LIft Panel Stress Relief.................

[spudder]

I know that most of you are familiar with how the lift panels will bow when the roof is in the up position. The weight of the roof causes the panels to bow. This will, in turn put stress on the panels.
I have come up with a simple way to relive some of the weight on the lift panels. I measured the height of the inside roof edge down to the seating edge(where the roof rests in the down position). I took that measurement, added approximately 5/16". With that measurement, I made some 3/4" Schedule 80 PVC pipe capped on both ends. I put them in the rear corners of the camper. With them being 5/16" longer than my original measurement, they raised the roof and the lift panel bow decreased.
I think these support posts will help save the lift panels(especially the earlier ones). One caution, I didn't make them too long because I didn't want add stress to the vinyl..
I've included some pictures of the supports and the "tool" I made to install them. The tool is just two pieces of wood with a hinge. The hinge ends are beveled so you can fold it a little when placing the tool on the ledge. Then pushing outward the boards then become straight and push up on the roof. In this position, you can install the support posts.

Here are the pictures:

 

[Squatch]

Nice I've been thinking of cutting some pieces of furring strip to make some safeties! Uprights like you have for just in case. Maybe some velcro on the ends. The snap came unsnapped on my rear panel last week while I was lifting the front. Nothing came down but it woke me up.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I wonder if having some of the tension removed from the lift panels might make it more susceptible to collapsing if you get a strong wind on the front or back. No idea if it could, but it's something I would want to ask about.

 

[Squatch]

As long as the new supports are strong enough to support the roof I don't see an issue.

I intended to use some small wood maybe 1x2's. Glue Velcro on the bottom and a small strap with Velcro near the top to flip up and grab the Velcro for the Arctic pak. No way the supports can just get knocked out the way.

For me less worries about the bowing and more just about a little extra roof support in case something did come loose on the lift panels..

 

[Vic Harder]

neat solutions... but is there a problem? Other than some folks noticing that the new composite panels fail (has that flaw been addressed?) is there an issue with the "wooden" ones?

 

[rotti]

neat solutions... but is there a problem? Other than some folks noticing that the new composite panels fail (has that flaw been addressed?) is there an issue with the "wooden" ones?

News to me also.
My 1983 Grandby after 25 years of use never had a problem and my present 2012 Hawk has no issues either.

 

[spudder]

The main reason that I did this was due to the age of my camper. It's a '94 model that is in exceptional shape. I have read that the earlier panels deteriorate and fail at the attaching points and hinge areas. I feel that the supports will carry some of the weight and relive the pressure on the lift panels. The front panels has already been replaced with a new composite one..
Someone here was concerned about the panel breaking over and letting the roof collapse. I don't think there is any worry because the supports don't raise the roof enough to allow the panels to snap back.

 

[JaSAn]

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/12754-bending-in-lift-panel-hinge/page-4

#40

jim