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05-09-2018, 07:54 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 141
SUN #7990
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Atwood Robofoot Problems
If anyone has the Atwood Robofoot for thier power tougue jack, please inspect it. I have one that came with my power jack that has only been used one season and the main load plate bent making the tounge jack unstable. I also think it was close to breaking the welds and dropping the trailer tougue suddenly.
I contacted Atwood to find out they sold the jack part of the company to Lippert. I then contacted Lippert, my jack is past the one year warranty. They did sort of offer to replace the Robofoot if it was close to one year, but I declined because it really won't slove the problem of what I believe is a problem design, and it has been well over a year. I think I was able to get my point across that this could be a real safety concern and I was told they were going to let the design/engineering people know.
I am going to replace my bent load plate and add some support from the base. I did remove the bent load plate that is only 1/8" thick and rated at 4000#, how I'm not sure. The entire thing is made out of thicker steel, but the load plate. It only took a few whacks of a hammer to break the welds to remove.
Here is some pics of the bent load plate and how much it was actually welded. I will update with more once I get it reconstructed.
Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
__________________
__________________
Current Camper: 2006 Sunline T-264SR
Previous Camper: 1998 Coleman Mesa
Tow Vehicle: 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500, 8.1L, 4X4
DirecLink Brake Controller, Draw-Tite Ultra Frame Receiver, Reese HP Trunnion Bar Hitch W/ HP DC
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05-10-2018, 07:56 AM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 6,155
SUN #123
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I bought my dad a new jack for his car trailer a couple years ago, and insisted on Atwood. Most places were selling ones with the robofoot, but I found one that still had the traditional foot, because I feared the robofoot didn't look heavy duty or stable enough. Plus, the fewer moving parts he has to deal with, the better.
I think between you and your dad, you'll reinforce this better than new! Personally, it looks like it needs a thicker plate, as well as a T-bar or angle iron welded in for support in the middle, going down to the bottom.
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2007 T-286SR Cherry/Granola, #6236, original owner, current mileage: 9473.8 (as of 6/18/21)
1997 T-2653 Blue Denim, #5471
1979 12 1/2' MC, Beige & Avocado, #4639
Past Sunlines: '97 T-2653 #5089, '94 T-2251, '86 T-1550, '94 T-2363, '98 T-270SR
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05-10-2018, 07:57 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 141
SUN #7990
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The jack works great, and I like the Robofoot. It came with the jack somone was nice enough to gift me and I have a standard foot to use for the low tounge campsites. However if I were purchase one separately the Fastway Flip Jack appears to have a thicker plate and looks to be welded on all three sides instead of two on the Robofoot. It also has a larger bottom pad. I don't like the red though I would paint it, that be said the powder coat on the Robofoot is really nice.
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...4aAnVBEALw_wcB
Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
__________________
Current Camper: 2006 Sunline T-264SR
Previous Camper: 1998 Coleman Mesa
Tow Vehicle: 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500, 8.1L, 4X4
DirecLink Brake Controller, Draw-Tite Ultra Frame Receiver, Reese HP Trunnion Bar Hitch W/ HP DC
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05-10-2018, 10:36 PM
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#4
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
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The Atwood jack part of the company sold to Lippert???? Man, another one now gone. Dometic bought up the other part of Atwood. Seems jacks may not have been in their expansion plan.
Wow, they really made a miscalculation on that jack post support plate. That really is not much of a weld, more like a fusing root pass. And the metal thickness is not right either.
Thanks for letting our club members know. Hoping Lippert will tell their engineering group about this and they act on it. That could be a real bad thing when that plate lets go.
__________________
Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC
Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
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05-15-2018, 07:27 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 141
SUN #7990
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__________________
Current Camper: 2006 Sunline T-264SR
Previous Camper: 1998 Coleman Mesa
Tow Vehicle: 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500, 8.1L, 4X4
DirecLink Brake Controller, Draw-Tite Ultra Frame Receiver, Reese HP Trunnion Bar Hitch W/ HP DC
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05-15-2018, 09:09 PM
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#6
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
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WOW!!! That came out great Ben! Simple, but yet very effective.
Thanks for sharing.
__________________
Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC
Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
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05-16-2018, 09:51 PM
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#7
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Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 6,155
SUN #123
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Looks good Ben! I don’t blame you for not wanting to mess up the coating.
__________________
2007 T-286SR Cherry/Granola, #6236, original owner, current mileage: 9473.8 (as of 6/18/21)
1997 T-2653 Blue Denim, #5471
1979 12 1/2' MC, Beige & Avocado, #4639
Past Sunlines: '97 T-2653 #5089, '94 T-2251, '86 T-1550, '94 T-2363, '98 T-270SR
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03-03-2019, 04:51 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Ohio
Posts: 141
SUN #7990
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The Robofoot sat out this last season as I never got around to painting it. Finally had the paint out and finished it up. Here is the final fix, we will see how it does this camping season. 20190303_131136.jpg
__________________
Current Camper: 2006 Sunline T-264SR
Previous Camper: 1998 Coleman Mesa
Tow Vehicle: 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 2500, 8.1L, 4X4
DirecLink Brake Controller, Draw-Tite Ultra Frame Receiver, Reese HP Trunnion Bar Hitch W/ HP DC
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03-04-2019, 01:17 PM
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#9
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
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To help the cause with owners of Atwood power tongue jacks.
A month ago, I was looking into buying a new 4,000# Atwood ball screw jack like Ben mentioned in his post for a fellow camper. While I could find several of the Atwood jacks for sale on the web, I could not find any sales brochures any longer to confirm the specs on the jack mount.
I called Lippert directly to see what was up as it is no longer offered on the Lippert store website. Lippert has discontinued the Atwood tongue jack line. They had 22 left in inventory at the time of the phone call and once they were all sold, no more would be available from them. They would support the spare parts from them and honor the 1 year warranty from other retailers as their stock depletes. Lippert would then offer their power tongue jack they have and had prior to buying the Atwood business from Dometic. Dometic bought the assets of Atwood Mobile to get the furnaces and the water heater etc. and sold off the jack line to Lippert.
We lost another good power tongue jack manufacturer with Atwood. I went with the Barker 3,500# ball screw unit for my friends new power jack.
__________________
Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC
Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
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03-04-2019, 02:59 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 373
SUN #2943
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnB
To help the cause with owners of Atwood power tongue jacks.
A month ago, I was looking into buying a new 4,000# Atwood ball screw jack like Ben mentioned in his post for a fellow camper. While I could find several of the Atwood jacks for sale on the web, I could not find any sales brochures any longer to confirm the specs on the jack mount.
I called Lippert directly to see what was up as it is no longer offered on the Lippert store website. Lippert has discontinued the Atwood tongue jack line. They had 22 left in inventory at the time of the phone call and once they were all sold, no more would be available from them. They would support the spare parts from them and honor the 1 year warranty from other retailers as their stock depletes. Lippert would then offer their power tongue jack they have and had prior to buying the Atwood business from Dometic. Dometic bought the assets of Atwood Mobile to get the furnaces and the water heater etc. and sold off the jack line to Lippert.
We lost another good power tongue jack manufacturer with Atwood. I went with the Barker 3,500# ball screw unit for my friends new power jack.
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Little drift here, but is the Barker ball screw (Delux-high power) what you are thinking as the cream of the crop? I need to replace mine this year. Mine has not been trouble free, I've had it apart for water in the gearbox and a dry bearing that keeps coming back (loudly). I haven't researched them yet, but if you have and that was your conclusion, I'll go that way again.
__________________
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2006 Sunline T-1950
2019 Ford F-250
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03-04-2019, 03:14 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 373
SUN #2943
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BenB
The Robofoot sat out this last season as I never got around to painting it. Finally had the paint out and finished it up. Here is the final fix, we will see how it does this camping season. Attachment 5885
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That looks great, we need to move up from our yellow cone.
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2006 Sunline T-1950
2019 Ford F-250
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03-04-2019, 10:11 PM
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#12
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tod Osier
Little drift here, but is the Barker ball screw (Delux-high power) what you are thinking as the cream of the crop? I need to replace mine this year. Mine has not been trouble free, I've had it apart for water in the gearbox and a dry bearing that keeps coming back (loudly). I haven't researched them yet, but if you have and that was your conclusion, I'll go that way again.
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Tod,
After the Atwood option left the table, I did go with the Barker 3,500# High Power Deluxe ball screw unit. Part number 27452. Still made in the USA, 2 year warranty and that jack has been around a while. The only issue Barker has is over time water can get in the head due to an O ring leak on the cap. I would solve that by cutting the top out of a 2 gallon plastic oil can and putting a hood on it when not towing. I use the hood on the Atwood I have on my T310SR, but more so to protect the plastic from sun damage. But any jack, a cover can help make it live longer.
Their website has the wrong link to the Deluxe ball screw unit, it still links to the ACME screw series.
https://www.barkermfg.com/power-jacks.html
I was not really willing or waiting to start trying the off shore jacks. There are a lot of them out there now, they cost less too. Have no idea on how long they last or how good they are.
__________________
Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC
Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
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03-05-2019, 07:18 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 373
SUN #2943
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnB
Tod,
After the Atwood option left the table, I did go with the Barker 3,500# High Power Deluxe ball screw unit. Part number 27452. Still made in the USA, 2 year warranty and that jack has been around a while. The only issue Barker has is over time water can get in the head due to an O ring leak on the cap. I would solve that by cutting the top out of a 2 gallon plastic oil can and putting a hood on it when not towing. I use the hood on the Atwood I have on my T310SR, but more so to protect the plastic from sun damage. But any jack, a cover can help make it live longer.
Their website has the wrong link to the Deluxe ball screw unit, it still links to the ACME screw series.
https://www.barkermfg.com/power-jacks.html
I was not really willing or waiting to start trying the off shore jacks. There are a lot of them out there now, they cost less too. Have no idea on how long they last or how good they are.
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Good info. The leak is exactly what I suspect began the failure of mine (the first time I tore it down the grease in the gearbox was a nasty emulsion was water, grease and corrosion). The circular bubble level on top has a foam seal that tore (vs an O ring) and it let water in. The camper was also stored outside for long periods (not under the roof it has now). It is not a trivial matter to tear them down and get them back together for anyone thinking about it. .
Your solution of a very simple cover on a tether would easily solve that problem.
Thanks.
__________________
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2006 Sunline T-1950
2019 Ford F-250
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03-05-2019, 05:45 PM
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#14
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tod Osier
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Your solution of a very simple cover on a tether would easily solve that problem.
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Here is the 2 to 2.5 gallon bucket in action
The Atwood, no bucket
The bucket
It has accidently had a road test a few times. But it made it to the campground Would not advise it as standard practice
__________________
Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC
Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
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04-10-2019, 06:52 AM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2
SUN #11184
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I'm leaning toward the Robofoot rather than the Flip Jack since it's a much easier install and remove when needed. And it's black - no need to advertise that you have a neat accessory on your RV.
The added strength is a great idea thanks.
But why bother with the angle iron and bolt? A properly sized square tube either tacked or bolted in place to support the bottom plate is more than enough reinforcement in my mind.
And, with all the changes in ownership, does anyone know if and where to buy one?
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