DIY A-Frame Roof Assist for only $10!
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- čas přidán 17. 07. 2024
- Lifting the roof of an A-Frame Trailer can be a real pain in the back for some people, which is why I came up with this low-cost low-tech solution. DISCLAIMER: Although this works great on my 2004 Aliner, it may not work for you. Please use common sense and care before attempting any modifications, or you may do more damage than good.
When I’m stressed at the end of the day, which is most days living and working in a big city, I watch ole Slim to relax. Dreaming of being out in nature away from traffic and crowds. Only a few more decades until I can retire.
As a short woman who likes to travel alone, you have made it posseble again. I was looking to sell because I simply do not have the strength to lift the top by myself after losing my hubby.
Glad you can keep traveling.
I haven't lost my husband, but he doesn't always have the leave to go camping with me. So I end up alone with the kids and now my teen boy doesn't want to go camping. So I love his method!
Simply brilliant, but that's what we've come to expect from your channel.
I love the elegant simplicity of your solution!
I can only imagine the long hours thinking of all the details until you came up with the whole system... but it must be fun to go thru the process, again, it is about the journey, right? Brilliant idea and generous of you to share it, seel it to Aliner!!! Thank you!
Thank you Slim ! It just amazes me how simple the system is for thos A frame Trailers!
Am a solo traveler and for years 'tented" . Economics was the driver for tenting. Age has made it more difficult to put up a tent that is more than a "3 man" d/t shoulder issues. Have been investigating the variety of pull behind trailers . This video is very helpful. Thank you.
Just what I need, another great idea and instructional video..... just got a 2003 Expedition, that has been closed up for the past 10 years + and tough to pop up alone, thank you, thank you. tomorrows project.....very appreciative old lady........
Better to be a thinker than a blinker ...another fantastic idea ...Awesome
Very innovative, really saves your back. Thanks for showing us how you put it together! Happy and safe adventures, Mr. Slim :)
What a great idea. Thank you. I just bought myself a 2015 Rockwood and while I did get it put together (at the dealer) I don't have it home yet, so I am somewhat worried that I will have problems. Before I head out on my epic journey across Canada this summer, I'll be practicing and if I'm having difficulty I'll make one of these lift assists. I so enjoy your videos and all that you share. Maybe I will see you on the road :-)
I love your videos!! We just bought one. Great tips on how to improve and adjust things to your aliner/avan. Much appreciated!! Looking forward to watch all your videos. 🙏🙏
Way cool/smart idea - it's great to see ingenuity/ inventiveness/creativity at work in a practical application.
We just traded in our Chalet A-Frame and this would have been an incredible help. Even after changing out the springs and the Bungee Cords our 25yr old Chalet still needed an assist like this. I wish I'd have seen this sooner!
Worked perfectly Slim!!!
Your instructions were spot-on!
Absolutely brilliant...
Thanks so much!
Tom Hamp
Great solution. Elegant and simple and well presented. Thanks Slim.
Brilliant use of the most basic of machines. The lever. Two thumbs up!
Brilliant! I once had a Forest River a-frame and wish that I had your idea back then.
Outstanding! Your videos are always good! Congrats, you are the only "poster" that I am subscribed to, so far! Am looking forward to many more!
Thankds oldschooldiy. Love your ID!
Just love your trailer hacks videos, thanks mate.
We are definitely adding this to our build. One hydraulic arm already blew out. Excellent idea.
You’ve solved my roof lifting problem. Thank you so much.... a brilliant idea!
Love your creative spirit!
Really cute trailer and great solution. I like your attitude.
Great work. Your videos are very thoughtful and informative.
You are so clever! Thanks for the info, I was just about to sell my 98 Chalet that I just bought and go look for something else. So frustrating and painful trying to get the roof up. Can't wait to try this!
Dude, you're a really clever guy. ^5 for your creative solution.
cool seeing real engineering skills applied to everyday life.
Fantastic! Wonderfully simplistic ingenuity, I'm so glad I subscribed to your channel.I am in my sixties and I've noticed the spring in the roof was getting harder to lift.I thought I would either need someone's help, or a power typelift . Thanks again!
Honestly, I do believe you are a rocket scientist! !
That's very well thought out and presented! I will compliment you by stealing it!!! By the way, I anticipated you would store the 2x4 in the bumper ... I saw a Pinterest post last week where an owner drilled a hole in the top of each end of the bumper, through both the bumoer and tge plastic plate... he then puts a large nail in each hole to keep his bumper plugs from flying out on the highway ... I'm stealing that one, too ... keep up the great work!
Many years ago I bought a book called; ‘Wordless Workshop’ and this type of innovation reminds me of it. Regards AJ
This video I thought was good. I will become an Aliner owner in January 2020. The only thing is that the roof assist it is made won't work on the trailer. It will have dormer but I plan on using the same idea to help me lift the back part of the roof. I really like all the videos and I watch them over and over again.
Pretty nifty lever invention you got there Slim!
Hi ..Greetings from downunder. Enjoy your videos , Im in the process of buying my first ever caravan ...an AVAN. Unfortunately they seem to have quality problems here in AUS . I did house renovations for 40 yrs before I retired , so it is not a problem. Looking forward to putting a lot of your ideas into practice ...regards Chris
thanks for the lift assist tip. ! it may come in handy for me!
You are very clever and handy. Keep up the good work. Have safe travels and a happy life.😀
Thanks Liz! SP
Well Slim. That's a Great idea. I new that bumper would come in handy for somthink. Simple design easy to use.
Excellent assist !! Great idea , could help a lot of people out...........
Thanks for another great idea.
Thanks slim, with my impingement shoulder your trick may be useful for me
bro, that's brilliant.
i don't have a camper like that, but if i did, this is definitely a bit of kit i would make even if i wasn't having any problems with the lift system. it would be good to have just in case
Great idea. I’am learning form your experience
Another fantastic idea. Thanks
Damm Dude are you so smart, I have learned so much from you on how to fix my Aliner and yet here is another video on a subject I am struggling with. Thank you so much Mr. Wizard Potatohead .
Beautiful problem solving
your roof assist is a great idea thanks
Thanks! This is a brilliant idea!!!
This is ingenious!
A simple effective fix. Why spend money if you don't have to. Good work.
I think I can do this. Looks like it will be helpful for my sister and I. At 5' 1.5" I am the taller of the two of us. we can look quite comical lifting our trailer. We just a stool and poles. I like your way better. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliantly inventive! Keep shining your light. I'm building my own A-Frame trailer and might try this if I determine the piano hinge can take the force. Thanks!
Hi Len, If I were building an A-Frame I would eliminate the whole spring/bungey cord idea and go with counterweights. My original idea was to make a bicycle rack that also acted as a counterweight. The possibilities are endless! Slim
I have been skeptical about the spring/bungey system myself. My roof pieces are heavy, though (plywood, not fiberglass) and the idea of making my piano hinges the fulcrum with lots of weight on each side of the "lever" does not thrill me either. I have a couple of novel ideas of my own, however. Like yourself, I like designing, inventing, and fabricating useful things that don't exist yet. Thanks, Slim, for your kind reply!
@@SlimPotatohead can you explain a bit more about how to use a bicycle rack that also acts as a counterweight, please? (Not Paul, but Paul's wife asking here. )
You must have been a mechanical engineer. If not, you missed your calling. Fantastic idea, great choice of materials and well thought out.
Thank you. As a short person it gives me ideas.
Always a pleasure sir..😂
Your videos are great!
This is a great idea good work👍
Great idea, thank you for sharing.
And, just as you said, with an older Aliner and the addition of solar, lifting is going to need your great lift assist!
Great idea! I just got my 2006 so I’ll find out soon enough if I need any assist
Thank you for sharing that is a great help.
Wow, very good. You even engineered the potential failure point.
That is a genius device !! I hope you’ve patented it 👍
You really are very clever.
Clever, Slim. I like it.
Love the idea and it is simple !!!!
Brilliant! So simple...
at 65 this should help ... thanks again
Another great idea! 👍
You're a pretty creative ol' feller.
Hi Slim
I look forward to your videos to see what you have thought of next. You must be thinking about a liners in your sleep! Have you considered doing a video on tyres, ie what type, what pressures to run, when to replace etc. You must have worn out a few in your travels. Keep the great videos coming! cheers Kevin from Australia.
Hi Kevin, I'm now using all-season, all terrain tires (tyres). Last year I drove around on winter tires which was a mistake and they wore down fast. Guess snow isn't much of an issue down there! Thanks, Slim
This is brilliant Slim! Am in Medicine Hat, AB with a new/used Aliner thanks to your inspirational videos!
Looks good to me, I’m short & have that bad back 😱. The lift system looks great. How long does the 2x4 need to be relative to the roof panel it lifts? Also, I probably need new bungee cords, etc. love this video & slim potato head. Thinking seriously about launching on a journey in my little a-frame, I’ll be watching more of these ...
Another great video my friend enjoyed it very interesting thank you
Genius, simply genius!
Newer Aliners have a high-wind kit option, the bar type looks pretty simple to DIY and it serves as a different type of lift assist.
Awesome video
Slim, I've been subscribed to your channel for a couple of weeks now, and really enjoying it. Your mix of frugality, graciousness, adventuring, and style is refreshing and friendly and helpful. Thank you!
And I bought an OLD Aliner this week: 1995! But not a lot of road miles. And not a lot of glop.
You mention that some people have added dormers to old Aliners, which I've been thinking about a lot. I'd like to add a soft dormer over the table, which is in the back in this unit. Can you connect me with any advice on that?
Sorry Katherine, I can only speak from what I have done to mine. No dormer at this point. Thanks! SP
And rotator cuff issues! Thanks, I need this for my 09 Scout
i love your trailor,i wish i had one.
A slim I have watch alot of ur videos for quite a while now ever since you had abner ur aliner I picked one up Saturday for $1,500 they wanted $3,000 for it I've been on the hunt for one for so long I finally got one and I'm so happy I got it for the price that I got it
Congratulations! I hope you inspected the frame for metal fatigue and inside corners for rot. As long as they are sound the rest is doable! SP
@@SlimPotatohead it was very well taken care or they just upgrade to a rv to drive cross country
Great video
I just bought a 2014 ranger 15. Expedition size with 2 soft dormers. Im a small women and so is my younger daughter so can be hard to lift. I was excited but than I thought the dormers might not work with your super cool lift assist. I'd love your thoughts. I really enjoy your channel! I'm new to aliner and camping. Im not sure if i can add the struts. My springs are out of spring. Thank you!
Hi Slim, thanks for the info on the lift system, I was about to spend some money on a gas piston kit,and maybe a high wind lift kit, which would be around $300.00. I'm 86 yrs old, and was in the heating/cooling business for years ,so the back ain,t what it used to be, and I cant wait to try this out, in fact,i'm putting all my other chore;s aside for today,to work on this. Thanks again Roy. P.S. I'll keep you posted.
Have you seen the roof lift systems "Chalet" in Oregon is putting on their A-Frame campers? They have two types, a manual assist and an electric assist w/manual back-up!
Where are you? Ur videos have been so helpful. How can I send pics of the repairs of my 2006.
That is a great idea
I noticed you build things cleanly and symmetrically. Were you a builder guy (tradesman) before you were an explorer? I'm a carpenter and I'm impressed how nicely some people build things with little experience
This is a verry good idear
Hay Slim good idea just wondering have you had a use for a wind guard thats suppose to keep the roof shut on windy days I've seen is extra cost through dealers. Or are you gong to show us how to make one cheers scott
Hi Scott, Just went through a bad wind storm a week ago, and yes I did try an easy alternative, which I will try to sneak it in the next video. Thanks! Slim
Ingenious!
Thank you very clever
Ahhh this is what I was really curious about
I just love your videos. Quite honestly, never thought I would consider an aframe but I’m in the market now because of you. I currently remodeled a tent trailer and hoping to sell it for the “upgrade” aliner as the cranking and set up for the tent trailer is a bit much for me in my old age. Also wanting to travel through Canada in a few summers and not sure the tent trailer is “bear and cold weather friendly”. Question: have you camped up in Alaska and if not, do you have plans to travel up there?
Hi Alison, I'd love to travel to Alaska but no plans at this point. Sticking to the south for the time being. Thanks! Slim
Slim Potatohead thanks for replying. I’m in Northern CA and I don’t blame you for wanting to be south. Heading to Death Valley next week myself. Enjoy, and safe travels!!
...nice device... great job... you're very resourceful & i'm jealous ;) PS... i think i'm gonna steal that
Would be a great assist when you are lifting up with your annexe attached!Obviously it would be fitted on the off side away from the rope channels
You really are smart
This video is the funniest one of all! If you install gas springs could you make a video on the process and post it on CZcams. My latest article is in the files for the Facebook group called "Aliner".
It's better to break the plastic then the roof... funny typo. I've watched so many of your videos the last couple days... you've had like 30 beers!
This hack definitely makes me nervous. I can see that off-centre torquing creating problems, but you've already acknowledged that.
We have an easier solution... We just keep a bamboo rod cut to length (about 3 feet) that we keep in a bracket just inside the door. It has rubber tips to prevent scratching. All you have to do is manually lift the roof just high enough to open the door, grab the rod (you could just leave it on the floor), step up and use it to push the roof open and into the locked position. No effort at all and we push in the middle of the roof ridgeline so as to avoid any off-centre torquing. Probably even more secure than the 'official' way to open the trailer.
Easy-peasy... FWIW.
Can you please make a video😁
How do you hold the roof up while you push the other roof up? I like your idea a lot but trying to figure out how it works. Is the rod like a pogo stick bottom. Do both ends have rubber? Can you tell me tge length of your posts please? I have dormers so its heavy. It woukd be bad if the pole moved or fell while you're inside the trailer.
Im looking for the video on the roof vent potentiometer install for the roof fan. I seen it before but cant remember which one it is