"A question for anyone that has a cranking roof assist. Did you or FWC put some kind of a receptacle/cup on the lifting board to keep the crank from slipping out? If so, do you have any photos? I am thinking about going down to the hardware store and getting a couple of the scuff protectors that go under table legs, and screwing them to the lifting board, then just a simple piece of wood that has an indent for the floor. At the moment, the bottom of the crank is just the edge of the steel tube. Maybe I can find something that fits in or over the tube as well."
My experience with this gadget has been terrific. I picked my crank lifter up from Best Buy ($80), same product but I think now a bit more expensive than from the music supply store.
After I removed the tripod, I took the plastic cap off one of the tripod legs and slipped it onto the bare metal tube at the bottom and then slid the capped extension piece onto the top (shimmed a bit so it fits snug). Now both ends are covered with a cap. I have had no slipping on the wooden cross piece on the ceiling, nor on the floor when lifting the roof. I set the lifter on a piece of carpet on the floor, but nothing between the lifter and the wood cross piece on the ceiling. No marring of any surface either.
My wife set up and took down the camper by herself while she camped on the Lost Coast in CA the end of last month. (She was our shuttle while we backpacked the Lost Coast Trail.) Without the crank lifter she couldn't lift either end of the pop-up, now it goes up for her literally "no sweat". We also use the crank to lower the roof, seems more controlled and less violent than the " collapse mode".
For us it has been a great and simple tool!
