Camper Trailer Components

1. Before Ordering Camper Trailer Parts

Camper trailer wind-up systems vary by brand, model and age. Caravans Plus does not sell a complete camper conversion kit, but some repair components are available on our website.

Please note: Trevor Eastman's Camper Care in Melbourne has been officially wound up, and Trevor has since retired. Camper Care was a long-time source of wind-up camper repair knowledge, so older references to Camper Care are kept here for context only.

Before ordering parts, check the camper brand and model, look closely at the existing cable, pulley, floor track, push rod and lifting arm parts, and compare measurements where possible. If the roof is jammed, leaning badly, or one corner is not moving with the others, support the roof safely and have the system checked by a camper trailer repairer before forcing the winch.

2. How The Wind-Up System Works

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), which is a flexible compressed spring. It 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. Its 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.

3. How The Roof Lifts

As cable (1) is pulled by the winch, the slug forces the push rod 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 upwards.

When the top section is fully extended, a stop at its 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.

4. Cable, Pulley And Lift Arm Checks

If you are repairing an older camper, do not assume every wind-up system matches this diagram exactly. Use the diagram to understand the principle, then compare it with your own camper before ordering parts.

• Replacing cable: Check how the existing cable is routed before removing it. If you cannot access the track or safely support the roof, use a camper trailer repairer.
• Lubrication: Access to cables, pulleys and tracks depends on the camper design. Do not drill, cut or force covers open unless you know how that model is assembled.
• Roof will not lower: Stop winding if one corner is jammed. A cable, slug, push rod or pulley may be out of line, and forcing the winch can bend parts or make the roof unsafe.
• Leaning or bent lift arms: Check for damaged telescopic arms, loose mounting points, sheared fasteners or previous annex tie-down damage before replacing parts.
• Pulley size: Match the existing pulley or sheave diameter, width, bore and cable size. A pulley that is close but not the same can change cable alignment.