What Fifth-Wheel Landing Gear Actually Does (and Why It Matters)

Fifth-wheel landing gear is the pair of heavy-duty legs mounted at the front of a fifth-wheel trailer. Their job is simple: holding up thousands of pounds of RV while keeping everything level, stable, and safe. But the real story is what they prevent—wobbling, rocking, sagging, sinking, and the dreaded “my trailer feels like a waterbed” effect.

Landing gear is responsible for:

• Supporting the front of the trailer when it’s disconnected from the truck.
• Leveling the RV so appliances, doors, and slide-outs behave like they should.
• Stabilizing the trailer so you’re not seasick every time someone walks inside.
• Protecting the frame by distributing weight correctly
• Making setup faster so you can get to the fun part of camping.
• In other words: landing gear is the difference between a peaceful campsite and a weekend of yelling, re-cranking, and Googling “why does my fifth wheel shake like a washing machine?”

Why You Should Care About Landing Gear Quality

Most RVers don’t think about the landing gear until it fails—and then it becomes the only thing they think about. Cheap landing gear bends, binds, rusts, or loses power at the worst possible moment. High-quality landing gear, on the other hand, makes every trip smoother by providing:

• Faster setup: No more sweating through your shirt while cranking.
• Better stability: Fewer shakes, rattles, and “did you feel that?” moments.
• Longer RV life: Proper leveling protects slide-outs, frames, and seals.
• Less maintenance: Quality gear doesn’t need constant TLC.
• Peace of mind: Because nobody wants their trailer collapsing like a folding chair.

How to Choose the Right Landing Gear for Your Fifth Wheel

Selecting the right fifth-wheel landing gear isn’t just a “spec sheet” decision—it’s a stability decision, a safety decision, and frankly, a “do I want to look like a campsite hero or a campsite cautionary tale?” decision. Just consider the following when making the decision.

Rvers can easily become confused about all the brands and options available, so that it becomes difficult to choose the right landing gear for your rig. Here’s eight things to consider.

• Know Your Trailer’s Weight: Landing gear must comfortably support the front weight of your fifth wheel—not just “technically,” but confidently. Always choose the most heavy-duty landing gear you can afford. This allows for comfortable operation underload as well as providing longer life for the landing gear. At a minimum, choose a model that is rated above your trailer’s GVWR.
• Make sure of the type of weight rating: Many brands will rate their landing gear for lifting or for stabilizing, but not for both. Always choose the maximum rating for both lifting and stabilizing. As an example, Ultra-Fab’s landing gear are rated at 6,000lb per leg (12,000lb between the two legs) for both lifting and stabilizing. This makes them ideal for modern, heavier Fifth Wheels that keep growing like they’re trying to win a county fair competition.
• Decide Between Manual and Electric: Manual landing gear gets the job done, but only with a lot of physical exertion and a ton of sweat. Electric landing gear is the modern standard—faster, easier, and more convenient. They even provide precision leveling like manual models just can’t match.
• Check Fitment: If buying landing gear with independently operating legs, measurements are not as critical, but for manual or single motor models they are seriously important. On manual or single motor models you should confirm:
  • The distance between your existing landing gear brackets
  • Whether your trailer uses industry-standard spacing
  • If your current brackets can be reused or need upgrading
• Quality: Landing gear lives a hard life—rain, mud, road salt, gravel, and the occasional “oops” moment. There are few things worse in life than getting to a campsite and your landing gear just will not work. It’s critical to choose landing gear that features maximum steel thickness, massive motor strength and real-world durability.
• Serviceability: Because maintenance shouldn’t require a degree. Even the best landing gear needs occasional lubrication or adjustment. Choose a system that offers easy access to gears and pins and clear instructions on how to lubricate them.
• Warranty and Support: Landing gear is a long-term investment. A strong warranty signals a manufacturer that believes in its product. So, buying landing gear with a one-year warranty just doesn’t make sense. So always ask for the longest warranty you can find.

Consider Upgrades

Some upgrades are worth considering immediately. In the case of landing gear, the primary upgrade is all about the footpads. Always choose footpads that are:

• Larger: Small footpads and the heavy weight of the Fifth Wheel can cause sinking into sand, dirt and sometimes even on pavement. The larger the footpad the better.
• Adjustable: When lowering single motor systems one leg will hit the ground sooner than the other. At that point they both stop moving. Typically, Rvers will get a piece of wood or a rock to shove under the leg that is still in the air. But with an adjustable footpad you can just unscrew it until it fully supports the landing gear.
• Stronger: Get footpads with a lifetime warranty. Those models are strong enough for the long haul and if there are any issues, you’re covered.

This is where Ultra-Fab steps in and says, “Hold my torque wrench.”

Ultra-Fab is the brand that overbuilds everything. They have been manufacturing RV hardware since 1956—back when Elvis was topping the charts and RVs were basically rolling tin cans. Today, Ultra-Fab is known for one thing: building gear that’s tougher than excuses. Their customers love Ultra-Fab because:

• It’s overbuilt: Thicker steel, stronger motors, and components that laugh at stress.
• It’s over-tested: Ultra-Fab tests their landing gear like it owes them money.
• It’s overengineered: Smoother operation, better alignment, and smarter design.
• It’s backed by the longest warranty (a full 6 years)
• It’s customer-friendly: Clear instructions, great support, and real humans on the phone.
• Ultra-Fab doesn’t do “good enough.” They do “good luck trying to break this.”

Key Features That Make Ultra-Fab Landing Gear Stand Out

Their landing gear is the kind of hardware that looks at rough campsites and says, “Is that all you’ve got?” Nine outstanding features of Ultra-Fab’s landing gear include:

• Heavy-Duty Construction That Means Business: Ultra-Fab landing gear uses thick-gauge steel, precision-cut components, and reinforced welds. This isn’t the flimsy stuff you find on bargain-bin imports. This is “built like a tank” engineering.
• Higher Weight Capacities: Ultra-Fab landing gear is rated for serious loads. Fifth Wheels are getting bigger every year, and Ultra-Fab keeps up by building gear that can handle the weight without flexing or binding. No one beats Ultra-Fab rating of 6,000lb per leg (12,000lb per set) for both lifting and for stabilizing.
• Smooth, Powerful Electric Operation: Ultra-Fab’s electric landing gear systems use high-torque motors designed to lift heavy Fifth Wheels without strain. The operation is smooth, quiet, and dependable—no grinding, no stalling, no “is it supposed to sound like that?”
• Easy Installation and Maintenance: Owners appreciate gear that doesn’t require a PhD in mechanical engineering. Ultra-Fab provides clear, friendly instructions. They design this product for straightforward installation, simple maintenance, easy access to service points, simple lubrication and easy adjustment.
• Industry-Leading Warranties: Ultra-Fab is famous for offering the longest warranties in the RV industry, including lifetime options on many components. Some brands are so unconfident that they only provide a one-year warranty. But Ultra-Fab always has the longest warrant. In this case that means a full 6-year warranty (no one even matches their 6-year warranty.
• Weather-Resistant Protection: Ultra-Fab coats their landing gear with corrosion-resistant finishes that stand up to rain, salt, humidity, and road grime. Florida, Arizona, Michigan—doesn’t matter. Ultra-Fab gear is built for all climates.
• Quiet, Low-Vibration Operation: Cheap landing gear shakes like a Chihuahua in a snowstorm. Ultra-Fab landing gear stays solid, quiet, and stable—even when the kids are running around inside like caffeinated squirrels.
• Better Fitment and Compatibility: Ultra-Fab landing gear is designed to fit a wide range of Fifth-Wheel trailers.
• Price vs. Value: Landing gear is not the place to bargain-hunt. The cheapest option often becomes the most expensive once it bends, binds, or fails at the campsite. Don’t buy the cheapest thing to hold up your RV.

Final Takeaway: Ultra-Fab Landing Gear Is the Smartest Upgrade You Can Make

Ultra-Fab has built a reputation for being the brand that “just works.” Retail customers consistently praise their reliability — fewer breakdowns, fewer headaches. Ask any seasoned RVer and they’ll tell you that no one makes better products than Ultra-Fab.

If you want landing gear that’s stronger, smoother, quieter, longer-lasting, and backed by the best warranties in the RV world, Ultra-Fab is the clear winner. It’s engineered for real RVers, real campsites, and real adventures—not just showroom floors.

What part of your landing gear setup are you looking to improve—lifting power, stability, or long-term durability? Whatever it is, Ultra-Fab offers a full ecosystem of upgrades, letting customers build a landing-gear setup that matches their trailer, terrain, and tolerance for wobble.

If your Fifth Wheel struggles to get in place or if it still wobbles and wheezes like it’s doing you a favor, now’s the time—upgrade your setup and make towing easier on you, not harder. It’s time to upgrade. Upgrade to Ultra-Fab.

Contact Ultra-Fab by customerservice@ultra-fab.com or call 574.294.7571

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