Bent hydrolic guide rod, left side of camper won't go down

[Randy53]

I just bought a 2903c from an estate sale.It was raised up about 1 ft and it would not go down. I found what appears to be a guide rod for the ram. The rod is bent severely and preventing the ram to fully retract. I cut the rod so I could transport the trailer home. After arriving home I raised the top ok and left it up overnight. The next morning the right side dropped about a foot. I raised it back up and tried to lower it down but the left side would only go down about a foot and hang up. The release is working and is clear of the ram. What is the problem and is the bent 3/4 round rod a problem?

 

[renoites]

Randy
the bent rod is a problem!
It takes a lot of pressure to bend a 3/4" solid steel rod, now x 2.
I would quit raising and lowering the trlr until you find out what is wrong and fix it.
Sounds like a possibly jammed cable lift wheel, or????? There have been recent posts about the same problem and solutions.

steve

 

[RichR]

Watch the videos from HiLo, especially Video 34-HiLo Lubrication. It will tell you about the maintenance of the lift system.
http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f49/hilo-video-owners-manuals-youtube-1233/

The guide rod is the single most important part of the lift system. Without it you can bend the hydraulic cylinder.

 

[PopRichie77]

Yes don't try to raise or lower anymore, this will only cause more damage. You probably have a broken cable that has jammed up. The guide rod may have bent from lack of not being greased. But more than likely due to trying to raise and the plate on the end of the hydraulic cylinder twisted due to the broken cable, this crabbed the guide rod and bent it. The hydraulic cylinder is more than capable of bending the rod.