coleman top wont stay up.

[rbickle]

The top on my coleman key west (solid top) goes up but has no brake and won't stay up. It "broke" on a trip and the local dealer would not try to fix it unless I authorized purchase of a new coleman winch mechanism. Since that is an expensive part, I declined. Could there jsut be a rusty part or must a whole new part be installed? Any ideas on cheap fixes? This is an 1996 camper and does not have a lot of resale value

[AustinBoston]

Once in a while, something in the winch may catch so that the ratchet mechanism (the clicking noise) doesn't work right.  If you let go of the handle, the roof will come crashing down.  

BUT - with most of those, if you raise the roof all the way to the top so that the winch can not be turned any further, it will fix itself, the roof will stay up, and next time you will get that clicking as it goes up (and it won't come down if you let go of the handle).

I'm not an expert on the winch mechanism, so I don't know if it can be fixed or if it must be replaced.  but it would be a shame (and a sham) if the dealer just cranked it all the way up, then charged you for a new winch.

Austin

[mike4947]

To add to Austin's post. The cause is over cranking when putting the roof down. The problem is common enough that Fleetwood puts the "cure/fix" in the owners manual. There is a tiny ratchet pawl about the size of a dime that gets knocked out of position from the gearing and overcranking "slightly" trips it back into position. If that doesn't work, it's gearbox replacement time as it's REALLY rusted up internally and they don't sell repair parts.

[campingeyedoc]

I just registered, inspected, made reservations, went to clean and check out the inside of my '00 Mesa and found my crank mechanism to be free-spinning with no ratchet. So up I cranked until we hit the top, and it held. I backed off the crank a couple of spins, and the ratchet action was back! So it really does work!

[2old2backpack]

I was recently on a six week camping trip and brought my roof down on a bed that was not fully closed.  The lift system went off it normal saftey crank down process.  I called the dealer and they told me to crank the roof all the way to the top until you hear a loud pop and then crank it down until you hear another loud pop.  At that time it would readjust itself and the crank system would work.  It did work and I was on my way to another adventure!  

[Preacher]

Are you the original owner of the trailer. If so isn't Coleman's lift system a lifetime warranty?  I know the two I used to own were.  You might want to check into it.