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Old 09-12-2020, 11:17 PM   #1
Sherocks222
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Default Difficult to open

I just bought a 2007 it has not been used much it’s an excellent shape when I watch videos on opening it looks so easy so very easy and I am a 65-year-old woman but in relatively good health and condition but the front end I can just lift it to about my waist and I cannot lift it any higher is there anything I can do to make it easier? I’m not really good with this format and I don’t know if it’s legal but can somebody email me any suggestions? Sherocks [email protected]
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Old 09-13-2020, 08:40 AM   #2
Trailmanor George
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Hello I'm also 65 and I have found that by lowering the tongue jack so that the front end of the trailer is lower than the back (not level) it's alot easier to raise. Let gravity work in your favor...the lower it is the easier it is to raise if that doesn't work then maybe your torsion bars need adjustment but I would try that..
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Old 09-13-2020, 08:44 AM   #3
Bill
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No worries, you are great at this format. Sure, you can email anyone, or ask anyone to email you. This is a very open Forum.

TMGeorge's suggestion is a really good one, especially if you have an electric tongue jack. Whirr, the tongue is down - open the shell - whirr, it is back up to level. Just don't lower the jack too far. If you make it too easy to move, it may get ahead of you as you lift it, and slam into the stops.

I don't have an electric jack, and the front shell is a bit heavy. As I open it, I find that it helps to get it up to about waist height, then put my foot on the front of the frame near the front wall to give me more lifting power. It also helps to move my hands toward the center as soon as I can, so I'm not pulling crooked.

You can adjust the tension in the lift (torsion) bars to make it easier to lift. The downside of doing this is that it makes it a bit harder to close. If you want to alter the balance of opening vs closing force, there are BIG adjustment bolts underneath that enable you to do so. My advise would be to hit SEARCH, then ADVANCED, Username LARRYJB, then enter keyword "torsion", and hit Enter. Larryjb has published some good info and easy-to-read instructions on this topic.

Get back to us if this doesn't get you where you need to be.

Bill
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Old 09-13-2020, 09:46 PM   #4
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Welcome to the forum. I’m 65 and a woman, but that has nothing to do with being able to open the front shell. I have used the methods, Bill and TM George recommend, it helps. Hopefully, yer pulling the shell, like you would pull a drawer out. If the shell is adjusted right, it should open. But, on my TM its adjusted correctly and not as easy as I would like. If adjust too easy to open, you might have problems closing it. It can be a balancing act.
If I might suggest, join the forum. I find its the best money I could spend for quick help and tons of great info and folks.
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Old 09-14-2020, 07:23 PM   #5
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Sherlocks, take a look at my instructions. I'm sure they can be tuned a little to make it easier to open vs easier to close.

I would definitely go through the assessment part of my instructions located in the Trailmanor Technical library. This will alert you to any problems that need correcting at the very least.

If it is as difficult to open as you say, it definitely needs some adjustment. If you see the back rising but not the front as you release all the catches and latches, open the shell fully and try to turn the front adjusters clockwise 1/4 turn each, then close and fully reopen the shell. As the shell begins to open easier. pay attention to how it opens. If, when the catches and latches are released, the front of the shell should rise slightly an equal amount. The rear should also rise an equal amount. As you lift the shell open, each side should lift evenly.

Everyone is right that if you give the shell too much lift assistance from the torsion bars, it will be more difficult to close. However, I think yours could really use a little more torsion lift help.
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Old 09-14-2020, 07:25 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kidkraz View Post
Welcome to the forum. I’m 65 and a woman, but that has nothing to do with being able to open the front shell. I have used the methods, Bill and TM George recommend, it helps. Hopefully, yer pulling the shell, like you would pull a drawer out. If the shell is adjusted right, it should open. But, on my TM its adjusted correctly and not as easy as I would like. If adjust too easy to open, you might have problems closing it. It can be a balancing act.
If I might suggest, join the forum. I find its the best money I could spend for quick help and tons of great info and folks.
You need to show my wife a thing or two about opening the trailer! She believes that she isn't strong enough to do it.
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Old 03-22-2021, 02:48 PM   #7
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Thread split into this one - "Difficult to Open" and "Problem Closing The Rear Shell", both in the Exterior Forum.

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Old 03-22-2021, 03:22 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill View Post
Thread split into this one - "Difficult to Open" and "Problem Closing The Rear Shell", both in the Exterior Forum.

Bill
Gotcha, Bill.
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