Camping Camper

Question:

Hi Jim – >When we bought our Dutchmen camper the dealer installed in a rooftop air >conditioner as part of the deal.  We have owned the camper for about three >years and have had to replace the lift cable twice.  The lift cable has >recently broken and I’m about to replace the for the third time.  I’m trying >to find out if I can install a stronger cable or should I just take the air >conditioner off.  I contacted a couple of dealers and was told that the >regular factory cable is all that’s available.  On the other hand may be air >conditioner isn’t the problem at all.  Is there a possibility that some >other problem is to blame for the broken lift cables.

You might want to post your query over on alt.rv.pop-up-trailers. I (foggily…<g>) recall a thread there in the not-too-distant past regarding use of aircraft-grade cabling as a replacement on tent trailers. (If your news-server doesn’t carry alt.rv.pop-up-trailers you can use deja.com or one of the free news-servers that does. For a listing of the free news servers, go to either http://www.jammed.com/~newzbot/ for the actual listings. Be cautious to select one that allows posting.) The information I have regarding Dutchmen indicates that they need a kit called "A/C – Snowload bars"; so they can (in warranty) be fitted with an A/C of some type. Seems to me that leaves you with two options: either stronger cabling or replacement of the A/C with a ventilator fan. If your normal camping climate would permit, you might be able to replace the A/C with a vent fan — even if you have to fashion a trim plate to adjust any opening size difference between the existing A/C and the fan.. In addition to the "normal" sources, JC Whitney (http://jcwhitney.com) has a wide range of aftermarket products for the RV market. They run an online store and will happily send you a paper catalog. Anyway, I recommend posting over in alt.rv.pop-up-trailers. It’s a pretty lively and knowledgeable group over there. Hope this helps. Steve Talmadge

Response:

Hi again Jim – Re JC Whitney make that http://jcwhitneyusa.com. (I forgot the ‘usa’ part in the URL.) Steve Talmadge

Response:

Should have bought a Coleman, I guess.  For as much crap as I have taken over the "roof sag" issue (which hasn’t happened yet on my 12′ box with A/C), it is good to hear from someone who bought an inferior product to save a little cash up front and is now paying for it. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha RC ‘98 Coleman Natchez – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >When we bought our Dutchmen camper the dealer installed in a rooftop air >conditioner as part of the deal.  We have owned the camper for about three >years and have had to replace the lift cable twice.  The lift cable has >recently broken and I’m about to replace the for the third time.  I’m trying >to find out if I can install a stronger cable or should I just take the air >conditioner off.  I contacted a couple of dealers and was told that the >regular factory cable is all that’s available.  On the other hand may be air >conditioner isn’t the problem at all.  Is there a possibility that some >other problem is to blame for the broken lift cables. >Thanks, Jim

Response:

When we bought our Dutchmen camper the dealer installed in a rooftop air conditioner as part of the deal.  We have owned the camper for about three years and have had to replace the lift cable twice.  The lift cable has recently broken and I’m about to replace the for the third time.  I’m trying to find out if I can install a stronger cable or should I just take the air conditioner off.  I contacted a couple of dealers and was told that the regular factory cable is all that’s available.  On the other hand may be air conditioner isn’t the problem at all.  Is there a possibility that some other problem is to blame for the broken lift cables. Thanks, Jim

Response:

>When we bought our Dutchmen camper the dealer installed in a rooftop air >conditioner as part of the deal.  We have owned the camper for about three >years and have had to replace the lift cable twice.  The lift cable has >recently broken and I’m about to replace the for the third time.  I’m trying >to find out if I can install a stronger cable or should I just take the air >conditioner off.  I contacted a couple of dealers and was told that the >regular factory cable is all that’s available.  On the other hand may be air >conditioner isn’t the problem at all.  Is there a possibility that some >other problem is to blame for the broken lift cables.

Response: