Another Roof Lifting Mechanism

If you have followed my "basic build" you will have seen that I use the speaker lift that BobM has is his video. Really works well.

To prevent the pole from slipping off the wood plate on the ceiling I installed two wood "closet pole" sockets from Home Depot. Wood ones match the wood pretty well. Front "Pole socket " is located above the portable fridge to the right of the white board. The socket has a screw hole in the center. Use a small wood screw to screw into the wood plate.

gallery_2684_938_300863.jpg
 
I haven seen a couple posts mention a ratcheting cargo bar, like this one:
https://www.harborfreight.com/ratcheting-cargo-bar-96811.html

I have similar one from Home Depot and while I have not used a speaker stand lift, the bar seems a better tool for lifting the roof. It is smaller, nothing to set up so has to be faster, takes little space to store, requires no tools, only $22.

I stow it on the floor when driving. Takes about 20 seconds to grab it, place under lift panel and give it about a dozen cranks. The roof is then up enough for the builtin lifters to take over.
 
Howdy from Jackson Hole!

I testify the speaker stand mod works great lifting up the roof. Important where I live because a little bit of snow adds a lot of roof weight. Hey, I'm also nicely recovering from a hernia operation and must take it easy. It also becomes elegantly easy to match up the back lock when lowering the roof.

While the stand is too tall to fit directly under the back lift, you'll discover a 2 step approach that does the job.

I bought some 5" X 3/4" quartersawn white oak from Rockler and fastened it with too many screws in hopes of distributing load on that flimsy 1/2" FWC plywood.

IMPORTANT: This may seem obvious but I must pass it on... Make triple sure you've unlatched all 6 buckles before lifting the roof using the speaker stand mod. The mechanical advantage you've gained could easily warp your roof beyond repair.

Here's the front stand helper, placed just lift of the existing lifter board:
AF1QipN3_ovHVC_q63ybjCWBYevSiSh8VlS440t_ITwA

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipN3_ovHVC_q63ybjCWBYevSiSh8VlS440t_ITwA



"We're all in this together." -- Red Green
 
Curious to see your image. As posted it is not visible

Here's the front stand helper, placed just lift of the existing lifter board:
AF1QipN3_ovHVC_q63ybjCWBYevSiSh8VlS440t_ITwA
 
Patrick, your post isn’t visible either. How did you include it, link to hosting site, hosted here on WTW, or just added to post?

I wonder if we have a bug...
 
I have been using a linear actuator for "push button" roof lifting:

IMG_1223.jpg

Takes about 20s to lift each end of the roof with zero effort on my part. The shopping lost for anyone who wants to try this is:
Linear Actuator: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B008OA9O1Y
Reversing Toggle Switch: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B078RW9Q8Y
Power cord: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MYRV6PE
Non Marring Rubber Feet: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00466Z7IY
It plugs into the 12v outlets in the camper.
 
Sage just copied and pasted. I seem to not see those, what are they I phone or what format from what device?


Rando I like your solution and it is light weight also. At 5 amps not bad for being able to push up to 50 pounds.

Do you use it to lower the roof also? Seems that going up part would be needed. When it comes to needing one your solution I like.
 
It is a trade off between lifting power and speed - I wanted a faster actuator and 50lbs is enough for my lightly loaded roof. If you have stuff on your roof, the 225lb would be a better choice, but it seems like it would take over a minute to put each end of the roof up?

I don't use mine to put the roof down, but it seems like it would work fine if you wanted to.
 
Howdy from Jackson Hole!

I'm not surprised a picture I tried to post didn't come thru... Things seemed "not working" when I tried, via my Chromebook (which some systems don't like).

Email me a pic request to MountainSufi at gmail.com & I'll attach it to my response.

Two more things:
  • When ordering the oak board, I requested a light shade of their stock. It looks just fine without any finish applied.
  • Few will need a motorized assist to the speaker stand mod. Hand cranking it is fast and easy.
 
pvstoy said:
Sage just copied and pasted. I seem to not see those, what are they I phone or what format from what device?


Rando I like your solution and it is light weight also. At 5 amps not bad for being able to push up to 50 pounds.

Do you use it to lower the roof also? Seems that going up part would be needed. When it comes to needing one your solution I like.
Click to expand...
Patrick, the site software doesn’t handle copy and paste. Here’s a link to how to get them into a post.

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/13441-uploading-photos-to-comments-and-gallery/

In the support area, there’s another thread on using an iPad to post a link to a hosted image.
 
rando said:
I have been using a linear actuator for "push button" roof lifting:

attachicon.gif
IMG_1223.jpg

Takes about 20s to lift each end of the roof with zero effort on my part. The shopping lost for anyone who wants to try this is:
Linear Actuator: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B008OA9O1Y
Reversing Toggle Switch: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B078RW9Q8Y
Power cord: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MYRV6PE
Non Marring Rubber Feet: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00466Z7IY
It plugs into the 12v outlets in the camper.
Click to expand...
Rando,
I'm having trouble picturing your lift in action. Is it about 30 inches long and lifts 30 inches for a total of about 60 inches? Do you lift with it standing on the bench to give you the height you need?

It looks great!

Jim
 
The body of the actuator is more like 38” long with the mechanism and end caps on the rod. For the rear I put the bottom end of the actuator on the step up for the wine cellar/ shower pan that is under the dinette on the flatbed. This gives me the full height to lift the roof, but honestly I usually push the last bit up by hand as the gas struts are working by this point and the angle is good. I then retract the actuator about half way then put the base on the water tank box to push the front up.

The 50lb actuator would probably only work with a moderately loaded roof - we have two fantastic fans and a 160W solar panel and it seems to be about the right force for this. This is fast enough to set up and use that I end up using most of the time. I can lift the roof by hand without much trouble, but on the flatbed the angle isn’t great, making it a little awkward to do.
 
rando said:
The body of the actuator is more like 38” long with the mechanism and end caps on the rod. For the rear I put the bottom end of the actuator on the step up for the wine cellar/ shower pan that is under the dinette on the flatbed. This gives me the full height to lift the roof, but honestly I usually push the last bit up by hand as the gas struts are working by this point and the angle is good. I then retract the actuator about half way then put the base on the water tank box to push the front up.

The 50lb actuator would probably only work with a moderately loaded roof - we have two fantastic fans and a 160W solar panel and it seems to be about the right force for this. This is fast enough to set up and use that I end up using most of the time. I can lift the roof by hand without much trouble, but on the flatbed the angle isn’t great, making it a little awkward to do.
Click to expand...
That make sense.

I bought a grape solar 180w panel to replace my flex panels and was thinking that might be a good solution if I end up needing help lifting the roof. I have the side bench seat and it sounds like that would work...
 
Howdy from Jackson Hole!

Sorry for the delay in posting the requested picture of the white oak piece I added for the speaker lifter... I had a minor operation & had to figure how to downsize tIhe pic to less than 500 K.

It was easy, quick and looks great.

I used a label maker to put notices on the speaker lift for raising the roof: DOUBLE CHECK THAT ALL ROOF LATCHES ARE UNDONE. Damn, it would be easy to warp the roof if you forget to undo all latches!
 

Attachments

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Very interesting and innovative ideas for lifting the roof.


Will be using one soon. :cool:
 
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