New Montana, slides and landing gear don't work - Montana Owners Club

kingdaddy · 03-18-2011, 06:33 PM

Haven't even gotten it home yet and already major problem!

After driving all day and pulling into our RV park for the night...NO landing gear or slide operation!
Checked the breakers and fuses...look OK
Looked at the batteries (2 12 volt deep cycle) and connections.
Have lights inside (12 v.) and am hooked up to shore power so A/C works OK.
Looks like a bad converter to me or at least the connection to the converter since the batteries seem fine and I have 12 volt lights.
Any other ideas? Not great that the converter is hidden away under the stairs to the master bedroom!

Thanks for any help

LuckyNichol · 03-18-2011, 10:36 PM

Kingdaddy. Very interesting. Just days after delivery of our 2011 323Rl Highcountry.... Camping world had the rv in the shop with the panel off working on the converter. They replaced the battery, and we were told, replaced a fuse(s). We will be out a camping world today, I intend to zero in on these matters. I'll keep you informed. I must admitt, I don't like the smell off this. Maybe it's time for another PDI.

Johnnyg · 03-19-2011, 12:33 AM

Sorry to hear your having issues already.
If I'm not mistaken when your connected to shore power the converter will supply power to lights but a sound connection from to battery is still needed to run landing gear and slides.
Recheck the battery connections. Check ground cable from battery to frame. Look for crimped ends that might be loose.

bw2 · 03-19-2011, 11:04 AM

Do you have switches on the outside drivers side wall of the unit behind a door? You might verify that the switch is the correct positions. Also, do you have a remote, does it work ok with the remote?

kingdaddy · 03-20-2011, 12:51 PM

No remote...but apparently I should have one? I will be inquiring tomorrow.
The problem turned out to be as simple as a blown fuse. There is an in line 30 amp fuse from the battery in the batt. compartment. Must have held the landing gear switch for a moment too long when putting it up that morning. Seems like some kind of a limit switch would be a good idea.
Oh well, glad we solved the problem fairly easy, but it was an uncomfortable night with no slides out and no landing gear down!

TYR · 03-31-2011, 08:45 AM

Kingdaddy,

Was about to suggest the inline fuse when you said you had found it. Our 2009 Montana had that problem on and off with no particular pattern. We never could figure out under what specific circumstances it would blow that particular inline fuse. Good luck; hope it does not happen again!

Hooker · 03-31-2011, 09:17 AM

I think most of us have held that switch too long and blown the in line fuse. I did it the very first time the landing gear was lowered. After that...put a permanent marker line on the landing gear legs so I could see when to release the switch.

bncinwv · 03-31-2011, 09:32 AM

A quick reversal of the switch will result in a blown fuse as well. There is a complicated electrical motor reason for this that is over my head, but it will blow the fuse. Lifting the rig with the rear stabilizers down will also blow the fuse as will lifting the rig and the truck while the hitch is still attached. I have done some of these before but will not go into the details of which ones!!!!
Bingo

Ozz · 03-31-2011, 10:16 AM

Get a little plug-in breaker for the landing gear fuse.

http://s112.photobucket.com/albums/n194/JimsSue13/Ozzsmods101/Landing%20gear%20fuse%20upgrade%20to%20breaker/

richfaa · 03-31-2011, 10:33 AM

Yes mark the landing gear and NEVER quick reverse the switch when you realize you made a mistake. Will blow that fuse most every time.

TLightning · 03-31-2011, 02:28 PM

For some reason, some of the newer Montanas have 30 amp fuses for the landing gear, my 07 came with a 40 amp fuse.

Phil P · 04-01-2011, 12:26 AM

Hi

The frame on our unit had been painted black after the landing gear had been installed. This left a line on the landing that we never passed when retracting the landing gear. This didn’t help use. The landing gear must have been damaged on the production line or by the dealer. We experienced serious problems including having one side fall down on the road at 60 mph. After replacement of both landing gears we marked them so as to be able to stop before reaching their upper gearbox limit. Still had the popped fuse problem on a 40-amp fuse.

When my remote receiver burned up I removed it and installed a fuse block in its place. I now have my landing gear fused with a 20-amp fuse. We have used the unit three times since and haven’t popped that 20-amp fuse. The lot I am in now required me to extend the landing much further than I normally do to level the trailer. Still no problem with the 20-amp fuse. I am convinced the remote receiver is not properly designed for the load it has to carry and is causing some of the problems we as a group are running in to.

Phil P

richfaa · 04-01-2011, 03:12 AM

Most have 30 and 40 amp fuses in the lien///

8e3k0 · 04-01-2011, 04:05 AM

This is a huge weakness on all RV manufactures of the large fifth wheels. When our Monty was new we replaced the fuse with a 40 amp circuit breaker on the main line from the batteries; wire gauge is sufficent to handle that amperage. Through two plus years of heavy use and travelling, we have never had a problem with the landing gear or slides.

navybanker · 04-01-2011, 04:46 AM

Where is the fuse located? I assume it is in the battery compartment between the battery and slide out motor but have not found it. Is it one you can just replace with the same fuse and go? I think I've read you should not raise the jacks less than six inches from the bottom of the camper. How far can you extend them safely?

Ozz · 04-01-2011, 06:54 AM

On my 3400RL it is right behind the battery, as shown on the previous page picture. Yours may be somewhere else.

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