Stuart RV Repair fixes fifth wheel landing gear on-site across Stuart, FL and Martin County. Electric motor replacements, gearbox rebuilds, switch repairs, and manual override restoration. Lippert, Stromberg Carlson, BAL, and Atwood. RVIA certified.
Stuart RV Repair fixes RV landing gear on-site across Martin County. Electric motor swaps, gearbox rebuilds, switch replacements, and manual override restoration for fifth wheel front jacks. Lippert, Stromberg Carlson, BAL, and Atwood systems. $125-495 depending on the job. We come to you anywhere in Stuart, FL and surrounding areas. Call 772-280-3915. Need other hitch and leveling services? We handle those too.
Landing gear is the pair of electric jacks at the front of every fifth wheel trailer. They raise and lower the nose to connect and disconnect from the truck's hitch. Press a switch, the motor spins, the gears turn, and the legs extend or retract. It's simple until something breaks, and then you're either hand-cranking 10,000+ lbs or stuck with the trailer sitting on the hitch unable to unhook.
The motors on fifth wheel landing gear take a beating. They're mounted underneath the front cap, exposed to road spray, rain, and humidity. In Martin County's coastal climate, the motor housings corrode, the wiring connectors oxidize, and the internal brushes wear out. We see landing gear motor failures constantly on rigs parked near the water in Jensen Beach, Sewall's Point, and along the Indian River.
The other common failure is inside the gearbox. Landing gear gearboxes use a worm gear driving a main gear that turns the jack screw. When a tooth breaks or strips, you hear the motor spinning but the legs don't move. The manual crank won't work either because it uses the same gear train. According to Lippert Components (LCI), keeping the gears lubricated and not exceeding the rated weight capacity are the two biggest factors in gearbox longevity.
The gears are stripped inside the gearbox. The motor spins, you can hear it running, but nothing moves. The worm gear has lost contact with the main gear. On some units, a single broken tooth is enough to kill the whole assembly. A gearbox rebuild runs $275-495 and gets both legs moving again.
Could be a dead motor, a blown fuse, a bad switch, or a corroded connector. We check them in order: fuse first, then switch continuity, then wiring, then the motor itself. If the motor brushes are gone, it pulls amps but produces no torque. Motor replacements run $195-345 per leg.
Worn gears or dry bearings inside the gearbox. The teeth are still engaging but they're chewing themselves up. If you keep running it, the teeth will strip completely and you'll have no movement at all. Better to fix a grinding gearbox now before it becomes a full replacement.
Low battery voltage is the #1 cause. Landing gear motors pull 30-50 amps, and a weak battery can't keep up. If the batteries test fine, the motor brushes may be worn down, creating resistance. We load-test the batteries and check the motor's amp draw. Sometimes a good battery charge is all it takes.
The override socket can rust shut, or the adapter hex inside the gearbox gets rounded off from corrosion. If you can't hand-crank and the motor is dead, you're stuck. We clear the override socket, replace the adapter if needed, and grease the engagement point so it works next time you need it. $95-145.
Each landing gear leg has its own motor and gearbox. A single-leg failure is common because one side takes more weight depending on how the trailer is loaded. We replace or rebuild just the failed side. No need to touch the working leg unless it's showing early signs of the same problem.
Landing gear systems vary by manufacturer. Different motor sizes, gear ratios, and mounting configurations. Here's what we see the most across Stuart, Palm City, and Martin County.
Lippert is the default landing gear on most fifth wheels built after 2012. Their standard system uses a 12V DC motor on each leg with a worm-drive gearbox. The 38,000 lb rated system is most common. We carry Lippert replacement motors and common gearbox internals on the truck. Motor part numbers vary by model year, but we can identify the right one from the gear housing.
Stromberg Carlson landing gear shows up on a range of mid-tier fifth wheels. Their systems use a similar motor/gearbox design to Lippert but with different mounting bolt patterns. The gearbox housing is slightly different, so Lippert parts won't cross over directly. We source Stromberg parts and can usually have them within a day or two if they're not already in stock.
BAL landing gear is found on some lighter fifth wheels and certain travel trailer front jacks. Their actuator design is simpler than Lippert's, which makes repairs more straightforward. The motor is smaller and the gear ratio is different, so they're not interchangeable with Lippert motors. We service BAL systems regularly across Martin County.
Older fifth wheels from the mid-2000s and earlier may have Atwood or Venture-branded landing gear. These systems are still functional, but replacement parts are getting harder to find since the brands were absorbed by other manufacturers. We can often source compatible replacement motors or adapt newer components to fit. Diagnosis first, then we figure out the best repair path.
Call 772-280-3915 or fill out the online form. Describe what's happening: no movement, grinding noise, slow operation, switch failure. If you know the brand, mention it. We'll schedule same or next day in Martin County.
Our tech tests the motor amperage, checks the gearbox for stripped teeth, verifies switch function, and inspects all wiring and connections. We also check the manual override to make sure you've got a backup. Written estimate before any work starts.
We carry Lippert motors, switches, and gearbox components on the truck. After the repair, we cycle the gear through full extension and retraction multiple times and check the motor's amp draw to confirm everything is operating within spec. One visit, done right.
| Repair Type | Price Range | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|
| Single motor replacement (Lippert) | $195-345 | 1-2 hours |
| Gearbox rebuild / replacement | $275-495 | 2-3 hours |
| Switch / control box replacement | $125-195 | 45 min |
| Wiring & connector repair | $125-225 | 45-90 min |
| Manual override crank restoration | $95-145 | 30 min |
| Complete assembly replacement (both legs) | $650-950+ | Half day |
Passenger side landing gear motor died right after we unhitched at a campground off Salerno Rd. Couldn't raise the nose to reconnect. Called Stuart RV Repair and the tech came out the next morning with a replacement Lippert motor. Swapped it in about 90 minutes and both legs worked perfectly. Saved us from hand-cranking 12,000 lbs.
Terrible grinding noise from the driver side landing gear for a few weeks. Finally it stopped moving altogether. Tech diagnosed stripped gears in the gearbox, rebuilt it with new internals in about three hours at our place in Palm City. Runs smooth and quiet now. He also greased the other side to prevent the same thing.
The switch on our landing gear stopped working. Tried jiggling wires, nothing. Tech found a corroded ground connection at the switch box plus a bad rocker switch. Replaced both in under an hour at our storage lot near Hobe Sound. $140 total. Quick fix, honest price.
RV landing gear repairs in Stuart typically run $125-495. A motor replacement costs $195-345 depending on the brand. Gearbox rebuilds run $275-495. Switch and wiring repairs start at $125-195. Manual override crank restoration is $95-145. You always get a written quote before we start.
Four common causes: a burned-out motor, a stripped gear inside the gearbox, a bad switch only sending power one direction, or a weak battery that can't supply enough amps. Landing gear motors draw heavy current, and weak batteries are actually the top reason for slow or stuck gear. We test everything on-site.
Yes, every electric landing gear has a manual override. There's a crank handle or drill adapter socket. It takes 5-10 minutes of cranking per leg. But if the gearbox is stripped, the crank won't work either since it uses the same gear train. We carry both motor and gearbox replacements on the truck.
We service Lippert, Venture by Lippert, Stromberg Carlson, BAL (Norco), and Atwood/Venture legacy systems. Lippert systems are the most common on fifth wheels built in the last decade. We carry Lippert replacement motors and gearbox components on the truck every day.
A single motor swap takes 1-2 hours depending on access. If both motors need replacing, plan on a half-day job. After installation, we run the gear through multiple full cycles and check the amp draw to confirm the new motor is working within spec.
Grinding means the gears inside the gearbox have worn down or a tooth broke off. The motor spins but the gears can't transfer force to the jack screw. You might hear the motor running faster than normal with no leg movement. A gearbox rebuild runs $275-495, and we can usually do it on-site same day.
We handle all RV hitch and leveling repairs across Martin County. Leveling jacks, fifth wheel hitches, weight distribution systems, and brake controllers. Bundle multiple repairs in one visit and save time.
We cover Martin County and surrounding areas for all RV landing gear repairs. From Stuart and Palm City through Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno, and beyond.
Call us or request a free estimate. We'll send a tech with the right motor, gearbox parts, and tools. Same or next day. All repairs done at your campground, storage lot, or driveway.