zsls03
Tulsa
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Joined: 05/29/2012
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The top on my 1998 Palomino Bronco 1200 TC wouldn't go up. Yes, I undid the latches. The front started to go up about 6 inches and then stoped. The back did not want to go up at all. Even if my wife and I tried to lift up on it it didn't seem to want to raise up. I didn't see anything in the way of the mechanism, which is worn. The top of the mechanism above the crank is slightly tilted toward the rear of the camper but I didn't know if that was part of the problem. After pulling the handle I noted that some of teeth were worn. I replaced the handle and the mechanism works. It seems that the bad teeth prevented it from working at all.
Any suggestions on how to get the top up without breaking something?
I have only had it a short time and am not familular with it.
I guess my question is how much weight can I put one the roof, which already has an air conditioner, and still hope to use the crank safely?
Thanks.
* This post was
edited 06/02/12 08:59pm by zsls03 *
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pulsar
Lewisville, NC
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Joined: 12/30/2001
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Moved from Forum Technical Support.
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dbrojr
upstate ny
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this is a heco lift on the inside of the camper? pics would help...
2002 f-150/jayco pop
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RickW
Sacramento CA
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I am assuming you have a Heco lift-a rack and pinion system.
Your camper may be tweaked out of square. This will cause one or more corners to bind when raising the roof. (This may be why the teeth on the racks are sheared.)
I would start by rigging a hydraulic or scissor jack inside the door with an adjustable pole (like a cargo bar for a pickup) and a piece of plywood to spread the force against the ceiling.
Put moderate upward pressure on the back ceiling and then try the crank. Also try adjusting the back jacks to shift the weight of the camper. You could also try a rubber mallet on the outside roof corners. It should pop up a few inches once you relieve the bind.
Once up, measure the diagonals of the camper box and the roof. They should all be equal.
If it is not binding, then the torsion bars in the lift system are too weak (ie for a roof without AC) or not connected properly.
There are a couple of recent threads about repairing a sunlite roof and adding gas lifters to assist with the roof lift that may help.
Good Luck,
Rick
04 GMC 1500 4X4X4
04 Sunlite SB
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whazoo
Arizona
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Like Rick said, I tend to think there may be a bind. After some off roading the back of my pop-up camper top can sometimes get stuck on the door frame. I've ground it down some but it still happens. Also, if the camper is off the truck it may not be perfectly level causing an out-of-square bind.
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dbrojr
upstate ny
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first check all mounting points,it may have been apart before and some of the joint bolts overtightened or missing spacers causing them to bind.Look at the rear mounts on the roof to be sure they haven't torn loose(very common in these systems due to the stress).look for any replaced fasteners,may be a sign its been apart and the torsion bar inside the main roof tubes are installed incorrectly(that will put extreme force against you when trying to lift).You can uasually put about 200lbs on those roofs and still lift them fairly easy if the torsion bars are fitted properly.You actually get a little resistance while lowering the roof,if installed correctly.
* This post was
edited 06/04/12 06:16am by dbrojr *
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JimBollman
Upstate NY
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98 doesn't have torsion bars. It uses a folded bar, with the front two pushed out with the crank pinion thing. The back ones just go along for the ride to give stability going up. I'm siting beside my 98 right now at a campgrounds and can't think of what would cause the problem but binding of the rear bar at the center pivot or top mount or possibly on the edge of the top where it omes over the main part of the camper. I usually give the back a little push up as my wife cranks just to get things started.
Jim...
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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Mine needs a little boost to get it started on the way up. I just push against the ceiling with my shoulders while cranking the first couple of revolutions, and it pops right up.
Crank it back down so and start over, this time giving it a boost to get it started.
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
2011 PJ 8x20 7-ton deckover equipment trailer
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JimBollman
Upstate NY
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I did look mine over when we put it up and down yesterday and the back folding bar don't completely just float they are welded to the the front to back pipe as is the front folding bar so as the front is pushed out it twists the bar and gets some assist from the back folding bars.
Jim,,,
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enine
OH
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Joined: 02/19/2004
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The torsion bars are inside the tube connecting the front to the rear arms, they provide lift on the rear while the front gets lift from the crank.
I had the left and right get out of sync, there is a idler gear same size as the crank beside it. Prop the roof and unbolt the section the crank handle goes in and pull out the idler then push each side up one at a time, measure and make sure the racks are the same distance from center and put the idler back in.
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