Wish list for new owners: exterior

[RottieMom]

[Split from another thread]

Actually, I wish they would pursue a hydraulic lift of some sort to lift the shells. Don't know whether the only design for something with a lift would have to be like what they were trying to do with the Rise (which I think is like the Hi-Lo trailers) or whether some other design would be viable. I've thought a lot about what I want to do when I can't lift the shells by myself anymore and while I like the Lance trailers, I would still prefer to be able to store my trailer in my existing garage and I really like the low profile towing so I wouldn't get that with a traditional trailer.

[Padgett]

For expansion like the TM, I think a mechanical system makes more sense than hydraulic. Travel is too great & angles change.

[Larryjb]

I'm with Padgett on this one. The shells can flex a lot and potentially bind. Mine does if it travels to one side as it lowers. The shells would need some way to stabilise the shell as it rises or lowers and that would add more weight.

I'm still relatively young in my late 40's. If the shell becomes too heavy, the torsion bars need adjusting or replacing. If I can't handle lifting a properly adjusted shell, I would also have trouble lifting propane tanks for refilling, the hitch, even packing the trailer.

Before this thread gets too off topic, perhaps we should start a wish list thread? Maybe I'll start.

[Bill]

Just an idle thought. It seems to me that the hardest part of lifting the shells, at least on my two TMs, is the first 12 inches or so. Once the shell is up that far, the rest of the lift is easy to do by hand. Perhaps there is some way to install a motor-driven jackscrew, much like a tongue jack. It would assist with the first part of the lift, then stop and let you take over. That has got to be a simpler mechanism than one that continues to operate all the way to the full-open position.

Padgett, you've thought a lot about this. What do you think? Cindy, would a partial lift work for you?

Bill

[rvcycleguy]

I have found that if you lower the tongue significantly the front roof becomes much easier to lift as if it's opening downhill.

Same for the rear, if you then jack up the tongue.

[Jim Moses]

Originally Posted by rvcycleguy

I have found that if you lower the tongue significantly the front roof becomes much easier to lift as if it's opening downhill.

Same for the rear, if you then jack up the tongue.

Good Tip!! I will have to try that, Thanks RVcycleguy

[RottieMom]

Originally Posted by Bill

Just an idle thought. It seems to me that the hardest part of lifting the shells, at least on my two TMs, is the first 12 inches or so. Once the shell is up that far, the rest of the lift is easy to do by hand. Perhaps there is some way to install an electrically-powered jackscrew, much like a tongue jack. It would assist with the first part of the lift, then stop and let you take over. That has got to be a simpler mechanism than one that continues to operate all the way to the full-open position.

Padgett, you've thought a lot about this. What do you think? Cindy, would a partial lift work for you?

Bill

Bill, next time I open it (which will be soon since I'm planning a trip to Texas right after Thanksgiving), I'll see what the distance is that's difficult. I think it's more than 12 inches. I'm 6ft tall, and I know that where I struggle is when I've stood up straight after starting the lift. I'll have to check and see how far I've actually raised it at that point. And, I'm actually fairly strong, but I'm a bit worried about when I'm not as strong as I am now. I did get a friend to help me recently adjust the bolts on the torsion bars for the front shell. It was the first time they'd been adjusted and I think we ended up adjusting a full turn but it didn't seem to make that much difference to me.

[Larryjb]

Originally Posted by RottieMom

Bill, next time I open it (which will be soon since I'm planning a trip to Texas right after Thanksgiving), I'll see what the distance is that's difficult. I think it's more than 12 inches. I'm 6ft tall, and I know that where I struggle is when I've stood up straight after starting the lift. I'll have to check and see how far I've actually raised it at that point. And, I'm actually fairly strong, but I'm a bit worried about when I'm not as strong as I am now. I did get a friend to help me recently adjust the bolts on the torsion bars for the front shell. It was the first time they'd been adjusted and I think we ended up adjusting a full turn but it didn't seem to make that much difference to me.

My rear shell is quite easy to open. In fact, it takes more effort to lift in the equalizer hitch than it does to lift the shell. My front shell, on the other hand, is much heavier and tends to bound about as I lift it up. My model doesn't even have the roof AC. The torsion bars are maxed out. I assume that if I replaced the front torsion bars, I would be able to adjust it so that it would lift as easily as the rear.

It seems to me that simple physics is making the shells tougher to lift just at the beginning. The lift arm is extended horizontally and has to bear the weight of the shell is multiplied the most onto the torsion bar. Conversely, the torsion bar is providing the most assistance at this point. This has given me an idea, though. If a thicker torsion bar were used, it would provide a nice lift at the beginning of the lift, but provide too much tension on the shell in the upright position and want to continue to push the shell out to the front (or rear for the rear shell).

Some coil springs are designed with a variable rate spring constants by varying the number of coils, and possibly the thickness of the coil itself. I'm sure it would be possible to make a torsion bar with a variable spring rate to provide even more lift near the beginning of the lift.

What might be more necessary is a latch down mechanism that is easier to use. At least one member uses a lever on the stirrup to give some mechanical assistance to latch the shell. I think it would be easy to weld a bracket onto the frame that could provide a convenient leverage point for a pipe lever.

Maybe be a pipe dream, but at least I'm dreaming.

[Bill]

Remember that with most any spring-type mechanism (coil spring, torsion bar, etc), if it makes the shell easier to open, it will also make it harder to close, since it must re-compress the spring in preparation for the next opening. This can be self-defeating. If the shell gets too hard to close, you have to back off on the torsion bar adjustment, which moves you back toward where you started.

What is needed is an asymmetrical lift aid - it helps as you open, but does not hinder as you close. That was the idea behind my suggestion for the electric motor-driven jackscrew - you can retract it electrically once the shell is open, and it has no effect on closing.

Larry, your idea of the latch-down lever is another good example of an unsymmetrical aid.

Bill

[rmcmeeking]

I agree that the first half of the lift is the most difficult, front end only. I've been toying with the idea of a manually operated jack or winch, but so far no practical inspiration as to where or how to attach something to get the proper lift angle.