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Pop-Up Camper Won’t Crank Down

Pop-Up Camper Won’t Crank Down

Pop-up campers are best for frequent travelers because of their smaller size and lighter weight. You can crank down the campers while driving for better fuel efficiency of towing vehicles. These are easy to tow with smaller cars, and you can also raise or lower their roof.

The pop-up camper won’t crank down because of poor electric connections, failure of the motor, damaged crank system, inadequate lubrication, faulty control switch, dust and debris on the Whiffletree, activation of the manual override feature, battery issues, and incorrect adjustment of interior components.

They are foldable, and you can lower them manually or electrically by using the control switch or button. Many people complain that sometimes their campers take a lot of time to fold, and they hear the clinking noise during this process.

Causes Solutions
Poor electric connections Tighten the loose electric connections
Failure of motor Check voltage and replace the burnt-out motor
Damaged crank system Maintain the components of the crank system
Poor lubrication Lubricate the moving parts with WD-40 spray
Faulty control switch Replace the broken control switch
Dust and debris on Whiffletree Clean the whiffletree properly
Activation of manual override feature Read the owner manual to deactivate the override
Issues with the crank handle Replace the broken handle
Incorrect adjustment of interior components Adjust the furniture and fabric to avoid obstruction

Poor electric connections

You cannot lower the roof of your pop-up camper because of damaged and faulty electric connections. The lifting mechanism uses electricity from the power source to raise and lower the roof.

The electric motors cannot receive power and operate the cables when the wires connected to the battery and motor are loose or damaged.

Loose or damaged wires cannot provide sufficient power to the motor. Electric connections of wires become loose over time and cause resistance in the current flow.

In addition, the insulating coating of wires gets damaged and does not allow continuous current flow from them. Inspecting all wiring connections between the battery, control switch, and the motor is better.

Fasten the loose electric connections to ensure a consistent current supply. You should also check the damaged wires and replace them with new ones. You can also get help from expert electricians if you cannot find the electric connection problems.

Failure of motor

Some of the pop-up camper cranking mechanisms run on the electric system. It contains a motor and control switch button for raising and lowering the roof.

The motor receives power from the electric source of your RV and then uses this power supply to engage the cranking mechanism.

It engages or disengages the cables and pulleys responsible for folding and unfolding mechanisms. Sometimes, you cannot crank down the roof because of the failure of the motor. However, motors do not function because of the dead and weak battery.

One of my friends uses various RVs for traveling. He told me that he was not able to lower the roof by pressing the control switch. He checked all the electric connections, but those were fine.

He called the expert electrician, and he told him that the motor of the cranking mechanism was burnt out. These motors can burn out because of overheating and frequent raising and lowering of campers.

Motors also burnt out because of insufficient power supply from the electric source. Check the power supply of the motor using a multimeter and voltage tester.

It is necessary to replace the motor of the cranking mechanism if the multimeter does not show any voltage.

Damaged crank system

You cannot crank down the pop-up camper because of the damaged crank system. The damaged and warped system does not allow the roof to come down.

It happens due to excessive force and overloading. The issue usually comes when you try to lower or raise the camper without following proper guidelines.

Folding without proper instructions puts excessive force on its mechanisms, leading to damaged or warped parts.

In addition, accidental impacts or collisions can also damage them. It is necessary to maintain these components to reduce the risk of damage. Lubricate the moving parts properly and inspect signs of wear and tear.

Poor lubrication

Moving parts of the cranking system need proper lubrication for their accurate functioning. These parts seize because of poor lubrication and routine maintenance.

These become stiff and do not function properly because of dried grease. The issue comes when people forget to grease pop-up camper moving parts before traveling.

In addition, harsh weather, incorrect storage conditions, and outside temperatures also affect the lubrication. These parts dry out and become stiff, which does not allow for the lowering and raising of the roof.

It is necessary to maintain your RVs properly so you do not face any issues during the trip. I prefer lubricating these parts with WD-40 because of its effectiveness and longevity.

It is also better to store them in a proper environment so moisture and debris cannot affect their lubricants.

Faulty control switch

Electrically foldable campers contain the control switch or button in the interior cabin. You can press the button to engage the motor and cranking system.

Buttons activate the motors by supplying power for working or cranking mechanisms. The motor engages the gears and cables to lower the height of your camper.

Sometimes, these control switch becomes faulty and does not supply sufficient power to the pop-up camper motor. Control switches become faulty because of frequent use and damaged electric connections.

Replacing the damaged or broken control switch with a new one is better. Operate the switch carefully to decrease the risk of damage.

Dust and debris on Whiffletree

A whiffletree is a long rod made up of sturdy metal material. It allows the lifting mechanism to properly distribute the force used to lower your pop-up camper’s roof.

It is the part of the lifting mechanism connected to the lifting arms and push rods. Whiffletree keeps the campers stable when you are cranking them down.

Many people face issues while lowering their campers because of dust and debris on these long metal bars. These are present on the lower side, and road dust and debris can come on them.

I was on a trip with my friends, and we saw that it takes a lot of time to lower the roof of a camper. I checked the Whiffletree on the lower side and saw a bird’s nest there.

Birds can also make nests there when you do not park them at safe locations. It is necessary to remove the dust and debris from this part to function the lifting mechanism properly.

Activation of manual override feature

Some pop-up campers contain the manual override feature, so you can manually lower and raise the roof with a crank handle.

The engagement of override features does not allow the motor to function correctly and engage the cables for lowering the roof. Many people complain that its motor does not activate when they press the control switch button.

The issue comes because of the activation of the manual feature. It is necessary to read the owner’s manual to disengage the override feature.

Issues with the crank handle

You can manually crank down your pop-up campers using the handle that is present on their rear side. Sometimes, you cannot lower the roof using these handles because of their damaged or stripped components.

The damaged and stripped handle is not able to engage the lifting mechanism. Handles can get damaged because of mishandling and incorrect use.

Many people apply excessive force while using them, which can lead to their misalignment.

It is better to call the expert mechanic to replace damaged and broken handles.

Incorrect adjustment of interior components

It is necessary to fully prepare the pop-up campers when you are lowering their roof. Interior accessories can obstruct the folding mechanism when you do not arrange them properly.

You should close their doors by removing their Velcro. It is also better to slightly readjust the furniture so they do not cause hindrance during the folding procedure.

Remove the dinette area cushions and remove the roof supports to crank down the camper.

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