RV Advice
Q&A Popups and OthersRV Advice
Q&A Popups and Others
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Below
are questions and answers to RV Advice that are related to service on pop-ups,
slide-ins, and park models, horse trailers, boat trailers, and miscellaneous
other items. You can send your question(s) using the form at the bottom
of all our Q&A pages. We answer ALL readable email that comes to us,
even what other RV web sites forward to us.
This page last updated on March 1, 2008 containing letters emailed to Pete from October 12, 2007 - February 14, 2008.
Looking for a diagram of a lift system? This link to Goshen Stamping (a lift manufacturer) might have the diagram you're looking for on their web site.
Looking for maintenance tips or owner's manuals? Try this link to the Coleman web site.
Looking for instructions on operating, towing and using your popup? Visit our RV Store page.
Looking for state parks or campgrounds? Visit our RV Books page.
I have a 2002 used Viking pop-up. I love this camper. It has a problem with the fridge. I can't get it to work on propane. I try to light the pilot light and nothing happens. Is there a way to take it apart? It looks like it is not serviceable.
Also, I'm not as young as I used to be, so is there a power lift for the Viking that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?
Dear Don,
First, check to see if you have gas getting to the gas valve on the fridge. Then check the thermo couple to see if it's opening the pilot. The gas valve would be a replacement, it's not serviceable.
Check with Pop-Up Times magazine for an after market lift conversion.
The electrical system in my 2001 Flagstaff pop up camper will not run off of the battery. The breakers are not popping, but when I switch to battery, there is no power.
I have traced the wiring from the battery under the camper to where it goes up into the camper and have not yet found any breaks. Any suggestions?
Dear Rob,
Check the connections at the converter and verify battery voltage.
I have a 1992 Starcraft popup camper. The front of the camper where the top meets the bottom when down has leaked water from bad caulking and the top portion has wood under the aluminum that has rotted. I need to replace the wood.
Do you have any suggestions? Should I use plywood?
I scraped some of the rotted wood out and it appears to be some sort of pressed wood. Do you have suggestions of how to determine how to cut the new wood to the correct shape and how it should be attached to the outside aluminum - glue? What kind?
Dear Randall,
First, open it up. Pick up a basic RV maintenance and repair book for guide lines on assembly and materials to use, glue, silicone, etc. Try our RV Books page.
I would suggest a good marine grade plywood to last. Don't go too thick with the wood, you want to keep the weight of the roofing in mind.
I have a 1997 Jayco 8 foot Sportster pop up truck camper with roof air and one factory cabinet suspended from ceiling. Right after I purchased it last year the small lift cable that raises the right front broke. I replaced the cable. Recently, the larger diameter cable from the winch broke.
Is there an updated method to raise these tops? If not, is there an improved type of cable that lasts longer than the originals?
This winch cable should be much easier than the last one. Have there been any modifications or updates the factory or others recommends to reduce the probability of this happening again?
Dear Ron,
Check and see what kind of roof AC it has.
The standard 13,500 BTU Coleman and Dometic AC units that dealers like to install on the pop ups are too heavy and stress the cables out over a period of time.
I have a '98 Damon Camplite 2408SLE pop-up (with tandem axles), which we took on it's maiden voyage this past weekend. I have a couple questions related to that:
1) When towing, we get a single "pop" under moderate to extreme turns. I don't know if the ball-mount is causing it or it is something on the trailer. What should I look for and should I be concerned?
2) I have had 3 people look at my Atwood furnace, and collectively, we cannot figure out how to turn it on. It was really cold this weekend, and my wife said, "We are not going camping again (anytime soon), without that working." (Happy Wife...Happy Life). We looked for an igniter, but could not find one.
3) Is the furnace 12volts or 110? I have received differing responses (from backyard mechanics), and was told that I could not run it on my battery. Is this right?
4) Finally, I installed my Prodigy brake controller, and notice that the trailer does not tug back on the van when stopping. (I was told that it should). I have followed the instructions in the manual for adjusting the controller, and I can feel it slowing down my rig when I use the manual lever but I am not sure that I have it adjusted right.
Also, it appears to be connected to the stop light wire (as when I press the brakes, I get voltage readings in my controller's display). The van takes a little bit longer to stop, than it used to.
Dear Ronald,
1. I wouldn't be too concerned, try some lubricant on your ball.
2. It should be activated by the thermostat.
3. No, it's 12 volts and needs the battery in line to run the fan and ignition.
4. You may need to have the brakes checked and adjusted on the trailer.
We have a 2003 Rockwood pop up we took camping for the second time last weekend. When putting the battery back after charging it, it appears that we reversed the + and - on the battery and it caused us to lose our heating and lights and blew a 20A automotive ATC type fuse - when we installed the battery properly, it still blows the same fuse.
We were told to remove the cover on the converter and there would be other fuses to replace, however, when we removed the cover, we find no additional fuses. Can you help?
Dear Debra,
Sorry, disconnect the converter and see if the fuse still blows. Then check the converter to see if it shorted.
Also, look to make sure you didn't melt some wires.
Should the water pump of a 2003 Coleman Cheyenne run constantly or should it only kick on when I run water in the sink?
My first trip out the pump kicked on when I lifted up the sink/stove because it pushes down the switch. My battery went dead after 1 1/2 days. I don't know if I am supposed to be turning the switch off when I'm not running water.
Dear Kathy,
It there's no pressure switch on the head of your pump you will have to turn the switch off when not in use. If there's a pressure switch you need to find out why it's not shutting off before it burns the pump up.
My pop-up camper's furnace blower starts running as soon as you plug the camper into electric service and never shuts off, even if furnace is not running, (ie: pilot light not lit and thermostat way down).
The only way I found to get it to stop running was to unplug the fan motor from what looked like a solid state relay.
Where should I start looking for my problem?
Dear Robert,
Thermostat.
I have a 2004 Coleman Niagara popup. I just noticed that the right rear panel corner, where the spare tire and running lights are, seems to be cracked or broken internally.
Meaning, I can push the panel forward 1/2 inch to make the corners touch. This is not simply the plastic cover, but seems to be some internal frame problem, that the spare tire mount and rear plastic cover is attached to.
The left side has not given way yet. I'm afraid the whole panel can fall down similar to a pickup truck lift gate!
Have you ever heard of this and what kind of repairs can I expect if you have?
Dear Pat,
Sounds like the spare tire has been vibrating. You will have to open it up to see what's going to be involved in repairing it. I wouldn't think it would be too major of a job.
My mother bought at an auction a 1994 Rockwood camper. The camper needs some exterior and interior work done on it but the lifting system worries me. When I let the top up the lifting system will not lock and the top will freewheel down. Since it is a large camper and the top is rather heavy I am concerned about the safety of the camper. What can be done to lock the mechanism?
Dear Greg,
Check the crank to see why the lock isn't working and make sure you use the support to lock and secure it after you raise it. The crank lock needs to be repaired first.
Do you have a question for RV Advice?
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