Make Pop top up/down easier

Submitted: Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 18:24
ThreadID: 109562 Views:9409 Replies:8 FollowUps:9
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I am wondering if anyone can give advice on making the pop-top up/down action easier. Now before you all rush to the keyboard to ask, Yes the awning roller control "roll up/roll down" is set right AND the caravan door is open.
Now I understand that the spring on the bottom of the cross-arms is meant to contract to push the top up but what is the action of the side struts? Are they positive (helping the top to be lifted) or negative (stopping the top going up too fast).
What do I need to change to make the lift easier?
No roof mounted A/C is involved just a small solar panel.
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 19:08

Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 19:08
Fit some gas struts.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
AnswerID: 539315

Reply By: Member - Scrubby (VIC) - Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 20:48

Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 20:48
Try either lifting the back first then the front OR visa versa, one might be easier than the other.
I find it is easier to lift the front first when raising the top, and lowering the back first when closing the top.
I also had to have the gas struts recharged a few years back.

There are two x 125w solar panels on the roof and it is quite easy.

Scrubby.
AnswerID: 539317

Reply By: Member - Ian F (WA) - Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 21:05

Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 21:05
What make of Po Top do you have? I just bought a Coromal Atlas 432 RTV (Rear door)
Ian
AnswerID: 539318

Follow Up By: Member - Ian F (WA) - Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 21:13

Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 21:13
Pop!!!
Oops
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Follow Up By: Kenrconn - Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 21:40

Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 21:40
It is a Goldstream Explorer ST. 14ft.
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Reply By: Member - nrb1748 (VIC) - Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 23:12

Saturday, Sep 20, 2014 at 23:12
If the van is fitted with a roll out awning, roll out the awning about a metre before raising the roof. This avoids the extra resistance of the awning unwind when raising the roof.

Regards

nrb1748
nrb1748

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AnswerID: 539320

Reply By: Grumblebum and the Dragon - Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 08:35

Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 08:35
I yesterday saw a small motor home with a pop-top owned by a lady. She had fitted air-bag lifters to raise the roof. Supplied by a mob in Brisbane - sorry no more details than that. They were simple tubes, like lay flat fire hose with air an line connecting each of the four bags. There was a small internal compressor that operated the lift etc.

John
AnswerID: 539326

Follow Up By: baznpud (tassie) - Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 08:41

Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 08:41
We have a couple of mates with pop tops, and they have the compressor/air bag lifters, and they work beautifully, only way to go.
Cheers.
baz
Go caravaning, life is so much shorter than death.

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Follow Up By: Pimbi - Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 12:11

Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 12:11
Please are you able to put on here the brand of the compressor lifters ,where available &/or any other relevent info on them.
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Follow Up By: Pimbi - Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 12:32

Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 12:32
Have now Googled the air lifters.Sound excellent & are available to do yourself or each state has agents.
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Reply By: Lakers - Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 14:35

Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 14:35
http://www.rvairlifters.com.au/ is what you want. I have fitted them to my Coromal 615 poptop... best investment after the Engel. I fitted the system myself, and being a bit of a perfectionist, it took about a day to do the job. The kit comes with everything you will need and pretty good instructions, and Tim from RV airlifters was available for any phone consultation.Well worth considering.
Cheers
Greg
AnswerID: 539343

Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 15:00

Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 15:00
I just had a look at the RV Airlifter system, & while it looks to do the job, I must point
out that this only solves half the problem. Our poptop seems to take similar effort to put up or down. While we can handle it at the moment without stress, we would be far more interested in a system that worked both ways. More expensive, of course but
maybe a market opportunity for you engineering types...:)))..cheers...oldbaz.
AnswerID: 539349

Follow Up By: baznpud (tassie) - Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 16:47

Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 16:47
Come on Oldbaz, you pump the pop top up, to get it down you just grab the two handles at the back, lift your feet offa the floor, and job done, then do the same at the front, tooo easy.
Cheers.
baz
Go caravaning, life is so much shorter than death.

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Follow Up By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 18:31

Sunday, Sep 21, 2014 at 18:31
You are too sharp for me Baz..If you can lift your feet off the ground while holding the handles I bow to your athletic prowess...what a
little champion...:))))...cheers.....oldbaz..
P.S. We're lovin' the antics of your PP Senator..what a gem !!!!.
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Follow Up By: baznpud (tassie) - Monday, Sep 22, 2014 at 09:19

Monday, Sep 22, 2014 at 09:19
G'day Oldmate,
Yep, i could hold the handles, and lift my feet off the ground, may be not for long though.
In relation to our outcast Senator, one foot off the ground would be enough, and i don't think i have to tell you where it would be aimed for.
Cheers
The Young Fella.
Go caravaning, life is so much shorter than death.

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Reply By: Kenrconn - Monday, Sep 22, 2014 at 11:35

Monday, Sep 22, 2014 at 11:35
Thanks a lot guys. We have sent off for a quote for the airbag lifters and will give leaving the awning out about a metre a try. The latter being the cheaper alternative.
As usual EXPLOEROZZERS came to the rescue.
Again, many thanks.
AnswerID: 539392

Follow Up By: disco driver - Monday, Sep 22, 2014 at 14:52

Monday, Sep 22, 2014 at 14:52
A little squirt of CRC/WD40/RP7/Lanoguard on all the pivot points in the system will make quite a difference too.

Disco.
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