Fleetwood Power Lift Recall

[Beer Belly]

Forgive me if this has already been mentioned :confused:

Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
FLEETWOOD / ARCADIA 2007-2008

FLEETWOOD / AVALON 2007

FLEETWOOD / BAYSIDE 2007-2008

FLEETWOOD / CHEYENNE 2007

FLEETWOOD / NIAGARA 2007-2008

FLEETWOOD / SANTA FE 2007-2008

FLEETWOOD / SARATOGA 2007-2008

FLEETWOOD / SEQUOIA 2007

FLEETWOOD / SUN VALLEY 2007-2008

FLEETWOOD / UTAH 2007-2008

FLEETWOOD / WILLIAMSBURG 2007-2008

Recall Number: 07V464000
Summary:
ON CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, THE POWER LIFT ROOF SYSTEM, WHICH CONSISTS OF A POWER LIFT MOTOR AND CURRENT LIMITER CONTROLLER, GENERATES EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF IMPACT TORQUE IF THE POWER LIFT IS OPERATED WITH THE 30A POWER CORD PLUGGED INTO A 110V AC POWER SOURCE (WITH OR WITHOUT A BATTERY).
Consequence:
THIS COULD CAUSE FAILURE IN ONE OF THE SHEAR PINS RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER'S LIFT SYSTEM. THIS COULD ALLOW THE ROOF TO FREE-FALL FROM THE RAISED POSITION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY, VEHICLE AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy:
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH TWO WARNING STICKERS THAT EXPLAINS THE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE POWER LIFT ACCESSORY USING A BATTERY ONLY. ONE STICKER WILL BE PLACED AT THE REAR OF THE TRAILER NEXT TO THE CURRENT LIMITER. THE SECOND STICKER WILL BE PLACED NEXT TO THE 30A POWER CORD OUTLET. IN ADDITION, FLEETWOOD FOLDING TRAILERS WILL SEND A COPY OF THE OPERATION MANUAL THAT EMPHASIZES THE BATTERY-ONLY OPERATION OF THIS TRAILER ACCESSORY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FLEETWOOD FOLDING TRAILERS AT 1-814-443-7367.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://www.safercar.gov.

[tlhdoc]

I hadn't heard of this recall, but I know some people have had problems with their power lift.  I wonder if they had it plugged into 110?

[archer]

Thanks for the post hadnt heard about this... We have 07 Utah and havent had a bit of problem with lift, but we havent used 110 to lift or lower. Happy Camping!!!

[chip]

I can speak from first hand experience as to what happens when the lift system fails.  See this thread.  The roof had come down about six inches when whatever broke, broke.  It was plugged in to 110V at the time, since the instructions say the system is designed to operate that way-the lift motor is 12V and operates from the 12V side of the converter.

My dealer replaced the wiffle tree and said there would be a letter coming from Fleetwood;  I haven't seen the letter yet, and that was mid-October.  This is the first reference I have seen to the problem, other than  my own.  Thanks for posting.

Bottom line:  Take heed, raise or lower using battery power only.  Because when the shear pin (or wiffle tree) fails and the roof comes down, it comes down.  Fast.

[Beer Belly]

Maybe this should be a "Sticky" at the top of the page for a spell :W

[Done Working]

Maybe this should be a "Sticky" at the top of the page for a spell :W

Isn't a Sticky Fleetwoods fix to this problem.

[copcarguy]

Chip - sorry to hear about your problems, and glad your dealer stuck by you...  

Beer Belly - glad you posted this!  There are a lot of people that could benefit from this post...
 
Having owned many Coleman / Fleetwood products, I can remember reading in the owners manual that you could either use 12v from the battery or 12v from the converter while being plugged in.  I wonder how many roofs have fallen (and possibly people being hurt while tucking in their tenting) before Fleetwood figured this one out.  And what a cheap fix - apply two stickers to your camper, thus removing them from all liability!  Why not make the lift system components able to withstand the torque of the power lift motor??  Reading this thread just confirms why I am so glad to not own a Fleetwood product anymore.  Every one of them was a headache from day one.

[azpopup17]

After reading about some of these and the lame solution from Fleetwood, I would do the following.  Remove the e-lift and replace it with a manual.  My understanding is that with the e-lift there is no manual back up should the motor or battery fail.  I will nevery buy a PU with an e-lift, especially after reading this.  Fleetwood should make the system more robust so works with the battery or 110.  The inverter should filter the AC power so that the motor gets the same power regardless of the source.

This has the potential to kill someone.  Stickers are not going to prevent that from happening.  It needs to be bullet proof.

[mike4947]

With the Fleetwood electric lift it simply replaces the upper crank position with the electric motor. The lower crank position is still available for manual use.