Bed end setup question
AuthorMessagemgardner |
Wolf |
Joined: Apr 24, 2003 |
Posts: 132 |
Location: Houston, TX |
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 1:40 pm Post subject: Bed end setup question |
When I go to set up the bed end roof panels, I have always considered this a two person job. I stand on one side while my wife stands on the other side, and we slowly lift the bed end cover into an a-frame shape. Then, I go inside, lift the roof panel up and secure it to the roof of the camper. We do the same routine to collapse the bed end panels as well. This works okay, but has anyone found a way to do this job with one person? _________________ Mark Gardner and family 67 Mesa 77 Ramada |
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Vesely Prodigy |
Joined: Apr 20, 2003 |
Posts: 1678 |
Location: Auburn Hills, MI |
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 1:44 pm Post subject: |
Thats the only way I do it now Mark. I can feel the stress at all points of the bed end when lifting it up and setting it down by myself. This was actually born out of nessesity, the lifting by myself as many times I am by myself working on them and need to open or close the campers up. Also it is one fluid motion from open to attaching to the road cover, no stress in setting it in Tee Pee fasion or scratching the ABS bed side walls. |
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Apache Master |
Joined: May 26, 2003 |
Posts: 693 |
Location: Florida |
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 2:51 pm Post subject: |
I always have to put mine up myself. I do it all from inside - lifting the center of the bed end with my right arm, until I can reach under and grab the top edge of the roof. I then set it down on a piece of foam that I put between the panels when traveling until I can change my grip to get both sides of the top edge of the roof - lift it into position and lock it down. I would guess there are about as many wasy of doing this as there are folks on the list. _________________ al r. '72 Yuma |
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Elk |
Joined: Apr 22, 2003 |
Posts: 232 |
Location: Fayetteville, NC |
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:15 pm Post subject: |
Mark, I have put the bed ends up by myself. And, I know not as good as Tim by any means, I have to feel the falls (so to speak) when I do it by myself. For me it is not that difficult, I just make sure I am very careful not to let it twist. |
Don't know if that makes sense lol or helps. |
_________________ |
Happy Camping |
Deb |
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Wolf |
Joined: Jul 08, 2004 |
Posts: 143 |
Location: New Brunswick, Canada |
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:20 pm Post subject: |
Same here i always have to put mine up by myself working from the inside. Its probably easier on the Mesa and Yuma models as the beds are 6" narrower than the larger models, long arms are a bonus, thank God mine are ape like |
Reaching away out to get the roof panel swung under can be quite a thrill some times, make sure you have the stabilising legs down first or that will add to the "thrill" |
Also make sure the trailer is level and there is no rainwater lying up on the roadcover or thats the time you will get the said rainwater down your neck. |
Causes much merriment amongst the bystanders, dont ask me how i know that one |
_________________ |
74 Apache Mesa |
76 Boler |
Last edited by Trailman on Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:03 am, edited 2 times in total |
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Apache Master |
Joined: Jul 25, 2003 |
Posts: 660 |
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada |
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:26 pm Post subject: |
I hear cracking noises when I do mine but there are no cracks after. _________________ Spencer 1976 Ramada owner |
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Wolf |
Joined: Jan 02, 2004 |
Posts: 126 |
Location: Thornton, Illinois |
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:58 am Post subject: set up |
I prefer having two people because it makes me feel safe knowing i have someone to back me up- starting with the tee pee. However 95% of the time ill set up by myself... reaching out very far and grasping then go up in one movement right to the top and secure to the road cover. Just be aware! It once wanted to take me the other way on a windy day. I heard a small stress crack thing but no damage that i could see.... Aside from that one incident ....This method is easiest for me. |
Pratch |
_________________ |
John |
Dee |
Marissa |
Nicholas |
Matthew |
74' Apache Royal |
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Grizzly |
Joined: May 27, 2003 |
Posts: 378 |
Location: Connecticut |
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:08 am Post subject: |
I always used two people to raise the bed ends of my first Ramada....that's the way the former owner showed me....he had cracked living hinge and I think he figured the only way to avoid losing the bed end was to use two people with the "A frame teepee" thing....
Then when I bought my second Ramada the owner hopped up and set up the bed end by himself by doing the "one hand high, one hand low" thing, and I was amazed and emberassed. He was pretty elderly, and I was waiting for him to ask me to take one side to raise it.
Since then, I've enjoyed being able to set up or strike the camper by myself....no more waiting for my wife to get off the phone. |
_________________ |
Pete '67 |
Katie '69 |
Samantha '95 |
Shaun '96 |
Shannon '98 |
Ramada '78 |
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Vesely Prodigy |
Joined: Jul 23, 2003 |
Posts: 1848 |
Location: Keene, Texas (Fort Worth Area) |
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:24 am Post subject: |
I have raised mine by myself every time since I purchased the trailer. Someday my twins will be big enough to help. When I close the bed end, I have some 1/4 inch thick small pieces of foam that I use between the panels and bed end so that nothing rubs directly against each other in the closed and traveling position. When I open it, I lean out and raise the top in one motion and lock it to the roof edge. Then I remove each piece of foam potection as I slide back and up into position for each bed end side piece. I like having the thin foam pieces protecting the bed end components to protect them from the continual rubbing against each other from the vibrations from the road. Hopefully this will keep my bed end in good condition for decades to come. |
_________________ |
Alan |
1973 Ramada & 1975 Royal |
1992 Gold Aerostar Ext & 4 liter engine & tow package |
12 1/2' Porta-Bote w Evinrude 3HP & 7.5HP motors |
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Vesely Prodigy |
Joined: Apr 20, 2003 |
Posts: 1616 |
Location: Salt Lake City Utah |
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:39 am Post subject: |
I think Height has alot to do with it as well. I don't have a problem doing it all myself from inside the trailer.. but in helping someone else over the weekend I could see that they would have a hard time doing it solo. _________________ Me -71 (Jeff) Wife ?? (Shauna) Thomas 97 Nicholas 01 '79 Ramada '95 GMC Z71 in Utah |
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Grizzly |
Joined: Apr 20, 2003 |
Posts: 413 |
Location: Northern California |
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:42 am Post subject: |
jtslj wrote:I think Height has alot to do with it as well. |
I don't have a problem doing it all myself from inside the trailer.. but in helping someone else over the weekend I could see that they would have a hard time doing it solo. |
Hahahah! Nice of you to not mention any names Jeff!!! Yes, I'm pretty height impaired, but I manage ok. |
_________________ |
Ruth |
3 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats |
Rachael's Blessing - '78 Ramada |
'72 Ranger (one bed end) - to San Diego next year (?) |
'64 Chief - to Oregon soon |
Northern California |
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Vesely Prodigy |
Joined: Apr 20, 2003 |
Posts: 1616 |
Location: Salt Lake City Utah |
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:48 am Post subject: |
I was attempting to be nice.. I know my height helps me reach it all from inside. something you may try to do is get your daughter to help you from the sides as mentioned by other people.... I hadn't thought of it being done that way. _________________ Me -71 (Jeff) Wife ?? (Shauna) Thomas 97 Nicholas 01 '79 Ramada '95 GMC Z71 in Utah |
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Grizzly |
Joined: Apr 20, 2003 |
Posts: 413 |
Location: Northern California |
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:06 am Post subject: |
Jeff, that's exactly how we do it, my little son helps too, even tho it's high, one kid on each side working together until they get it far enough for me to reach it! I have learned how to manage in the Ranger by myself, but the Ramada is bigger (Yayyyy!) FYI: Picked up a tiny electric personal heater at the Grocery Outlet, only $10! _________________ Ruth 3 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats Rachael's Blessing - '78 Ramada '72 Ranger (one bed end) - to San Diego next year (?) '64 Chief - to Oregon soon Northern California |
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Vesely Prodigy |
Joined: Apr 20, 2003 |
Posts: 1616 |
Location: Salt Lake City Utah |
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:11 am Post subject: |
Sounds like a good deal. maybe go get a few more and sell them to those here without reliable furnaces. _________________ Me -71 (Jeff) Wife ?? (Shauna) Thomas 97 Nicholas 01 '79 Ramada '95 GMC Z71 in Utah |
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Wolf |
Joined: Jul 08, 2004 |
Posts: 143 |
Location: New Brunswick, Canada |
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:42 am Post subject: |
timsch
Is it much more difficult with the interior paneling on the 76 and up models? I have never seen a 76 in real life, i would think the panels would be heavier or is there little difference? _________________ 74 Apache Mesa 76 Boler
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