Alternate cranking system

[DrJ]

I am thinking of getting back into PUP camping and have a question about cranking it up. I am thinking about a Fleetwood Niagara and would have an ac mounted on the roof. I have a bad back and heart problems (I am also getting old) and have heard people suggest cranking up with a drill rather than hand cranking. My question is: is there any possibility of damage to the cranking mechanism using the drill method that you would not encounter with handcranking? According to the dealer, you cannot over crank this model. Are there any other issues that I need to consider on this such as whether it voids the warranty? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[wavery]

I am thinking of getting back into PUP camping and have a question about cranking it up. I am thinking about a Fleetwood Niagara and would have an ac mounted on the roof. I have a bad back and heart problems (I am also getting old) and have heard people suggest cranking up with a drill rather than hand cranking. My question is: is there any possibility of damage to the cranking mechanism using the drill method that you would not encounter with handcranking? According to the dealer, you cannot over crank this model. Are there any other issues that I need to consider on this such as whether it voids the warranty? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

If you're buying a new PU, you might want to consider buying the factory electric lift.

I use a drill motor and have put the top up & down at least 30 times with it (I have A/C too). I've never had a problem. I did mark the rear lift support so that I know when it is 5 turns from the top and 1 turn from the top. At 5 turns, I go slow until I get to 1 turn, then I crank it to the top by hand. I am equally as careful putting it down.

[tlhdoc]

If you're buying a new PU, you might want to consider buying the factory electric lift.

I would not get a factory lift.  They do not have a good performance history and you can't use it for anything else.  With a good drill it can do double duty putting down the stabilizing jacks and cranking the tongue jack up.  Plus you can use it as a drill.
 
Many people use a drill to put the top up and down.  As long as you take your time and don't crank too fast you should be fine.

[Tim5055]

I agree with Tracy, the factory systems have a verry spotty record.  I use an 18v battery drill and it works fine.  As Waverly points out, be careful when you get near the top or bottom.

My drill lift system.

It should be noted that the newer socket genie has been redesigned so it will only lift the roof, not set the stabilizers.

[HersheyGirl]

It also depends on the type of camper you get.  I have a Palomino and I can not use the drill as the roof is way to heavy for my drill to take it up.  My lift system is also different as it only takes 36 turns to go up all the way.  Most of the Fleetwood and other campers take in the 60 to 70's turns to crank it up.  But, the drill works great for the stabilizers and the BAL leveler.

[zamboni]

My parents bought a Niagara in late-2002 -- and bought the $600 factory electric lift.

By July 2005, it had stripped gears twice, and once stripped the factory (as in installed in even manual) lift whiffle-tree.  One "fault" happened while we were lifting the roof after driving 3 hours to a rally.  Turned out to be a VERY short (and frustrating) weekend; we were at the CG for an hour to hang out before driving home again

Meanwhile, people I knew who bought a $120-or-so good cordless drill had never had a problem.

Your choice

[DrJ]

Thanks to everyone for your responses and input. As always, excellent and very helpful information. Sounds like the drill is the way to go. Thanks again.

Jim

[Old Goat]

I had an electric lift {Barker} installed on our 01 Niagara when we bought it.. It has one hundred plus lifts on it in 29 states and has never given a problem. Once a year I pull the cover off it's gear case, remove old grease, clean gears with mineral spirits and then install plenty of new lithium grease...It continues to work perfectly..I have also relocated it's control box from the back bumper to a compartment that I installed on the side of the trailer by the door. It has a small access door which locks.. This makes it much handier and keeps the control box out of the weather. I also regrease wiffle tree annually and adjust lift cables if needed.......