Changing from Single Motor to Dual Motor Landing Gear on a 2000 Montana 3255RL
Question:
I have a 2000 Montana 3255 RL with Atwood Landing gear. It appears through your description to be a heavy duty set of jacks. It has the old outdated gear box on the drive leg and I just put on a new motor to the replace the original. My question is, I would like to change to a two motor system but was wondering why do have to replace the follow leg with a new one. Cant I just install a new gearbox and use an additional motor and just reverse the polaity of the motor to turn it in the oposite direction. I think I would have to replace the gear shaft at the top of the leg to fit the gearbox. Is my thinking wrong on this. I saw you had sugested new landing gear to another individual but I dont think I have the physical room for a motor above the leg. Mine have the 15 1/2inch between the stops but I only have 71/2inch above the top bracket and the steel frame work above. Please let me know if my thinking is off and why. Thank you
asked by: Marty N
Expert Reply:
I understand what you want to do and the first problem that you will run into is the driver shaft. The driver shaft for the follower leg and the driver shaft for the driver leg are not interchangeable according to my contact at Atwood. It may be possible to fabricate your own driver shaft at a machine shop to mount the gear box, but fabricating your own parts and reversing the polarity of the motor will basically void any warranty and the liability would be on the fabricator/installer to ensure it all works properly. The follower legs were not designed to have a gear box and motor mounted to them to act as primary driver legs.
For these situations, we give two options that are acceptable by the landing gear and trailer manufacturers.
One option is to replace the follower leg with a replacement driver leg like part # 71488, and use a second gear box, # 75054SP, and a second motor kit, # 75391. The motor kit comes with a switch so you can control both legs individually.
You may notice that the cost for the replacement parts is close to the cost of a new landing gear set like the Bulldog Electric Landing Gear Set, # BD500161. This is why I typically recommend replacing the entire set, which is the second option. Since space seems to be an issue for you, it sounds like the first option may actually be your best option.
If you choose to replace the follower leg with a drive leg, be sure to measure the overall length of the leg. The Atwood Replacement Driver Leg, # 71488, is the most common size and the outer tube measures 29-1/2 inches long. Atwood also offers the replacement driver leg, # AT71521, which is 34-5/16 long. You will want to choose the leg that is the same length as your current landing gear legs.
The top of the motor of the Bulldog landing gear set # BD500170 will sit about 2-1/2 inches taller than the Atwood landing gear sets with the gear box and motor installed.
