New or newish lift systems

[BillOh]

Hello, we bought our first pop up in 2019 before the pandemic after 30 years of tent camping. It was a 2003 Coachman with some issues, but we make it work. After 3 years I think we will buy a new one, after I get a settlement from a lady who tried to kill me on my bicycle! For a bit we considered a small trailer, but for storage purposes the pop up works. The biggest problem is the cranking of the roof up. Spinal issues are making this harder and harder to deal with. The person who sold us this unit gave us a bit he hooked to his power drill for this purpose, but the torque required to use it causes sheer pins in the lift system to snap and that in turn caused other problems with the lift system.

I have seen pop ups with power roof lifts. Are they common or uncommon? I see almost no mention of this in ads I look at.

 

[Dingit]

Eek. Bike accident!

I think most are available with a power lift as an option and you can add it to most after purchase (not sure about that part). The most exciting (for me) development is the Viking/Coachmen beds with no support poles. I haven't actually seen or used them but I love the idea...one less step is one less step.

 

[BillOh]

Eek. Bike accident!

I think most are available with a power lift as an option and you can add it to most after purchase (not sure about that part). The most exciting (for me) development is the Viking/Coachmen beds with no support poles. I haven't actually seen or used them but I love the idea...one less step is one less step.

Thanks for that insight, I've only seen one viking offered, but will look into it

 

[Dingit]

I have a 2008 Fleetwood highwall with a power lift. Slow and noisy but gets the job done (so far). I guess it's better than cranking but if you just want an easy lift system, go back in time to the Apache hardsides. They have the most brilliant effortless lift system. My toddler could crank the 12' roof of our '74. Plus, they have no roof latches. (one less step!)

 

[NLB]

Eek. Bike accident!

I think most are available with a power lift as an option and you can add it to most after purchase (not sure about that part). The most exciting (for me) development is the Viking/Coachmen beds with no support poles. I haven't actually seen or used them but I love the idea...one less step is one less step.

Sorry to hear about the bike accident. I ride with my head on a swivel and still worry.
Re the under bunk poles; They are a bigger PITA than the 60 rotations of the crank. (Actually 30x2 because I’m old and need a break in between).

 

[Agent27]

My sister in law has a 2019 or 2020 Flagstaff high wall. There is a switch to raise and lower the roof right near the tongue jack.

 

[popup-flyer]

The Goshen Lift system is fairly tried and true and one of the simplest as far as maintenance/care on the market.

That is what Agent27 is referring to above on a forest river camper. Its fairly common these days but there are other types.

Fundamentally there is a winch on the tongue that is activated by a switch on its housing that raises/lowers the roof.

I have seen many posts in this forum regarding issues with that system just FYI. I have owned 2 now however with the exact same Goshen system and they worked just fine for me. Understanding how it works yields the best success.

Firstly, the switch on the housing does not directly power the winch motor. It toggles one of two power relays that are configured to reverse the voltage direction causing rotation in one direction or the othered depending on which way the switch is pushed.

The winch pulls in a long cable that travels from the front of the camper through the lower half of the lifter system "Master tube" under the camper then around a pulled attached to the rear frame and back towards the front through the top half of the "master tube" ending in a crimped on fitting that "pushes" the rear of the roof up. There is also a similar fitting at about the half way point on the cable that is in the lower part of the "master tube" that pushes the front of the roof up.

There are 2 sets of two long spring steel rods inside the Master tube that are pushed by those fittings on the cable. They travel from a curved tube from the master tube to the 4 corners. That spring steel enters the "Lifter Posts" in the side walls and pushes those up causing the roof to raise up.

So fundamentally the parts are:

4 lifter posts attached to the side wall of the camper and to the roof.
4 spring steel rods.
4 curved tubes that connect the master tube to the 4 corners.
1 master tube underneath.
1 cable with the fittings I mentioned crimped on.
the powerwinch motor system at the front.

You can adjust front to back level fairly easily .
Maintenance is 2 grease zerks on the master tube and pour a little motor oil down each lifter to lubricate the spring steel inside them. You may have to occasionally adjust the upper or lower limit switch which entails removing the upper cover and using an allen wrench or the tool that comes with it to turn a couple of adjusters. This limit switch controls when it stops at the full open position or fully closed.

Finally, there is a manual method to raise/lower using the same size wrench as the stab jacks (3/4 inch 6 point socket). I have it on a drill type tool for the stab jacks that can also raise/lower the roof. It takes A LOT of turns to raise/lower with this method just FYI but with a power tool that makes it easier.

Here is a diagram of what I described above, disregard the hand crank winch as the powerwinch system is used instead:

 

[Popiworks]

Hello, we bought our first pop up in 2019 before the pandemic after 30 years of tent camping. It was a 2003 Coachman with some issues, but we make it work. After 3 years I think we will buy a new one, after I get a settlement from a lady who tried to kill me on my bicycle! For a bit we considered a small trailer, but for storage purposes the pop up works. The biggest problem is the cranking of the roof up. Spinal issues are making this harder and harder to deal with. The person who sold us this unit gave us a bit he hooked to his power drill for this purpose, but the torque required to use it causes sheer pins in the lift system to snap and that in turn caused other problems with the lift system.

I have seen pop ups with power roof lifts. Are they common or uncommon? I see almost no mention of this in ads I look at.

I have a 2016 Jayco 1007 with a factory installed electric lift system. It has never given me any trouble other than the motor burning out. ($175 for new one) but it works. During the burn out period I used a 20w Dewalt drill to raise and lower the top after I discovered that you have to unplug/disconnect the lift motor for the drill to work. There appears to be some sort of motor lock with power available. All said and done the lift is worth the extra money. I am 79 this summer, the lift system is no problem but getting the bunks our is very difficult even after silicone lube. Will have to put is up for sale soon.

 

[Annunzi]

@popup-flyer that's a really great summary of how the Goshen lift system works and the required maintenance. Last Fall I swapped out the power winch (as it was constantly slipping when raising the roof) for a manual winch I ordered from Goshen. I have my 20V Dewalt drill and socket genie ready to go, but since the trailer has been in the garage all Winter, I haven't had a chance to try a full roof lift. Our first trip is this weekend, and my one concern is given the size of our unit (14' box with AC, HW277), the drill may not have enough power to raise the roof. I have the crank handle as a back up, but i'm really hoping the drill is up to the task.

 

[popup-flyer]

@popup-flyer that's a really great summary of how the Goshen lift system works and the required maintenance. Last Fall I swapped out the power winch (as it was constantly slipping when raising the roof) for a manual winch I ordered from Goshen. I have my 20V Dewalt drill and socket genie ready to go, but since the trailer has been in the garage all Winter, I haven't had a chance to try a full roof lift. Our first trip is this weekend, and my one concern is given the size of our unit (14' box with AC, HW277), the drill may not have enough power to raise the roof. I have the crank handle as a back up, but i'm really hoping the drill is up to the task.

I hate to tell you but the full fix for slipping roof is about $30 in parts. Typically though a bolt just needs tightening.

It has this "clutch" system that if it starts slipping due to lack of pressure the roof will slip down slowly.

This is the part:

Carefree R001759 Clutch and Gear Kit​

 

[Annunzi]

@popup-flyer Yes I did hear about the clutch repair, but I believe it's a really thin paper clutch that's prone to fail. So rather than constantly having to fix/replace the clutch, I decided to simplify with the manual winch and the drill. Plus I'm not draining any battery life while raising the roof.

 

[popup-flyer]

@popup-flyer Yes I did hear about the clutch repair, but I believe it's a really thin paper clutch that's prone to fail. So rather than constantly having to fix/replace the clutch, I decided to simplify with the manual winch and the drill. Plus I'm not draining any battery life while raising the roof.

I have called it a paper clutch many times myself but its a composite material. The really annoying thing is that the pawl on that side grabs and hooks when you lower the roof forcing the clutch to slip all the way down.

If you have the cover off and are watching you can see the material flying off as it runs down :/ Definately a finite lifespan

All I will say about it is 4 years in and I replaced only one because of the slipping and that was my fault. I did not realize that was there and lubricated the gears. That thing soaked up grease which ruined it.

 

[BillOh]

Hello all, I'm back visiting the forum, thanks for the replies. My lawyer indicates this whole process is nearing an end, so I'm hoping to purchase the new pop up this fall. While camping with our 2003 Coachman a the KOA in Erie, PA this summer I was a Rockwood high wall I/we really like. Currently investigating those!

 

[NLB]

Hello all, I'm back visiting the forum, thanks for the replies. My lawyer indicates this whole process is nearing an end, so I'm hoping to purchase the new pop up this fall. While camping with our 2003 Coachman a the KOA in Erie, PA this summer I was a Rockwood high wall I/we really like. Currently investigating those!

Glad to hear that you are on the mend. Good luck on your search for the new unit.
(nada.com for prices/values etc.)

 

[Sneezer]

I have been happy with my Jayco. It uses the L&W lift system - everything is enclosed inside the camper behind the cabinets. On the one hand there is basically zero maintenance needed other than periodic lubrication of the posts, and inspecting the winch. Overall there seems to be fewer problems that I have seen based on forum posts, but it is substantially more work involved in the event a part does need to be replaced since you have to remove cabinets and benches to get at basically everything.

Mine is not electric but I do use a socket genie and a corded 1/2" Harbor Freight drill to raise it with no issues. However, my stabs are the drop down ratchet kind. I would prefer screw down ones for ease of use but due tot he low ride height of my Jayco they really are not an option.

 

[BillOh]

My sister in law has a 2019 or 2020 Flagstaff high wall. There is a switch to raise and lower the roof right near the tongue jack.

I'm bored waiting for camping season to come again and reviewing old posts. (This forum is currently one of my favorites, and I've been "forum-ing" since my days at CompuServe in the 80s) We did end up with the Rockwood HW 277 and its been very great so far, love the electric lift!

 

[Annunzi]

Congrats @BillOh! Get yourself a stepstool and a telescopic soft bristle broom. We also have a HW277 and found both very handy during setup and take down. Let me know if you have any questions on the "quirks" of the HW277!