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Camper Trailer Components

Article by Peter Smith - Caravans Plus
Read Time: 2 mins

Caravans Plus sources some repair parts from CAMPER CARE in Melbourne. Trevor Eastman, in Melbourne, operates Camper Care and is happy to assist with Camper Conversion kits to the public. As the campers trailers can vary in style and size these kits are put together differently for each camper after the order is placed. Trevor has been working with Camper Trailers for many decades and knows every camper trailer model that has been sold in Australia.

Please Note: Trevor Eastman's Camper Care has been officially wound up, and Trevor has since retired.

Caravans Plus does not sell a complete kit, however some repair components are available on our website.

How the system works

The diagram shows a cut away view of the components for raising one Lifting Arm

Above: The diagram shows a cut away view of the components for raising one Lifting Arm.
Cable (1) is connected to a Slug (2) which is inserted in a Floor Track (3).
This cable passes along the inside of the floor track, emerging at the pulley end, where it passes around Pulley (4) and leads away to the Eye bolt (5).
Also inserted in the floor track is a Push Rod (6) (a flexible compressed spring) which rests against the slug and protrudes past the pulley.
Mounted a short distance from the pulley end of the floor track, and in line with it, is a Corner Bend (7). The vertical end of the corner bend is inserted into the lower end of the Telescopic Lifting Arm (8), which is mounted in the wall of the Camper trailer.
The protruding length of the push rod goes inside the corner bend and enters the lifting arm. It passes through the larger outer sections and rests against the blanked lower end of the inner (top) section of the lifting arm. There is an end plug in the top end of the push rod. It's purpose is to avoid the possibility of the push rod accidentally catching under the lower end of the larger sections of the lifting arm, by guiding it past the entry of each section.

Operation

As cable (a) is pulled by the winch, the slug forces the push rod (b) through the floor track.
As the push rod curves around the corner bend and moves further into the lifting arm assembly, it passes through the lower sections and forces the top section (c) upwards.
When the top section is fully extended a 'Stop' at it's lower end engages the second section and takes it upwards. This continues until the required height is attained.
This assembly and operation is replicated in all four corners of the Camper Trailer.
The four cables (one from each floor track ) are brought via the pulleys to a common direction where they are grouped up and coupled to a winch for joint operation.

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12 Comments

  • comment-avatar

    Rito

    Sometimes, just sometimes a simple illustrated drawing spells it out crystal clear. Thank you for keeping it simple. I have a cable issue and I know exactly hows its supposed to work now.

  • comment-avatar

    Brian Snape

    How can I get into the cable system to lubicate it?

  • comment-avatar

    Allan

    hello, I've recently bought a Millard swinger 1978, is the set up in the above diagram what would be in that model?

  • comment-avatar

    Annette Wilkinson

    HI, to add the cable, do I put my pop up camper trailer up or do I have to leave it down to put the cable through. My camper is an 85-88 Drifter pop up camper trailer. From Annette.

  • comment-avatar

    Ashlea

    Im needing to replace a single 42mm pulley/sheaves in my Roadstar Voyager 1996... Any suggestions where to go?

  • comment-avatar

    Ed

    Leave this sort of work to people who know what they are doing

  • comment-avatar

    Peter

    A question. My recently purchased 1998 Jayco Hawk has a sad lean outward on the door side. Probably from the previous owner tying down the annex on that side only. Can I remove the telescopic rods on that side only and turn them 180 degrees and reinstall? Will that correct the lean? The rods are not sloppy so the roof doesn’t move much laterally.

  • comment-avatar

    Nerida

    Hi Peter. Did you replace or rotate your telescopic rods? We had the top bolt/screw shear on one of our rods and need to replace it on one rod/strut on our Jayco Penguin. Can you give us any tips on doing this?

  • comment-avatar

    Matt

    Is there anything that would keep it from going down? I think the lift cable is broken in one corner and I can't get it to go down.

  • comment-avatar

    Nerida

    We think it could be caused by winding the roof up too high/tightly and the slug which pushes the spring at floor level comes out of its tube. On winding down, the slug does not line up with the tube anymore and wont slide backwards to release the spring. If you jiggle the offending cable you may get the slug to slide back into the tube.

  • comment-avatar

    Tina

    Hi , this has happened to mine and I can't find anywhere to buy the part.

  • comment-avatar

    Leanne

    Is there anyway I can talk to someone about what I need This is what you have on your trailer. There 4 units and the winch pull the 4 units all at the same time Leanne

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