How to Fix a Cable Lift System on a Pop-Up Camper
- 1). Extend the pop-up camper roof. If the broken cable prevents you from doing this normally, lift the roof with automotive jacks and brace it with poles held firmly in place by clamps.
- 2). Strip away the paneling or shrouds that disguise the horizontal cable runs up each corner. You will see a pulley in each corner inside or immediately beneath the floor. Spray a silicone lubricant onto the crank, the cables and all the pulleys, then wait 15 minutes.
- 3). Locate the distribution block that manages the movement of the cables to raise and lower the roof; its position under the camper varies by manufacturer, so check with your operator's manual. From this distribution block the cables run through a system of pulleys to the camper's four corners, where they are routed into the telescoping supports. Follow all the cables from the distribution block to their ends, inspecting them until you find the broken one.
- 4). Use a socket or wrench to release the nut holding the pulley which routes the broken cable, then feed both halves of the cable out through its conduits or guide tunnels. Release both ends with a screwdriver or wrench depending on your manufacturer's system; most cables are trapped between two plates which are clamped together with a nut/bolt/washer assembly until the cable cannot slip.
- 5). Obtain a replacement cable that exactly matches the size and weight of the broken one. A reputable recreational vehicle dealership should be able to arrange delivery in one or two days.
- 6). Fit the new cable in a reversal of the extraction procedure, consulting your owner's manual to determine whether the manufacturer suggests feeding it in from the roof or distribution block end. Ensure the entire cable is precisely seated in its pulleys and guides. Reassemble the shrouds or paneling.