How hard should it be to close and latch shells?

[Joesplace]

The rear shell on our 2005 2720sl closes ok but the front shell is difficult. I have to stand on the foot hold and jump hard to latch. I weigh over 200 lbs so I know it's taking alot to latch that front shell. My wife can't do it at all so my question is, how hard should it be to close and latch?

Thanks . . . .

[Padgett]

Is it very easy to open ? The adjustment of the four torsion bars for each module is a balancing act between easy to open and easy to close. The key is to strike a balance between the two.

Since I removed my awning the front went from grunt to open to one hand but became harder to close.

[Joesplace]

It's not difficult to open and after releasing the latch, the shell rises about 6 inches and level. Guess I need to learn to adjust the torsion bars . . .

Thanks!

[Padgett]

If you look at the video at the bottom of this page you can see how far that one is set to rise when released.

[LoveToCamp]

Be sure that the front of the front shell, (or the back of the rear shell), is down on the rubber stops on the ends, before trying to latch. I have found that, if I didn't have my front shell on the rubber stops, it was next to impossible to latch the release levers. But, if I make sure the front shell is resting on the rubber stops, I can latch it very easily. On my curb side, I have to pull down on the shell's top as I walk from the front to the back, so I can latch it. If I would think about it when I am going out to set it up, I would take a wrench and loosen the bolt for the front curb side torsion arm.

If your front (of the front shell) is not resting on the stops, back-out the adjustment bolts for the front of the shell a quarter-turn at a time, until it rests properly. Adjust while the shell is open, and test after each adjustment. As Padgett says, it is a little bit at a time.

[tentcamper]

I had an issue and found that the rivet that attached the latch had been broken and someone ran a nut and bolt. That was fine, but the nut loosen and the latch would get off square. I replaced the nut/bolt to a locking nut and bolt.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by LoveToCamp

Be sure that the front of the front shell, (or the back of the rear shell), is down on the rubber stops on the ends, before trying to latch. I have found that, if I didn't have my front shell on the rubber stops, it was next to impossible to latch the release levers. But, if I make sure the front shell is resting on the rubber stops, I can latch it very easily. On my curb side, I have to pull down on the shell's top as I walk from the front to the back, so I can latch it. If I would think about it when I am going out to set it up, I would take a wrench and loosen the bolt for the front curb side torsion arm.

If your front (of the front shell) is not resting on the stops, back-out the adjustment bolts for the front of the shell a quarter-turn at a time, until it rests properly. Adjust while the shell is open, and test after each adjustment. As Padgett says, it is a little bit at a time.

I'm not at all convinced that this is a torsion bar issue. And since torsion bar adjustments are difficult to reset precisely once done, I would avoid playing in that area until nothing else works.

LoveToCamp, I think you may be on the right track. I say this with a blush, having just been through this issue. But if I am reading correctly, your post reverses "front" and "rear". The rear shell closes first. On the front corners of the rear shell, inside, are two rubber bumpers. Once you have closed and latched the rear shell, you can see them by sticking your head over the front wall of the TM and into the interior while the front shell is still up. These bumpers must come down onto the top of the wall. If they don't come down onto the wall, the rear shell is not down far enough, which will make it very difficult to close the front shell over it. The rear shell latches may need to be lowered a bit, to pull the rear shell farther down. Or, as in my case, something inside may prevent the rear shell from coming down all the way. Perhaps bedding, as KidKraz mentioned. Or, since you have a 2720SL, where do you store the chair? I discovered that neither the front or rear of the chair can be up on the step of the slider. Who knew?

There is a picture of these bumpers in Post #18 here

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ad.php?t=14619

Start with this question. When you close the front shell, does it swing down nicely almost all the way, and hang up only in the last couple inches? Or does it get progressively harder and harder all the way down? The latter would indicate torsion bars too tight. The former would suggest that the rear shell is too high, since the front shell has no problems until it contacts the front shell. Then, when you jump on the stirrup, it is difficult because you are lowering both the front and the rear shell at the same time.

Let us know.

Bill