Electric Roof Lift

[dharte]

I've gotten tired of using our ratchet bar to raise the roof, so my son and I just built an electric roof lifting device using a linear actuator. It works really well and is powered from a small inverter that plugs into my campers power port. It's wired to a switch which controls up and down-it takes about 15 seconds to fully raise each side of the roof. I believe the actuator is rated at 150 pounds.

 

[Squatch]

Nice. Why not use a12 volt actuator?

 

[dharte]

The transformer on this one has written on it that it takes 120v AC input and outputs 12v DC to the actuator, but when I tested it wired directly to a power port plug (bypassing the transformer) it didn't have enough power. Not sure why unless the transformer is actually higher than 12v. I should have measured it when I was splicing and reconnecting the wires....

 

[Squatch]

Thanks for the response. I haven't messed with these things that much. But I know over on the garden tractor forums folks use those things instead of hydraulics to run front loaders and such. Only power available is 12 volt. They are pretty impressive.

 

[Lebnjay]

That seems very interesting, I may try to do something similar as 40” gas struts for our Eagle seem to be over $400 just for parts.
Where did you get the actuator you used? I’ll have to measure the height difference next time I put the top up.

 

[dharte]

That seems very interesting, I may try to do something similar as 40” gas struts for our Eagle seem to be over $400 just for parts.
Where did you get the actuator you used? I’ll have to measure the height difference next time I put the top up.

My son ordered it from Amazon-it's a Progressive Automation model PA-14P-24. It was around $140. It has a 24" lift height, and I think it's 25" tall in the fully lowered position. I extended the bottom with a metal bar I had laying around and used other random parts to make the top piece that pushes up on the wood roof lift area. On my Hawk it fits perfectly on the front and rear. What's nice is it can also be used to lower the roof in a controlled manner-the rear part of my roof is really heavy and it comes down hard if closing it by hand.

 

[Lebnjay]

That sounds great, thank you for the additional info.

 

[Captm]

How about photos of it mounted and any more information on the install if you can. This has been rolling around in my brain every time I lift the camper!
Cheers

 

[RicoV]

Thanks for this, I'm hoping you'll keep us outside observers apprised of how well it's working for you. Good luck with it!
Rico

 

[dharte]

How about photos of it mounted and any more information on the install if you can. This has been rolling around in my brain every time I lift the camper!
Cheers

It's portable, not hard mounted-it just rests on the floor. The base pivots so it can be placed at an angle if needed.

 

[ckent323]

Dharte,

This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing it!

The Progressive Automation model PA-14P-24 does operate on 12 V DC but it needs a minimum of 5 A.

Does the 12 V power source you unsuccessfully tried to use output at least 5 A? If not that may have been the problem.

Here is the spec sheet for that linear actuator:

https://www.progressiveautomations.com/media/catalog/pdf/Linear_Actuator_with_Potentiometer_PA-14P.pdf

I looked at the 12 V DC WindyNation LinAct1 30" linear actuator, it is a little cheaper and has a load rating of 225 lbs. It also only requires 2.5 A.

https://www.windynation.com/Linear-Actuators/Windy-Nation/Linear-Actuators-various-stroke-lengths/-/244?p=YzE9Mjg=

https://www.windynation.com/cm/Actuator%20Manual_R3.pdf


Craig

 

[dharte]

Dharte,

This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing it!

The Progressive Automation model PA-14P-24 does operate on 12 V DC but it needs a minimum of 5 A.

Does the 12 V power source you unsuccessfully tried to use output at least 5 A? If not that may have been the problem.

Here is the spec sheet for that linear actuator:

https://www.progressiveautomations.com/media/catalog/pdf/Linear_Actuator_with_Potentiometer_PA-14P.pdf

I looked at the 12 V DC WindyNation LinAct1 30" linear actuator, it is a little cheaper and has a load rating of 225 lbs. It also only requires 2.5 A.

https://www.windynation.com/Linear-Actuators/Windy-Nation/Linear-Actuators-various-stroke-lengths/-/244?p=YzE9Mjg=

https://www.windynation.com/cm/Actuator%20Manual_R3.pdf


Craig

The 12v source I used is just using one of the dual power port plugs (cigarette lighter style) inside the camper. I believe these are rated at 5A-the fuse would have blown if the actuator was trying to draw more than that. The Windy Nation actuators you found might work better. It would be easier to build and use if you didn't need the inverter, but it's not a big deal using it.

 

[michgoblue]

I bought a 12v lift from a guy who used it on his Fleet but it really doesn't seem to work well with my Phoenix. My camper is more a side to side lift then a front to back like the FWCs. I think its a pretty good idea overall, just doesn't work for my use really.

 

[rando]

So has anyone tried the "Windy Nation" linear actuator for this? I am thinking about building one of these, but I am wondering how fast it needs to be not to be annoyingly slow as you crouch in the camper?

 

[Escapepod]

This speaker stand comes with a manual crank, but you could probably remove the crank and use a portable drill to speed it up. Now my wife can easily “raise the roof” without assistance. Also great for those with injuries that make the job difficult. Tripod legs are removable to make the stand/lift easily storable. The rubber end cap from a tripod leg makes a perfect cover over the top end of the lift. (Learned about it from a 4WC friend at the NorCal rally.)
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SpeakerStdCr--on-stage-stands-ss8800b-power-crank-up-speaker-stand?mrkgcl=28&mrkgadid=3250494485&rkg_id=0&product_id=SpeakerStdCr&campaigntype=shopping&campaign=aaShopping%2520-%2520Brand&adgroup=Brand%2520-%2520Live%2520Sound%2520%26%2520Lighting&placement=google&adpos=1o7&creative=228658011809&device=m&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuvLj_YTv2gIVELvsCh1l1QmEEAQYByABEgKm5_D_BwE