Question for Stan on Lift Assist (or anyone who knows)

[Sam]

Stan, I saw a photo on the FWC Facebook page of a camper at one of the trade shows that had the lift assist. The difference about this one is that it had 4 struts & they were mounted front to rear rather than side to side (hope that makes sense)? In this front to rear configuration how do you lower the top without the struts interfering with the sideliner folding in?

Thanks.

 

[billharr]

Sam you beat me to asking the same question.

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

that one was just a "trial"

the camper was just a protoype

we are only installing 2 of the gas struts right now

they are near the front wall of the camper and attach from the hard camper wall, up to the small wooden board on the roof of the camper

this method seems to work the best






.

 

[craig333]

Stan, how much does that help if you have "stuff" on the roof? Being a strong virile young man (well my brain still thinks I am) will that allow me to raise the roof with a kayak on top?

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

Adding the gas strut lift assists will help, but it might not totally solve the extra kayak weight issue.

We can install 40 lb., 60 lb., 80 lb. versions of the gas strut lift assists.

The higher the pressure, the more it will help lift the camper roof for you.

BUT, the higher the pressure, the harder it will be to lower the camper roof when you don't have anything on the roof.

I suppose you could install the higher pressure version when you are taking the kayak, and then disconnect them on trips when you are not taking the kayak.

Hope this helps.


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Stan, how much does that help if you have "stuff" on the roof? Being a strong virile young man (well my brain still thinks I am) will that allow me to raise the roof with a kayak on top?






.

 

[craig333]

Well I don't have a kayak yet. Just trying to plan for the future.

 

[Sam]

Thanks for the reply Stan. I am still curious if the struts mounted fore/aft in the camper at the show allow for the top to be lowered, or was this a non functioning display? I understand the struts that mount on the wooden piece in the center of the ceiling but thats not how the struts at the show were mounted. I have attached the photo of the mounting system I am referring to.

Thanks.

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

Those gas lift assist struts were only installed as a test on a prototype "Overland" FWC.

Unfortunately they didn't work that well and didn't allow the soft sides (pop-up liner) to fold in without rubbing.

They said the gas struts were rubbing on the side liner material leaving marks.

When the camper roof comes down the soft sides (pop-up liner) need to be able to fold in without restriction.



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Thanks for the reply Stan. I am still curious if the struts mounted fore/aft in the camper at the show allow for the top to be lowered, or was this a non functioning display? I understand the struts that mount on the wooden piece in the center of the ceiling but thats not how the struts at the show were mounted. I have attached the photo of the mounting system I am referring to.

Thanks.







.

 

[Sam]

Too bad, I like that design but didn't see how it could work. Thanks again for the info.