Electric lift malfunctions

[jwt2966]

Today while putting down the roof of our 2017 Rockwood Hw277, the electric lift switch stopped working halfway down. We could raise it electrically, but not lower. Nothing was in the way inside the camper. Tried to use the manual crank and that wouldn't work to lift roof up or down. Called Roadside assistance and while waiting for a call back I removed the protective rubber/plastic cover from the toggle and it began to work. Anyone else have this issue? Not sure if it's an electrical problem or the design of the protective cover that covers the toggle.

[exploreco]

Originally Posted by jwt2966

Today while putting down the roof of our 2017 Rockwood Hw277, the electric lift switch stopped working halfway down. We could raise it electrically, but not lower. Nothing was in the way inside the camper. Tried to use the manual crank and that wouldn't work to lift roof up or down. Called Roadside assistance and while waiting for a call back I removed the protective rubber/plastic cover from the toggle and it began to work. Anyone else have this issue? Not sure if it's an electrical problem or the design of the protective cover that covers the toggle.

I had a similar problem last fall while out at the campsite taking down. Started to lower the roof and only went down maybe a foot. Would go back up but would not come back down below that foot. Didn't know what I was going to do. I removed the cover and was able to manually lower the roof ask I had my drill with me. If you didn't have a drill with you with an attachment, you probably didn't notice any movement. It still took a little while to get it down with my drill.

I finally ended up messing with the limiter switches on the bottom of the motor and that got it working again. That was the last of our camping for the season so didn't get to try it again other than to clean it up for fall. Just opened it this weekend and lowered it for spring cleaning and dewitnerization and all was still working, so fingers crossed.

Try adjusting the limiter switches and see if that helps out.

Good luck

[jwt2966]

Thanks, I will give it a try if it acts up again.

[exploreco]

Originally Posted by jwt2966

Today while putting down the roof of our 2017 Rockwood Hw277, the electric lift switch stopped working halfway down. We could raise it electrically, but not lower. Nothing was in the way inside the camper. Tried to use the manual crank and that wouldn't work to lift roof up or down. Called Roadside assistance and while waiting for a call back I removed the protective rubber/plastic cover from the toggle and it began to work. Anyone else have this issue? Not sure if it's an electrical problem or the design of the protective cover that covers the toggle.

If you don't have one of these yet, get one. I use it in my drill for raising and lowering the stabilizer, but it is what I also used to finish lowering the roof when that happened. If you try to manually crank the roof down by hand, you would never get it down.

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-57363-L...eveling+blocks

[jwt2966]

I did purchase a drill/impact combo with assorted sockets for any issues. Thanks.

[jimmoore13]

I am currently using a cordless drill to raise and lower my 2014 HW 277. The last time I operated the winch last year, it kind of sputtered. This year, when de-winterizing, I tried it, and I got a couple of buzzes and clicks, but no movement. Then silence.

On close inspection, I found two issues.
1) The limiter switch is driven by a plastic gear, and the gear had broken, and the plastic engagement "key" on the turning ring had sheared off. I removed the outer gear, opened the limiter, and neutralized the mechanism so that both switches are "closed" - current passes. I then verified continuity between the up/down switch and the "relays" in the gearbox. I also verified continuity in the up/down switch.

2. I pulled and reset all connections everywhere related to the lift winch.

After all that, the motor goes "down" but it is still dead going up.

I suspect that one of the relays is burned out, and the cause may be related to the failure in the limiter switch - or it could be coincidence. I never exceed the height allowed by the little red tension wire that dictates height. And when I lower, I use my hand to sense tension on the lift cable. When there is enough slack to allow me to clamp down the roof, I stop.

Any ideas on replacing the relay(s). The hangar is riveted to the winch chassis, and the design of the hangar prevents removing the relays without removing the rivet. If that's all there is to it, I can replace the rivet with a small bolt and locking nut, but one assumes there'd be a better way.