Cables

[Glen W. Sironen]

Hi,
I just bought a 1981 Colman Shenandoah camper at the begining of this summer. I've had it out several times and we're having a great time. This past weekend we were camping and one of the lift cables broke. I bought a 1x4 to hold it in place until we got home and this worked out fine. What I would like to know now is... Where can I get new cables, (I want to replace all four) and how hard is it to "do-it-yourself" install?
Thank you in advance.
glen

[edwardr132]

Hi,
I just bought a 1981 Colman Shenandoah camper at the begining of this summer. I've had it out several times and we're having a great time. This past weekend we were camping and one of the lift cables broke. I bought a 1x4 to hold it in place until we got home and this worked out fine. What I would like to know now is... Where can I get new cables, (I want to replace all four) and how hard is it to "do-it-yourself" install?
Thank you in advance.
glen

The cable wire itself is pretty inexpensive.  It is 1/8th steel cable readily available at a Home Depot or any home improvement store.  You can easily repair it yourself just by putting a turnbuckle and loop the wires into it on both sides?  (I believe that's what is called between where the new wire should go and the old wire.  It is easier to adjust the tension that way.  I did that when one of my lift cables failed.  I also rented a huge bolt-cutter from Home Depot to do the crimping.  Makes crimping under the pop-up a breeze....  Just be very gentle with the bolt-cutter.

[wavery]

If I had to do that job, I would use 7x19 stainless steel cable (commonly known as "wire rope"). You can pick it up at most marine supply stores for about a buck a foot. It is more flexible than steel and it is more impervious to corrosion.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/3892/0/0/rigging%20wire/All_2/mode+matchallpartial/0/0

I would also use S/S thimbles (if they will fit) in the "loop" at the end of each wire. That's where the wire most commonly will separate. The thimble distributes the stress more evenly and helps avoid metal fatigue from the sharp bending of the wire.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/239636/0/0/thimbles/All_2/mode+matchallpartial/0/0

You might want to consider getting a proper swaging tool. Bolt cutters are not the best option. In fact vise grips would be better than bolt cutters and I don't recommend them either:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/W-W-New-Aircraft-Swaging-Tool-Aviation-Grade_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ26439QQihZ002QQitemZ120001630837QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[tlhdoc]

Contact Fleetwood and ask them to send you the lift system repair manual or you can down load it here.

http://home.comcast.net/~jmcanzo1/liftman.pdf
 
Read it and understand it before you start working on your lift system.  You will need the proper size crimping tool before you start to work on replacing the lines.  You might want to replace the pulleys at the same time.  Many people have done this repair themselves.