RE: Adding a lift system

[MommaMia]

 
Does anyone know if this is possible?  Our camper is a 67 Skamper.  
 
 OK, ok... now I can here a lot of you thinking: " Why do such a big thing to such an old camper, just buy a newer one."   Well, I really like this camper.  I got it for free when it was nothing but a giant mouse house and put a lot of hard work into bringing it back to working condition.  When I first got it, I felt so bad for it.  Like it was a living thing that was abused and neglected.  It had sat for years in a field.  The canvas was shot, mice everywhere, a real mess.  I could imagine it when it was new.... a happy little camper that took a family on it s merry vacations.  Then it changed hands and over the years it started to be neglected.  It got lonely and sad.  Sitting in that field, it thought it s life was over.  Then I came a long and breathed new life into it, gave it a new family to love it.
 
 OK, enough sentiment.  Anyway... Don t want to get rid of it just because there is no lift system.  It suits or family perfectly.  Nice size, nice condition now.  The trouble is that the roof is very heavy and really requires 2 people to lift it.  When I try on my own, I really do a # on my back.  I d love to be able to take the kids camping on my own.  Is there a way to add a crank lift system?  How much do you think it would cost?  Would it be so much that it would really make more sense to buy a newer PU. How difficult?
 
 

[Ab Diver]

 MommaMia
Hmmm... a cable operated, hand crank lift system. Cindy, it probably *could* be done, but I don t think it would be an easy mod at all. You are talking about adding a central component (in their several forms) of all current canvas-sided pop-ups. Kinda like changing the floor: it can be done, but you gotta dismantle the trailer to do it. By the time you ve bought the parts, customized the components, and rebuilt/strengthened the trailer to accommodate the new lift system, you could buy another used trailer and still be ahead of the game.
 
 That said... I m not familiar with your camper s roof support/lifting system. Is it on the *outside* of the trailer? Could you add something else on the outside of the trailer, like pneumatic air struts to help lift the top? Kinda like the struts that hold up camper shell windows, car hoods, stuff like that. Sure, they d have to be stronger than the examples I ve listed, but you get the point. Like I said, I m not familiar with your camper s support system for the top, so I don t know if the stress points would stand up to the requirements of a lifting " helper system" .  But one thing is for sure, if air shocks can support a pickup truck, a set of " air struts"  could certainly help support your trailer roof. With a little planning, it seems your roof could be lifted using (quite literally) only one hand. Figure one on each corner, rated at 30-40 lbs. each, could provide 120-160 lbs. of total lifting force. The trick would be finding a type that has enough " travel"  so the roof can fully raise and lower while the struts are engaged, and also not interfere with your trailer s existing roof support.
 
 Curious problem. I love to tackle that one. I m probably completely off base at this point, and somebody who knows your trailer s inner workings could shoot a lot of holes in my suggestion, cuz they know *why* it wouldn t work. I hope somebody else chimes in with a better suggestion. Good luck, and let us know what you decide.
 
 Hey, " Zerk"  (Viking RV forum)--- do you read these other PUT forums? Ya got any ideas that could help this nice lady?

[Starcraft Dad]

 MommaMia
I just read yesterday on one of the forums, (don t remember which one) that this person had to " replace"  the whole lift system on his PU.  He didn t say what brand it was or how big the PU was, but it was going to cost him about $3,000.  I thought that seemed awfully high but I know little to nothing about these PU creatures.

[wahoonc]

 MommaMia
The " other"  system that was replaced was a Jayco. Camping world sells a lift kit that goes on the outside of the camper. You have the lifter arms that are spring loaded and bend in the middle. They sell for around $600 if I recall.
  I believe that adding a crank up system would be cost prohibitive and not an easy project at all. Because of having to strengthen the frame and body to take the stress as well as having to run the new cables and pulleys everywhere. JMO
 
 Aaron[]

[MommaMia]

 MommaMia
Good Dave... you are up for the challenge huh?    
 
 
 My lift system involves two straight arms on each side of the outside of the camper.  These arms have rollers affixed to the top end... these slide back and forth in a channel/track along the roof s edges.  The lower end of the poles are bolted to the camper and pivot as the roof is raised.
 
 I have come up with a trick that makes it ever so slightly easier to pop up... With the roof lowered I hook a bungee cord from the top end of the poles at one end of each side of the camper and super stretch it around to the end of the camper and secure it.  Then as I lift the roof... still very heavy and difficult... the bungees pull the arms back towards me.  They still get hung up and it s not the safest situation, having two super stretched bungees pulling back towards me while my hands are very occupied.  If one of the bungees should give way, I m going to get hit, no question about it.
 
 SO... I still need help.  Your suggestions may work... I m not sure as I have no technical knowledge of the items you have referred to.  I m going to send you some pics of our camper and it s lift arms.  Maybe this will help!
 
 Thanks!  
 
 Cindy
 

[wahoonc]

 MommaMia
Cindy,
 Pictures are always a big help...remember men are visual animals[8D] We gotta see it to believe it[&:]
 
 I wonder if replacing the springs in your system and lubricating rollers and hinge points would help? Or perhaps replacing the arms with new units all together.
 Years ago we had a Viking with the outside arms and one of the springs broke and it really made the top hard to lift until we got it replaced.
 
 Aaron[]

[Ab Diver]

 MommaMia
Sure thing, Cindy! Send the pics to Aaron and I. Hopefully we can " PUT"  our heads together and come up with something that makes sense. [] Glad to help in any way I can.

[MommaMia]

 MommaMia
Aaron... no springs on this thing.... this was made before springs were invented ![]
 
 OK... I ll get out there today and snap some pics.  The camper is up now.  I hope you will be able to see how it raises.
 
 
 
 I did find an online place that offers an outside mount spring hinged lift system for $300.  Seems like a good price but DH still would like me to see if I can come up with something about half that!

[wahoonc]

 MommaMia
Cindy,
 Tell him to let you get the spring system or you are going to go buy a BRAND new Monterey with the power up and out system for $14K[] Or better yet that you want to go into the Bridal Business in NC with AirAngel...my BB to the tune of $500K[:@][8D]
 
 Aaron[]

[MommaMia]

 MommaMia
Aaron...
 
 NO WAY!!!   You have ME shaking in my boots, never mind my DH!!!  
 
  I m not ready to give in and buy one (lift system or whole pu) ready made.  I made my own bike rack and feel great about it... saved a lot of money!  I want to see if I can give this lift thing a go too!

[jstubbert]

 MommaMia
Page 66 of the Camping World Catalog....
 
 Universal Lift System - Easy operating universal lift system replaces obsolete, hard to operate crank up lift systems. Kits available for most popup camper models and includes 4 heavy duty steel springarms, all hardware and complete instructions. Call 877-273-9833 for information - member price $279.00
 
 Unfortunately they don?t list an item number and it doesn t seem to be on their website?.
 

[wahoonc]

 MommaMia
Thanks Jeff, That was the one I was thinking of[] Don t know where I got my price from though...senior moment...a little early[8D][&:]
 
 Aaron[]