Hydraulic front landing gear and heat strips

[Judi]

Have a question....do you know if hydraulic front landing gear (might not be saying that correctly) can be added later on if what I have now is electric? Also, are the heating strips for winterizing the holding tanks? Thanks alot!

[rosey]

I'm sure that if you have the $$$ to spend that it can be installed. I'm no authority on this so maybe someone else out here can give you more info. I'm so glad that we ordered our new 34QS with the hydraulic landing gear.....FAST & Quiet!!.....good luck!!

[pops91710]

Have a question....do you know if hydraulic front landing gear (might not be saying that correctly) can be added later on if what I have now is electric? Also, are the heating strips for winterizing the holding tanks? Thanks alot!

I see no other real advantage to hydraulic landing gear other than speed. Their only downside is a leaky cylinder or check valve can drop you down while aboard. These things do happen, but it is not common.

I am sure they can be added on later, but I'll wager they are cheaper installed at the factory.

The heater strips are for holding tanks.

[Don Wilson]

Judi.

I agree with Mike on the landing gears. I have driven a forklift for years and the hydraulics can leak and lower and they do get hyd fluid leaks at times espcially when the rams allow dirt in the system.

Most of the units have artic packs for the holding tanks which have a switch inside the trailer to turn them on and off but the heat strips are mounted on the tanks up in the storage area. The tanks are usually enclosed under the trailer with metal and insulatuion!

Don

[rosey]

Just read on another forum (RV.Net) about some folks having electric motor problems with the landing gear systems on their 5ers. My point is that wheather Hydraulic or electric.......they are mechanical systems and anyone can possibly have issues with anything mechanical. That said, I still think that the hydraulic landing gear systems like the hydraulic sliders (vs. electric) are well worth it in my book as far as ease of operation, and power . [/i][/b]

[Don Wilson]

Rosey,

You are right in your assesment about the hydraulic system they are more powerful, quieter and quicker than the electric ones. The way they are protected inside the storage area of the trailer they will probably be trouble free for the life of your trailer.

You are also right about having problems with the electric ones I had to replace a landing gear motor on my previous fiver!

If I was ordering a new unit and the Hydraulic system was avaliable I would have no problem selecting it.

Don

[pops91710]

Rosey,

You are right in your assesment about the hydraulic system they are more powerful, quieter and quicker than the electric ones. The way they are protected inside the storage area of the trailer they will probably be trouble free for the life of your trailer.

You are also right about having problems with the electric ones I had to replace a landing gear motor on my previous fiver!

If I was ordering a new unit and the Hydraulic system was avaliable I would have no problem selecting it.

Don

Having worked with/on hydraulics the last 28 years I would have no fear of using them and could maintain them myself quite easily. I do find I prefer my hydraulic slides over my brother-in-law's electric ones.

However, let me say that even hydraulics requires an electric d/c motor pump, so it ain't all that different than the electric jacks other than the power and speed.

[markj]

IMHO--I have the electric jacks, and I was tired of waiting for them to go up and down, so I found a very small screwdriver and "gently" push it into the switch when its going up or down, and can do other things--unhook/hook electric, position pads, etc etc while the jacks are running. I think it works great, but you must be careful to remember what you did!