yes...limit the boat weight to 250# or less
correct.....do not load the boat with the top up.....if you can, lock the top down after lowering it and before loading the boat...at least the front...that way the strain will be put on the locking mechanism rather than the cylinders
Straight up and down the hydraulics will carry a larger load...carefully.....raising the top with the boat on should not be a problem. Hydraulics are the strongest form of mechanical pressure....you can lift very large things with very small hydraulic rams or jacks. Just make sure you have good o-rings in your cylinders and you're camper is on level ground....not on level ground would apply significant torsion to the top and transfer it to the cylinders...unequally.
When Alaskan first mounted electric/hydraulic pumps in the campers...they had locking pins to hold the tops down while on the road. I've seen several campers over the years with frames torn up at the corners where the pins were mistakenly left in and the pump turned on....significant hydraulic pressure
nice setup BTW
Edited by Rusty, 21 June 2017 - 08:20 PM.