Article Comment: Off Road Caravans

The trailer the OP has is actually a camper trailer and not a caravan. The picture comes from 2012 Coromal F400

Based on a friend's experience with a Goldstream of similar configuration, the lifting mechanism may not cope with the weight of a roofrack and contents.

That is the reason why you unload the rack before lifting the lid.

I don't know if it still applies, with the older models, if you erected the top without having the stands down to support the chassis, the weight of the top would bow the chassis over time.

Ah Sooo! I'd still mount it to the sides of the roof rather than on the top as it will be much stronger.

@ Nomadic Navara - "I don't know if it still applies, with the older models, if you erected the top without having the stands down to support the chassis, the weight of the top would bow the chassis over time."
Wondering why that would make any difference. The top still weighs the same when up or down, so erecting the top with or without the stands down should make bugger all difference!

John, it is not just the weight of the top. You also have the weight of the canvas walls with the weight bearing down on the 4 poles holding the top up. You also have the weight of the rear bed end cantilevered from the back end. Whether the modern ones suffer the same bending depends on whether the chassis are considerably stronger than the old ones. Personly I would not be erecting them without the stands down.