Weigh-in and first trip.

[derestrictor]

......

[Bookend]

You have seen the angle of the truck... levelling meant all four legs even whilst still strapped down(ish) Have now purchased some levelling ramps to help.

Can't manually wind these legs - we've had special tools fabricated by 'a mate' to fit on the end of a drill as we only have 3 useable motors (or ratchet for slow and painful manual winding), but it's slower for lowering than using the motors even though they are pretty tired. Would have dropped it lower but needed the height for the waste water tank and to save the drill batteries to raise again. Was a bit 'boat-like' especially when the dog decided to move around but stable enough.

I have read Somewhere that the motors are car wiper motors so it may be cheap enough to source one possibly from a breakers yard.

Zildjian; indeed they are, they probably come with a gearbox already attached though so might need to discard that
alternatively take off one of yours and take as a pattern

[FinAde]

They're similar, I think we found out they are the motors for a cabriolet roof, slightly bigger than windscreen wiper motors. They come in at around £100+ VAT each which is the same price Apollo charge for them. After the cost of the unexpected repairs they will have to wait a little while. 3 of the current ones are functioning (sort of) after a refurb, so those and the drill on the other leg works ok for the time being.

Although I'm sure when we do decide to invest we'll have wished we did it sooner...

[Bookend]

If you need to demount for me it would be worth the cost.

I tried our manual attachment for the first time this weekend and it would be slow going to get it off the truck and down to useable height. Never mind getting it back on the truck

[FinAde]

I tried our manual attachment for the first time this weekend and it would be slow going to get it off the truck and down to useable height. Never mind getting it back on the truck

Out of interest, have you timed how long it takes to raise and load / remove and lower with the motors? We do it in around 30 minutes with the motors. "Manually" (with a drill each) took 45 although as the drills have more power raising was quicker. Lowering was painful. We won't be leaving the motors at home next trip

[Bookend]

I haven't timed it but I would think I could load or unload in less than 15 mins.

When Apollo demonstrated the process they said to operate two motors at a time when raising i.e. front then rear raising about 2 inches at a time which seams very efficient. Coming down use all 4 motors at the same time and it goes down very quick.

The motors on ours look a lot bigger than some of the older ones we looked at which were quite slim.

[FinAde]

Like you we're doing the same process, backs then fronts alternately up and when possible all 4 on the way down.

The motors were pretty much dead (and the legs ceased) when we picked the camper up, with only 2 motors functioning in any capacity. Adrian refurbished 3 of them but the third has had it, the bearings had crumbled away competely, so he had a couple of gears fabricated which fit a drill for the 4th so I do back legs and Adrian does the front, one with motor one with drill.

Will be interesting to compare old and new in June It might help us make the decision to replace the motors or the camper !

[Bookend]

do they operate any faster with it on mains hook-up?

[FinAde]

We've only ever operated them on mains so far as we've only just installed a battery, not sure it would be worth trying on 12v alone, we'd probably be there forever

[Bookend]

That rules out a goosed battery then