Coachman's new direct drive lift system

[tlhdoc]

Here is a link to the new direct drive lift system Coachman is using.

http://www.vikingrv.com/directdrive.htm

[rccs]

Now that I've seen it I am not that impressed with it. I will have to wait and see how many problems they have with the nylon (plastic) parts that are driven by the metal screw parts.

[mike4947]

The nylon  doesn't bother me a bit, seeing as it's the same material they've used for about 30 years on camshaft and crankshaft drive sprockets to quiet the noise.

I doubt we'll ever get to the rev's or rotations a car engine does.

[brainpause]

I doubt we'll ever get to the rev's or rotations a car engine does.

Why not, Mike? I was already drawing up plans for my Briggs & Stratton modification to a new Coachmen Futura!

Larry

[mike4947]

Larry, make sure you invite me to the roof launching.

[brainpause]

Larry, make sure you invite me to the roof launching.

  :yikes:

[hoppy]

Mike 4947,

 You seem to be very knowledgeable when it comes to PU's and their construction.

  Do you happen to be in the biz?

  Just curious.

[mike4947]

Hoppy, nope, just 30 years of PU's and being one of the extended camping family mechanics. There's like three of us for about 30 families that get stuck with most of the problems. Like last winter I spent several hours over the phone helping an actual uncle with his class A electrical problems in Florida.

[hoppy]

Mike 4947,

  I know just what you mean.

 I am also mechanicaly inclined, (ex auto mechanic) but have only been PU camping for the past 10 years. (I had 25 years of tent camping prior to that) Back in 1994 I purchased a 1978 Palomino that I completely restored from the ground up. I had to replace the original tenting, repair the A/C, furnace, stove, refer, and replaced all the interior fabric (1970 decor was rather ugly), added a Campout awning, and other assorted goodies in this unit. Gave this PU to my daughter and SIL two years ago as a gift when I purchased my 2001 Mesa. My SIL sent it in to the local Palomino dealer here in GA for general maintenance , and they snapped the main lift cable. They said it needed a new roof and complete lift system for around $ 2,000.00. I used this PU for nearly 8 years (at least 60 camping trips) without a problem. Dealer began to show them  brochures for the new models. Well to make a long story short, I found a replacement cable on the net for $29.00, manually raised the roof and supported with 2 X 4's, and SIL and I installed the main cable and adjusted all four post cables in 2.5 hours. Worked like a charm. They have used the PU on at least 12 trips since that repair.

The reason I thought that you may be in the Biz is that you seem very familiar with how the dealers work. There have been a number of your posts that you nailed how my dealings with the manufactures and dealer reps. have responded back to me.

 I guess you can chalk that up to 30 years experience.

 PS: My tent camping days were actually up there in your neck of the woods. (Cairo NY, Skaneateles NY, and another bunch of CG's heading up RT# 17 past Goshen and Montecello.

[mike4947]

Hoppy, the dealer experience comes from a extended camping family policy. When you go to pickup a new trailer or to negotiate for one you always bring a disinterested third party with you. It's soooooooo easy to get caught up in the "we have to have it now", or "at any price".
I've had by butt saved on deals and PDI problems a couple of times and helped others the same way.
 
It's a policy I suggest for anyone going in to deal or pickup any RV or Vehicle for that matter.
 
And to put the thread back on track, Dave, are you going to take my suggestion and do a real in depth article on the new lift system with diagrams and photo's for us "Engineering & Gadget types?

[copcarguy]

Hoppy - Rt.17 is my neck of the woods.  They're trying to rename it I-86, but have to do some work to make it an actual interstate.  I guess some exits are too close, and if you've been past Roscoe, you can't have stop lights on an interstate.  LOL!