WileyOhio

Dave,

Thanks for the tip.  I’ve used etrailer before, but had no idea the depth of their parts assortment.  The gears, shafts, etc are in the mail.  I got home to my work bench on Saturday and got the jack on the bench to tear it apart.  The gears are locked, with hardly any wiggle.  The roll pin is 90 degrees from being accessible.  There is no way that I see to remove the horizontal shaft with the gear pinned to it.  I’m assuming that shaft needs to come out to remove the rest of the mechanism.  Any thoughts on this dilemma?

Wiley

On my 2011 Open Range, the right rear jack failed to retract.  I fussed with the controls and tried to manually retract it.  The shaft would not turn.  4 bolts and 2 wire nuts later and it was in the bed of the truck and we got underway.  So, I removed the motor and it tests out.  The shaft will turn enough to wobble the gears back and forth, but nothing turns.  It’s a $342 + shipping part with a 5 day lead time.  I’d like to get it apart to see what the failure mode was.  Anyone ever disassemble one of these?

OK.... We’ve been on the pad for a total of about 7 months since last September.  It was a good investment.  The only change I’d make would be to reduce the slope.  I designed for 1/4” per foot initially, but backed off to 1/8”.  I’ve still got over 5” of drop, front to back, not enough to make leveling the RV a problem, but more than necessary I think.  

I just had an experience with our Splendide 2100XC.  Despite the Surge Guard, an electrical storm whacked it.  The Splendide techs walked me through troubleshooting,even sending an email illustration.  Found the problem and they sent the part the next day.  I am pleased with that result, and DW is happy, too!

Ken,

That’s a bit too far.  I’ve heard good things about them, though.

Rich,

This is what I’d be looking for, except the best places near Dayton had really old reviews.  I wonder why that is???

Thanks for the feedback.  I’ll note the results of whoever I end up using.

I’ve got an Open Range 5er that needs frame repair.  The factory is scheduling for late Fall, and recommended I take it to a dealer.  This repair may take a week or more, so I’m thinking to stay with family in Dayton if I can find a shop within around 150 miles.  Can anyone recommend a good repair shop in that area?

My trouble is not with the residential fridge, but with the inverter.  All is well when on AC, but it shuts down when we’re unplugged.  I show 13.8 VDC to the inverter, but no AC out.  The existing inverter is a WF - 600 TH - 112 with AC pass through.  Any recommendations on a replacement?

I’ve had 3 Chinese tires blow out in the last six months.  (One on the RV and two on a cargo trailer.). Coughed up a few extra dollars and bought American made Goodyear Endurance.  Those 3 tires were the correct load range and pressures, speed and temps were not the issue.

It is my habit to buy American and I am rarely disappointed.

Well, we poured the pad on Tuesday.  3” of compacted limestone and 5.5 to 6 inch of concrete with rebar mesh.  10’x40’  I would have liked to gone bigger, but my DW reminded me that every $ spent on this is coming out of house money.  We’ll build a stick n’ brick one day.

Thanks for.sharing your thoughts on this project.

Wow, now there is valuable info on details.  As they say, the Devil is in the details.  Thanks, guys!  

We’d be on it for a month or two with hookups.  The soil is soft and drainage is an issue.  The excavation will reduce the runoff issue.  If I pack roadbase, does it hold up over time, or will it erode and crumble?

We’ve just retired and are full timing.  I’m working on developing acreage in East Central Ohio and would appreciate any thoughts on a pad for the 38’ 5th wheel and the 22’ truck.  An excavator is leveling off a site where we had a 38’ TT “hunting cabin”.  (it’s tongue was on the ground, bumper 4.5’ in the air). Do I need a concrete pad, or two strips for tires & jacks, or would just six pads for jacks and tires suffice?  Would a full pad discourage mice?  We’d be on it for 3 or 4 months a year.  The old TT had a sheet of plastic under it that kept weeds at bay, I could do that with the 5er too.  This isn’t a “money no object” project, but if the benefit of a full pad was great enough, we could do it.  Any pitfalls to avoid or additional things to consider?

Wiley