Another Roof Lifting Mechanism

I've been pondering the roof-lifting problem. There have been several novel ideas, but none of them really got me interested. So, I decided to try my own solution.

Starting with this piece of off-the-shelf hardware...


I fashioned a roof jack out of a scrap of 2x4, a piece of 1-1/2" DWV PVC, a broom handle and (the coup de grace) duct tape...



I didn't bother to draw it up, 'cause it is so simple, but I will submit plans if there is sufficient interest. (Btw, this device will lift or lower the entire roof at once.)

I've been pondering the roof-lifting problem. There have been several novel ideas, but none of them really got me interested. So, I decided to try my own solution.

Starting with this piece of off-the-shelf hardware...


I fashioned a roof jack out of a scrap of 2x4, a piece of 1-1/2" DWV PVC, a broom handle and (the coup de grace) duct tape...



I didn't bother to draw it up, 'cause it is so simple, but I will submit plans if there is sufficient interest. (Btw, this device will lift or lower the entire roof at once.)



Not a bad idea.Looks good.
Frank

Great idea! I am very interested in how you build that lift. I looked at the threads on the strut assisted lifts but can never ever determine how much weight I might need to lift for a given trip. Many have suggested that if you install the large struts capable of lifting serious weight on the camper and then the next week not have anything on the roof, this could cause problems shutting the roof down cause the shocks are too strong. Your idea would work for all situations.

Cheers!

I started out with the idea of telescoping tubes, but couldn't see how to raise the inner one. then I thought of making bushings and using the (really cheap) boat winch.

I took a scrap of 2x4 and drilled a 1.6" hole in it with a fly cutter. (You could also saber saw the hole and finish it off with a drum sander or even a rasp.) I cut a clamping relief in the end of the 2x4 with my chop saw. Then I added 1/4-20 through bolts to pinch the 2x4 to the 1.5" DWV. I scribed the mounting holes for the boat winch so that the strap hung freely down the DWV and bolted the hoist to the 2x4 with some hardware I had laying around.

Everything was sized to fit into the camper with the top down. You need to allow for the crank handle in the "uppest" position. Once I had everything cut to length, I pushed the winch strap down inside the DWV with the shortified broom handle. I duct taped the winch strap (folded once over the end of the broom handle) and voila! a roof lifter!

(The biggest blunder here was cutting the winch strap. I could have left the hook poking out of the top and been alright. It turns out I didn't need to worry about the bushings, so there was plenty of slop factor to stuff the winch strap down inside the DWV.)

Hope that helps.

I like it!
I too don't always have full weight on my roof and have been worried about dealing with struts and an empty roof.
When fully raised, how much of the broom handle is left inside the PVC?
Kevin

Mark,
Elegantly simple. U Dah Man! Now we need a video in action.

Hey Mark

Good job. I like it !

I have tried to make a few different styles of lift assists over the years (and FWC has too) from ideas on the forums, but we never found anything that was simple, cost effective, and reliable for the average customer.

Not long ago a customer from So Cal came up with something he shared with me that is awesome. I thought I would also post it for the people on the forum.

We bought one to play around with and I really like it. It is so simple, looks and works professionally, and it is super light weight.

The only thing one might want to do is to install a small plastic retaining cup to keep it in place when raising the roof. (if you go to the closet section in the hardware store they will have closet hanging rods and the plastic end caps that would probably work well).

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DEVICE TO RAISE POP-TOP FROM INSIDE THE FOUR WHEEL CAMPER

I found a device that will lift the roof of my pop top camper from inside the camper. It is a speaker stand with crank that is manufactured by a company called On Stage Stand. Although the device lists for $160.00, I found sources on the internet that were selling it for $59.95. (Last time I checked it was available at guitar center, amazon.com, and ebay.com)

This device is designed for displaying speakers on a stage. You mount the speaker on the pole and use a crank or drill to raise the speaker to the desired height. The pole is stabilized with a 3 legged stand. The device is designed to raise an 80- 100 pound speaker from 47” to 80”.

The link to company On Stage Stands which makes the speaker stand is

http://www.onstagestands.com/catalog/item/home/model/SS8800B+/grp/GRP000168

To use the stand with my camper I modified the speaker stand by removing the three legs and the support stand from the bottom, leaving a 46” pole with a crank system. I also removed the rubber feet from the 3 legs and placed them on the top and bottom of the pole to protect the floor and roof of the camper shell.

This makes it possible for my wife and I to raise the camper roof easily. The pole is made of aluminum and weighs only about 4 lb without the stand. The pole is easy to store. Time will tell how durable the crank system is, but it doesn’t seem to labor when I use it to raise the poptop.

Bill from So Cal

one more picture . . .






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@ Stan-

If I had known of that gizmo, I probably would have bought it.

@ Stan-

If I had known of that gizmo, I probably would have bought it.



I wonder if one could use the crank up pole from a sun umbrella.You never know.I myself have the outside lifters that work great with a load or not on the roof.Also I carry the lever lifter that Les made,haven't had to use it though.

Frank

Just got mine in the mail, $68 shipped!
This simple tool should be standard feature for anyone who carries weight on the roof.

I like the speaker stand idea and know they carry the item at our local Guitar Center.

I did some measurements on my 2009 Hawk. In the rear, the distance from the floor to the wooden push board is 52" when the roof is down and 77" when up. Looks like the speaker stand lifter would work well there.

In the front however the distance is 38" when down and 63" when up. That is because the cabinetry over the water tank is there. I do not think that the lifter goes that short. I think it is about 48" when fully collapsed.

I do not know if you could use the device at an angle from the floor (not cabinet) to the push board. It would be at an angle 16" towards the rear of the camper and pushing forwards.

I thought I might add another push board closer to the rear vent to help lift the front.

Any thoughts?

Dorocks, was your measurement done with the rear lifted? If not, I bet if you lift the rear first the front push board has more than 48 inches clearance. I'm going to order one of these today so I can lift the top with my rafting gear or canoe on top.



I like the speaker stand idea and know they carry the item at our local Guitar Center.

I did some measurements on my 2009 Hawk. In the rear, the distance from the floor to the wooden push board is 52" when the roof is down and 77" when up. Looks like the speaker stand lifter would work well there.

In the front however the distance is 38" when down and 63" when up. That is because the cabinetry over the water tank is there. I do not think that the lifter goes that short. I think it is about 48" when fully collapsed.

I do not know if you could use the device at an angle from the floor (not cabinet) to the push board. It would be at an angle 16" towards the rear of the camper and pushing forwards.

I thought I might add another push board closer to the rear vent to help lift the front.

Any thoughts?

Dorocks, was your measurement done with the rear lifted? If not, I bet if you lift the rear first the front push board has more than 48 inches clearance. I'm going to order one of these today so I can lift the top with my rafting gear or canoe on top.


Good call Bill

I measured the front with the rear up and it was about 49 inches. So I could use the speaker lifter.

The other issue I thought of was the speaker lifter would have to be pulled out and used when putting the roof up and down. Putting the roof down, for me, is nearly as problematic as putting it up.

The other type of hood type lifters would be on all the time, so I would not have to be digging out the lifter.
Decisions. Decisions.

Not having to carry extra equipment is a plus to me. My lifter thingies are always on and ready to do the job, up or down, never have to think about them and they work really well. Install was pretty simple as well.

I just finished the new push board for my On Stage roof lifter. The PO did a good interior remodel, but for some reason never re-installed the push boards, so this was a good excuse to add one. I added an extra piece with a 1 3/4" hole to keep the mechanism from sliding out while lifting.


FYI, the height of this lifter when all the way down is 45 1/4". The height while at the "maximum" mark is 71 1/2", if you ignore that, it will crank up to 75 1/4".
Kevin

Good call Bill

I measured the front with the rear up and it was about 49 inches. So I could use the speaker lifter.

The other issue I thought of was the speaker lifter would have to be pulled out and used when putting the roof up and down. Putting the roof down, for me, is nearly as problematic as putting it up.

The other type of hood type lifters would be on all the time, so I would not have to be digging out the lifter.
Decisions. Decisions.



Keep it simple. The out side roof lifters work great and you don't have to find a place to store them. IMO that is the best way to go.

Frank

Keep it simple. The out side roof lifters work great and you don't have to find a place to store them. IMO that is the best way to go.

Frank


I don't carry roof items often so I think that the price and not having to pull down the unloaded roof make the speaker stand lifter the way to go for me. If I always had a roof load I think I'd go with the gas springs.

Just got my speaker stand and tried it out with 44 lbs on top, works like a charm.

Just got my speaker stand and tried it out with 44 lbs on top, works like a charm.


How easy was it to lower the roof with that weight?