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jeffatthenet · 03-15-2020, 07:14 PM

My wife and I picked up our new 2020 Globetrotter yesterday from Ewald's Airstream in Milwaukee yesterday. 5 hours of inspection and walkthrough and we were on our way home to Oshkosh. Not experienced at towing, we were a little nervous. Our first test came within 10 minutes on the Interstate, where we dodged a king size mattress in front of us. Swerved and avoided it without loss of control thankfully. We got home and then blew 2 fuses trying to use the power jack to disconnect the hitch. Ultimately used the manual jack to remove. What could be leading to the power hitch blowing fuses?

Downhill502 · 03-15-2020, 07:26 PM

Congrats on the new Globe! If you follow the power feed wire from the tongue jack power unit to where it is fed under the propane tank cover this is a very common location to find it damaged or grounded/shorted to the frame. If the power fed wire looks OK you may have a faulty jack as ours was just replaced under warranty but for damaged internal gears.

jeffatthenet · 03-15-2020, 07:33 PM

Thanks - the wire looked stressed but not exposed. Replaced the fuse and things are working today. Odd to be blowing fuses under routine operation. Hopefully it's not faulty as a tow back to Milwaukee would be a pain - not the worst but a pain.

ROBERT CROSS · 03-15-2020, 07:37 PM

Look here where the wires go under the propane cover.

Bob
🇺🇸

Downhill502 · 03-15-2020, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffatthenet

Thanks - the wire looked stressed but not exposed. Replaced the fuse and things are working today. Odd to be blowing fuses under routine operation. Hopefully it's not faulty as a tow back to Milwaukee would be a pain - not the worst but a pain.

No problem at all, keep us updated.

jeffatthenet · 03-15-2020, 07:50 PM

Thanks - we've inspected this spot and it looks like the wire has been compressed but isn't exposed. Seems like a design flaw that I will correct.

Bob Peahl · 03-16-2020, 10:32 AM

We had the same problem - jack fuse blowing due to a compressed lead wire. I ran new wire that is slightly longer to eliminate strain on the wire. This has worked well for us.

fthopkins · 03-16-2020, 11:09 AM

1st off, I would like to say, I love your new AS. Putting the living space with the scenic view was the greatest idea. [Although I love my truck, looking out at the back of it while I'm on a river or lake, is not idea.]

2nd, I have noticed that every time I full extend or retract my electric jack, it blows a fuse. Not being a rocket scientist and not enjoying crawling around changing the fuse, I have started watching VERY closely the amount I extend (and retract) the jack.

Hope this over simplistic solution helps.

CoolAl · 03-16-2020, 11:19 AM

2020 27' Flying Cloud
Not the jack, probably the newer brand jack, get a slow blow style fuse 30 Amp Requires a different style holder, easy fix

ROBERT CROSS · 03-16-2020, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fthopkins

1st off, I would like to say, I love your new AS. Putting the living space with the scenic view was the greatest idea. [Although I love my truck, looking out at the back of it while I'm on a river or lake, is not idea.]

2nd, I have noticed that every time I full extend or retract my electric jack, it blows a fuse. Not being a rocket scientist and not enjoying crawling around changing the fuse, I have started watching VERY closely the amount I extend (and retract) the jack.

Hope this over simplistic solution helps.

Not simplistic at all...very good advise.
The OEM jack on our AS had one fiber gear...too much up & down going too far too many times and you wouldn't be going anywhere.
Best solution we tried ... Husky 5000 no gears & remote control.👍

Bob
🇺🇸

CoolAl · 03-16-2020, 12:26 PM

Just saying, I picked up my new 27' Flying Cloud 3-4 weeks ago, before we got out of the dealer's shop we had used 3 fuses and then installed a new jack. They weren't up to speed with the New Brand of jack, Air stream factory sent it out with the standard fuse arrangement. Got home blew another fuse, this fuse is located from the battery, no wiring problem. I had checked the jack's operating amperage etc. no problem. Apparently the inrush load is just a little bit more than the old style jack, too much for the old style quick blow 30 amp fuse. The Jack manufacturer told me they have advised Air-stream, apparently it has not trickled down to the dealers yet. This is on my new unit, not an old jack. Might not be your problem, but if you have a new jack and the fuse holder is just off the battery, it may be your problem too.

jeffatthenet · 03-16-2020, 02:21 PM

Thanks to everyone for their input. I have carefully rerouted the wiring to make sure it isn't compressed and will source a slow blow 30 Amp fuse and put it in place. Great to have the support of this forum. Stay safe and healthy everyone.

**GCinSC2** · 03-16-2020, 02:49 PM

Please report back with conclusion. That's how the forum helps others.

jeffmc306 · 03-16-2020, 03:18 PM

jeffatthenet, welcome to the Airstream Community & Forums!

We bought our 2019 Globetrotter last April from George at Ewald's. We're about 65 miles away so I've fixed all the little things myself rather than drag the trailer back to Franklin.

You've gotten good advice from everyone so far. Hope you find the root cause soon but good that you know how to use the manual lift handle!

drbob46923 · 03-16-2020, 04:42 PM

I have also been suddenly plagued with that same issue several times this year on my 2014 30 ft International Serenity while on the road. I never had this issue in the past, a few months ago I noticed some of the insulation on the wire from the jack to the battery was starting to crumble, so I used silicon tape until we arrived home. Using 2-3 blocks of wood under the tongue jack were necessary to eliminate fully extending the jack and thus blowing the fuse. Today I replaced the wire for the jack with new 10 gauge tinned copper wire (marine grade) and a 30 amp self resetting circuit breaker from CarQuest. So far it seems to work fine. I hope this info helps.

jeffatthenet · 03-16-2020, 06:09 PM

I will definitely report back the resolution. Social isolating for the near future.

jeffatthenet · 03-16-2020, 06:10 PM

Thanks Dr Bob - appreciate the detail and the images.

guskmg · 03-16-2020, 06:10 PM

Don't change directions until the jack has completely stopped. It can overload the fuse.
guskmg

jeffatthenet · 03-16-2020, 06:24 PM

guskmg Thanks for this - it may have been part of the issue.

nikonman13 · 03-17-2020, 05:18 AM

guskmg is correct. I picked up my 2020 GT about 3 weeks ago. The fuse issue is definitely caused by switching directions with the hitch raise/lower switch before the hitch motor is completely idle. Don't flip the switch from one direction to the other without listening for the motor to stop, which is a couple of seconds.