Trouble Raising Camper

[jstearley]

The top of my camper will not raise. It seems to be jammed perhaps. Neither the motor nor manual raising options work. It raises about 1/4 of an inch and then just quits. Any ideas?

 

[PopRichie77]

Did you check for fluid in the tank? Also check the hydraulic cylinder under the trailer for a bent guide bar and is it lubed.

 

[JIM L-HILO]

PopRichie's suggestions are right on. You did not say if the pump is still running when the top stops. Check to see if a cable could have jumped off of a pulley and jammed between the pulley and bracket. Check for broken pulley that could have caused the above. You will need to lower the top to get play in the cables to check the above. As for the manual pump, on mine when I got it, was stuck and would not move. Don't think it had ever been activated by the previous owner. Open the manual lowering valve 1/2 turn and then pump the manual pump to lub it. May need a bit of pressure to unstick it. If it moves close the manual lowering valve and try to pump the top up. If you are low on fluid this may not work. Takes a lot of strength to pump the top up and a lot of strokes. Get back with us if none of this works and let us know what you found if you get it working.

 

[sting32]

The top of my camper will not raise. It seems to be jammed perhaps. Neither the motor nor manual raising options work. It raises about 1/4 of an inch and then just quits. Any ideas?

There's a lot of smart people on this board, however most of us are NOT clarevoyant...

I bet you have a dead battery, but I can only bet $.05 because you dont say if pump dies, or anything when trying, but you eluded to seems like it stuck, But if pump clearly dies, battery is a problem. Pump will pull pretty hard and also has pressure bypass, so pump even if stuck should run (loud sounding as it would be) when over loaded...

I darn well could be wrong about the battery, if you hear things that way when you do it.

But here's my second guess, am assuming the pump makes a struggle sound. You MIGHT have a cable problem noted above, and the top is jammed or jamming on the way up, yes it has to come up evently
.
OR: I have had something fall off the inside, and now stuck between the top seal and the bottom half of the camper. frustrating it can be when this is the reason, it was one of my window shade rods... (no I dont have the factory's nicer newer 2stage window shades)

Past that you could have a hydraulic problem as noted by poster under your post.


We're going to need more data/info from you, Jstearly