RE: Main lifting cable replacement

[Horscampr]

 
Among the things I plan to fix up on my old camper this spring is the main lifting cable (the cable that connects to the winch and actually cranks the roof up).  The old one is.......well.....old.  It is starting to fray in places, and I don t want to risk it breaking while cranking the top up.
 
 I have the service manual to my camper and I m hoping/planning on purchasing the cable directly from Starcraft (I want to ensure I have the correct size/length/strength I need....since this is the MAIN cable, I don t want to take any chances with something else).
 
 Anyway.....my question is has anyone else ever done this and how hard was it to do?  My dad is certain that it won t be too difficult, but I am a little nervous about doing it since it controls the entire lift system and not just one corner.  If anyone has any tips or " lessons learned"  that they could share, I would appreciate it tremendously.
 
 Thank You

[chip]

 Horscampr
When I replaced the main cable on my  67 Starcraft, I used aircraft cable in the same size that I bought at the local hardware store.  Some saddle clamps, about an hour, and it was fixed.  (Needed to fix it.  We were going camping.  Broke in the front yard when we getting ready to load up.)
 
 The lift system consisted of a main cable attached to an eye bolt that attached to a bar that all of the corner lift cables were attached to.  The other end attached to a winch on the tongue of the trailer.  
 
 Don t know how that relates to your  71, but...
 
 Hope that helps.  
 
 

[Horscampr]

 Horscampr
Chip,
 
 Thanks for the reply.  I do have a contact to an airline supplier, but since I am unsure of the exact size I will need, I figure it might be easier to order directly from Starcraft.
 
 The lift set-up on your  67 sounds simliar to mine, so I m hoping from what you ve said, it won t be too difficult of a job.  My dad says " Oh....ITS EASY!"   Yeah right, LOL, he said that last year when we replaced a corner lifter cable and then ended up putting it back together and taking it apart 3 times because something just wasn t " quite right."  
 
 My dad now swears he can fix any camper out there and that he s a pro.  I guess its this little statement that scares me....LOL.
 
 Well, anyway...thanks again for the reply.  I will post again on this when we actually do the job to let everyone know how it goes...  Wish me luck!!!!

[chip]

 Horscampr
Good luck and have fun.  And if your dad s around to help out, enjoy his company.
 
 The cable from Starcraft will likely have the eye bolt attached and will have a compression clamp (for lack of a better description) holding it all together.  Prolly make the job even easier.
 
 Having had to replace several, if not all, of those corner lift cables over the years, I can identify with the put it together, take it apart thing.  BTDT.  Mine was somewhat easier though because I didn t have any end bunks to pull out.
 
 It s all good though.  And when it s all done, it s REALLY yours.
 

[bearbait]

 Horscampr
---

[Horscampr]

 Horscampr
Lee,
 
 Thanks for pointing that out.  I will check with the supplier I have access to and see if they have the tool.  This is one reason why I wrote this thread.  I was hoping I would be " alerted"  to any potential hangups and hopefully be better prepared when we tackle it this spring (My dad never thinks of things like this....and you re right, he d probably just want to take a hammer to it.  I am hoping that if I can locate the tool and purchase it, I will be one step ahead of him).
 
 Thanks Again!
 Carol

[Horscampr]

 Horscampr
Ok, I went to AircraftSpruce.com which is the supplier that I have a link to.  They have 3 different types of swag tools listed when you do a search for that type of tool.
 
 Any idea which is the one I would need?  Not to be dumb, but I m just a girl trying to figure out the best way (and the safest) to do this.  
 
 Please help[&:]

[Gamecock Camper]

 Horscampr
Carol, I can t help you with the last question, but I can recommend something.  On my Rockwood camper it has two braces that fit over the lifting arms.  When the camper is fully set-up you are supposed to put the braces on the lifter arms on two opposite corners to prevent the roof from coming down on you should the cable fail while the camper is set-up.  It came with the camper, but would be easy to use a piece of wood (broom sticks, dowels, or 2x2) to prop between the camper body and the roof just in case.  
 
 I never really have given much thought to the roof failing, but if my cable was damaged, I d get that repaired and then add some braces of some kind.  Good luck with your latest project on Poppy.

[bearbait]

 Horscampr
---

[Horscampr]

 Horscampr
I will check with Starcraft when I call them to order the cable.
 
 Thanks for all of your help!!!!!![][]
 
 I will keep everyone here updated on how the repair goes when we do it..[]