Hi, has anyone had any experience with one of those Pop Top Air Lifters often advertised in caravan mags?. I'm one of a few that still has a pop top and for some unknown reason the roof is getting heavier these days?. Do they work and are they worth the money? regards RR
Roving-Dutchy said
04:20 PM Jun 9, 2014
Fit a new set of struts possibly 10kg's stronger and the pop top will lift easily, the struts gradually weaken and need replacing, I don't think regassing is worth the cost as new struts can be bought on Ebay quite cheaply.
Cheers
David
hako said
08:04 PM Jun 9, 2014
I put "Pop Top Air Lifters" into GOOGLE and got heaps of in formative answers....try that and decide if they are any good. Also lots of other options in that search.
ROAD RUNNER said
08:36 PM Jun 9, 2014
Thanks David, my roof has the old metal cross arm spring type lifter front rear & sides and I'm not sure if I can replace them with gas struts due to the mounting points but will investigate further. The problem arose when I replaced the interior roof cladding and installed some insulation pink bats and I reckon the extra weight although slight may have impacted the spring action.
ROAD RUNNER said
08:37 PM Jun 9, 2014
Thanks Denis will give Google a go, cheers
ShortNorth said
08:59 PM Jun 9, 2014
Maybe of interest to Hako - Just as an extension to the topic - RVAirlifters at Murrumba Downs (Qld) have just released a new kit for owners of Avan A-frames to suit Aliner, etc. Not a lot of info available at the moment, as they haven't yet added it to their website, no brochure available yet, but a phone call to the owner, said that a promotional video showing it in action will be put up sometime in the near future. Cost will be around $750 for the kit + installation, or you can fit it yourself. I plan to call in and talk to them when I'm going past that way, sometime in the next 6 months? or so.
Regards, Brian
Sparkster said
09:24 PM Jun 9, 2014
When we had a Coromal Pop Top it didn't have the usual levers at each end to lift the roof and at the time I had a crook shoulder so I fitted a set of the RV Air Lifters.
They are absolutely fantastic, just a flick of the switch and 10 seconds later the roof was up.
Definitely worth the money and the fellow who owns the company is extremely helpful.
They're not hard to fit but a bit of planning time is well spent just looking and measuring, not a job to be rushed but the results are great.
Keith....
ROAD RUNNER said
08:14 PM Jun 10, 2014
Sounds like a good investment Keith, is there any chance the roof will come down in the event of a air leak or do you prop up the corners with something?, regards Eddy
Sparkster said
09:21 AM Jun 11, 2014
As long as your original equipment remains serviceable and will hold your roof up it can't come down.
The Air Lifter only lifts the roof as far as it can be 'pushed' .
When it reaches that maximum height, you turn the switch that operates the small air pump off.
When you want the roof to come down you lower it manually.
Very easy to operate and the kit can be either fitted by the companies fitters or DYI everything comes in the kit and the supplier is very helpful.
Keith....
ROAD RUNNER said
08:24 PM Jun 11, 2014
Thanks Keith, much appreciated, Eddy
hako said
09:09 PM Jun 11, 2014
ShortNorth wrote:
Maybe of interest to Hako - Just as an extension to the topic - RVAirlifters at Murrumba Downs (Qld) have just released a new kit for owners of Avan A-frames to suit Aliner, etc. Not a lot of info available at the moment, as they haven't yet added it to their website,
SNIP
Regards, Brian
Thanks Brian...of late I'm noticing I really need to eat spinach before lifting the roof with the annexe attached so I'll check that up.
Regards
Denis
Sparkster said
10:03 PM Jun 11, 2014
They also do a setup to lift the bed to better get at the storage under there.
Keith....
Radar said
09:22 PM Jun 12, 2014
Hi Road Runner and All
Our 17'6" pop top is standard, yes we have had the same experience.
My wife normally goes in and pushes up the top while I am doing other things around the van, she's cute and small. She mentioned she was finding it harder to push the first end up. We have a box near the door that we turn upside down for a step, so I suggested to her to use the step box and stand on it to give a bit more height to create more leverage to push the top up, bingo that made it a lot easier for her, top bride and been married for 44 years, I will keep her.
The other thing I have started doing is releasing a small amount of the roll out awning and find that makes it easier to push the top up. The bed end is easy as you are on the bed and at the right height to push it up. I hope these hints help you to make it a little easier. Ralph.
Hi, has anyone had any experience with one of those Pop Top Air Lifters often advertised in caravan mags?. I'm one of a few that still has a pop top and for some unknown reason the roof is getting heavier these days?. Do they work and are they worth the money? regards RR
Cheers
David
Thanks David, my roof has the old metal cross arm spring type lifter front rear & sides and I'm not sure if I can replace them with gas struts due to the mounting points but will investigate further. The problem arose when I replaced the interior roof cladding and installed some insulation pink bats and I reckon the extra weight although slight may have impacted the spring action.
Thanks Denis will give Google a go, cheers
Maybe of interest to Hako - Just as an extension to the topic - RVAirlifters at Murrumba Downs (Qld) have just released a new kit for owners of Avan A-frames to suit Aliner, etc. Not a lot of info available at the moment, as they haven't yet added it to their website, no brochure available yet, but a phone call to the owner, said that a promotional video showing it in action will be put up sometime in the near future. Cost will be around $750 for the kit + installation, or you can fit it yourself. I plan to call in and talk to them when I'm going past that way, sometime in the next 6 months? or so.
Regards, Brian
When we had a Coromal Pop Top it didn't have the usual levers at each end to lift the roof and at the time I had a crook shoulder so I fitted a set of the RV Air Lifters.
They are absolutely fantastic, just a flick of the switch and 10 seconds later the roof was up.
Definitely worth the money and the fellow who owns the company is extremely helpful.
They're not hard to fit but a bit of planning time is well spent just looking and measuring, not a job to be rushed but the results are great.
Keith....
Sounds like a good investment Keith, is there any chance the roof will come down in the event of a air leak or do you prop up the corners with something?, regards Eddy
As long as your original equipment remains serviceable and will hold your roof up it can't come down.
The Air Lifter only lifts the roof as far as it can be 'pushed' .
When it reaches that maximum height, you turn the switch that operates the small air pump off.
When you want the roof to come down you lower it manually.
Very easy to operate and the kit can be either fitted by the companies fitters or DYI everything comes in the kit and the supplier is very helpful.
Keith....
Thanks Keith, much appreciated, Eddy
Thanks Brian...of late I'm noticing I really need to eat spinach before lifting the roof with the annexe attached so I'll check that up.
Regards
Denis
They also do a setup to lift the bed to better get at the storage under there.
Keith....
Hi Road Runner and All
Our 17'6" pop top is standard, yes we have had the same experience.
My wife normally goes in and pushes up the top while I am doing other things around the van, she's cute and small. She mentioned she was finding it harder to push the first end up. We have a box near the door that we turn upside down for a step, so I suggested to her to use the step box and stand on it to give a bit more height to create more leverage to push the top up, bingo that made it a lot easier for her, top bride and been married for 44 years, I will keep her.
The other thing I have started doing is releasing a small amount of the roll out awning and find that makes it easier to push the top up. The bed end is easy as you are on the bed and at the right height to push it up. I hope these hints help you to make it a little easier. Ralph.