First time camper owner - looking to add struts to popup

[grete]

Hey all!
So I'm a first time camper owner as of hopefully this week. I am looking at an '84 fourwheel popup. I think it is a Fleet model, because it fits in my Tacoma bed (6 ft) but the current owner told me it is a granby...I think its too small to be a granby though. Regardless, I have a bit of trouble lifting the roof on my own, as I am a pretty small framed female. I want to add some sort of lifting mechanism, but I am also someone who knows little-to-nothing about fixing things up (this is a really big learning endeavor I am embarking on). Does anyone have any information on inexpensive struts (or anything that could help me) and how to install them? I'd rather not order ones from Four Wheel, cause they get pretty costly, but I want something that will work the same and be relatively easy to install. Thanks all!

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Welcome to the "cult"
There is a whole "pined" thread about roof lifters. "Roof lifter shock helper thingies"
Check under the FWC/ATC camper forum. You should find it without any problem.
Frank

 

[ski3pin]

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/2974-roof-lifting-helper-shocks-thingys/

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Welcome to the family, Grete.

Speaker lift is a good way to lift it and it doesn't take up much room. Click on the link to View the video "speaker lift". Cost is around $90. I use it on my Eagle as I have a damaged back. Takes about 3 minutes to put up the top quicker if I used a 12 amp power drill like BobM does in the video.

You can purchase one at any Guitar Center.

Yes Four Wheel is expensive, however they can fix and replace worn out parts that you can't fix yourself or don't know where to get the work done.

You might also contact All Terrain Campers and speak to Marty. That generation camper was manufactured when he worked for Four Wheel prior to 2000

 

[Ronin]

Hi and welcome to the group. I'm not sure where you live or what your mechanical abilities are but I had my struts installed by All Terrain Camper located in Sacramento, CA. They charged me $330 for everything and it took about 2 hours. Probably would have been faster but I kept asking Marty questions about the camper and other retrofits I was thinking of doing. If you go the strut route and it's within your budget I have no hesitation recommending ATC. Many happy adventures in your fleet!!

https://www.allterraincampers.com

 

[abqbw]

Welcome to the family, Grete.

Speaker lift is a good way to lift it and it doesn't take up much room. Click on the link to View the video "speaker lift". Cost is around $90. I use it on my Eagle as I have a damaged back. Takes about 3 minutes to put up the top quicker if I used a 12 amp power drill like BobM does in the video.

You can purchase one at any Guitar Center.

Yes Four Wheel is expensive, however they can fix and replace worn out parts that you can't fix yourself or don't know where to get the work done.

You might also contact All Terrain Campers and speak to Marty. That generation camper was manufactured when he worked for Four Wheel prior to 2000

I wonder if the adjustable speaker pole is still available?

I can't find the adjustable speaker stand at the guitar world link at the link provided to the video. The link is two and a half years old...

Does anyone have the Brand and model number of the speaker stand? The title of the thread says "pro audio" which appears to be the brand but I'm not finding that on guitar world's website or by otherwise searching.

Thank you.

 

[jimjxsn]

I think this is the speaker stand on Amazon - On Stage SS8800B Plus Power Crank Up Speaker Stand

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000CD3QYW?tag=amz-mkt-chr-us-20&ascsubtag=1ba00-01000-org00-win70-other-smile-us000-pcomp-feature-pcomp-wm-2

 

[abqbw]

I think this is the speaker stand on Amazon - On Stage SS8800B Plus Power Crank Up Speaker Stand

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000CD3QYW?tag=amz-mkt-chr-us-20&ascsubtag=1ba00-01000-org00-win70-other-smile-us000-pcomp-feature-pcomp-wm-2

Great! Thank you!

 

[BobM]

Here's a video I did on the speaker stand https://youtu.be/bNcr0qgHgjg I don't have the struts and don't need them. If you buy the speaker stand, you will want to drill out the rivets holding the tripod. Save the rubber feet on the tripod and put on the ends of the pole

 

[grete]

Thank you everyone! I really appreciate the info!! apart of the job I have this summer, I need to do quite a bit of off-roading. Does anyone have any experience off-roading with an older model camper on the bed of their truck? My boyfriend keeps telling me the wooden frame is going to fall apart when I take off roading, but I can't help but feel like if I am cautious enough driving, then these things should be durable.

 

[moveinon]

Your boyfriend would be right if it was a wood framed camper which are often stapled together and come apart. FWC have welded aluminum frames and hold up well to off road driving. The weakest point appears to be the attachment points, both the turnbuckles and the bolt attachment to the camper. After breaking one bolt I have upgraded to #8 strength bolts all around and also added 4”X5” metal plates on the inside and outside to reinforce the wood where the bolts go through the camper. Many have also upgraded the turnbuckles. I have a lot of miles with my Tacoma/Fleet combo on logging roads, forrest service roads, and mild to moderate off road without any problems except the attachment points.

 

[MDM54]

In contrast to the strong and reliable welded aluminum frame portion of the camper, FWC assembles the plywood portion by stapling and screwing into the end grain of said plywood without benefit of adhesive.

 

[larryqp]

I have four 30 lb struts for sale for $100. You will need to buy the connection hardware or bring them somewhere to get installed. These were only used for 4 months and cost $175 new. See my post on the gear for sale forum.

LarryQP

 

[flinchlock]

Here is my experience with my On Stage SS8800BPLUS Speaker Stand...

Bought 7/29/2012: only used 89 nights since then, times 2 up/downs of speaker stand = 178... round up for the very few times we would use other than spending the night = 225 up/downs.

On our 11,555 mile bucket list trip (52 nights in camper), I noticed the cranking was getting MUCH harder. When we got home I opened up the speaker stand and it had ALOT of brass "dust" in the unit. It appears the steel gear eats the brass gear.