated, so I guess you can take it with a grain of salt.:laughing:
 
   / Where would you look for 5th wheel landing gear switch?
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Fuse is good. Going to poke around checking voltages tonight. I think it is the switch...

Going to get an oscilloscope out tonight and check waveforms on the inputs/outputs. Well, OK, maybe just my DMM :D
 
   / Where would you look for 5th wheel landing gear switch? #4  
If you have an RV dealer nearby they might be able to help you locate the right switch.

It sounds like one of a few things could be happening:
-poor ground(corrosion at ground connection)- do you have any other 12V devices not working?
-corrosion in the switch itself
-poor connection at either the switch or the jack motor
 
   / Where would you look for 5th wheel landing gear switch?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Everything else(12V) on the wheel works great. I had a bad ground issue a couple years ago; nothing worked till I fixed that.

The switch is on the exterior; I'm suspecting it.
 
   / Where would you look for 5th wheel landing gear switch?
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Here is the panel. I have power to the switch.
20150509_153811.jpg
 
   / Where would you look for 5th wheel landing gear switch? #10  
If you have power to the switch, all you need to do is replace switch with a radio shack double pole toggle switch. Those ore on off on switches. Any electrical supply house will also sell them.
 

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