Squeals loudly when raising or lowering

[Rauch0812]

We're new to the pup world, but we're loving it so far.  When we lower and raise the camper it squeals pretty bad.  There are no problems, it goes up and down just fine and it has a brand new winch on it.  My husband greased the cables.  I believe the squealing is coming from the 4 posts on the corners.  I can't see how you'd grease them without getting grease all over the canvas when raising and lowering.  Is this normal or should we be doing something to fix it?

Thanks!
Desera

00' Coleman ST1280

[Ranger3/75]

We use a clear silacone spray lube on our lifter posts,seems to be great.Just put a towel between the lifter posts and tent material,and let it dry good before lowering unit.Hope this helps,or check with your dealer,Iam sure there are others to lube the posts........

[tlhdoc]

Coleman/Fleetwood recommends using silicone spray to lube the pulleys and lifter cables.  There are several pulleys in the lifter arms (one and the bottom of each arm and othes in the lifter arm.  There are also several under the PU.  If you follow the cables you will find the pulleys.  I lube mine every month or so.  To get to the pulleys in the lifter arms pop the top about half way.  That gives you enough slack in the tenting to keep it out of the way, and allow you to look into the lifter arms.  Another suggestion is to spray the lift system when it is not windy.

[hoppy]

I am not familiar with the 2000 Coleman model ST1280 that you mentioned in your post, but as far as I can recall, Coleman has been using a "wiffel tree"  lift system dating back to their 1968 PU's. You mentioned a new winch... is this like a boat trailer style winch?
 If it is a "wiffel tree" style, there should be a long protective pan that is screwed to the bottom floor of the PU. Once removed, it will expose a long worm gear with the four lift cables attached to it. Clean and apply silicone spray to the worm gear, and lubricate all the pulleys you can see. This may help. There should be four pulleys located just after the worm gear, four attached to the chassis directly under each post, and depending on the model 2-3 pulleys inside each lift arm. These are accessable by the opening in the "C" channel located at the back of each lift arm.  

   Good luck.

[wavery]

We're new to the pup world, but we're loving it so far.  When we lower and raise the camper it squeals pretty bad.  There are no problems, it goes up and down just fine and it has a brand new winch on it.  My husband greased the cables.  I believe the squealing is coming from the 4 posts on the corners.  I can't see how you'd grease them without getting grease all over the canvas when raising and lowering.  Is this normal or should we be doing something to fix it?

Thanks!
Desera

00' Coleman ST1280

If your husband put "Grease" on the cables (Specifically petroleum grease), it should be thoroughly cleaned off. WD40 works pretty good for cleaning so does "Brake Cleaner". Then apply silicone.

It's not good to use petroleum based grease when it will come in contact with plastic or nylon pulleys, like in your lift system. It will degrade the pulleys and keep them from turning. That will cause the cables to cut through the pulleys as the cables pass over the pulleys instead of riding with the pulleys as they turn.

If he wants to use "Grease", it should only be white lithium spray grease and only on the cables and whiffle tree. All excess grease should be wiped clean. The pulleys should only get silicone spray.

However, as mentioned previously, most manufacturers recommend silicone lubricant throughout the lift system.

[coach]

Grease/Lube the cables? Slippery cables.

The cables are in tension - why do they need lubing?

I understand lubricating 'the pulleys', well not where the cable rides but the friction points of the pulley/shaft/etc.