Landing gear failure is one of the most preventable yet most disruptive breakdowns a fleet can face. When the crank handle won't turn or a leg buckles under a loaded trailer at a shipper's dock, the trailer is stuck and the driver's whole day unravels.

Why Landing Gear Fails More Often Than Drivers Expect

The most common failure points are the gearbox itself (worn gears that skip or lock up), the upper and lower tube welds (fatigue cracking from repeated loading cycles), and the foot pads (which corrode and weaken from winter road salt exposure).

Warning Signs Before a Full Failure

Pay attention to a crank handle that suddenly turns harder or easier than usual, visible rust streaking near the leg-to-frame weld, legs that don't extend evenly, or grinding sounds during raising or lowering.

Practical Maintenance Habits That Prevent Failures

Greasing the gearbox and leg shafts on a set schedule keeps the internal gears from grinding against dry metal. It's also worth training drivers to never force a stuck crank — a seized gearbox that gets forced turns a simple repair into a full landing gear replacement.