Fleetwood Yosemite stuck open

[TahoeDee]

Hi everyone. I have a 1994 Fleetwood Yosemite that I opened over the weekend in order to winterize it. The problem is that I can't get it to close now. It has hard sides and uses hydraulics to lift and lower. It opened without any issues. I used a trickle charger on the battery just in case that was the problem, but the battery appears to be charged, and the top still won't lower. I would love any advice y'all may have.

Thanks!
Dee

 

[bupkis]

I'd look for the hydraulic pump and find a relief valve to open. There could be a pull cable that is inop. There could be a solenoid that is not operating ... But gravity lowers the roof once the bypass is opened by various methods. Something holding the roof up would also prevent it from lowering.

FYI, on page 51 or so starts info regarding the hydraulic lift system for various years/models
https://rvworkshop.com/sc_images/products/Coleman_Lift_Systems.pdf

 

[TahoeDee]

That is so helpful, thank you! One more question about the gravity latch....Is there a way to "activate?" the gravity latch? Sorry, this all feels like a foreign language to me.

 

[Wes Fujii]

Hopefully you figured out what the issue is. If not, another thing to check is the hydraulic cylinder safety latch. This is a mechanical latch that holds the roof up in case you have a leaking check valve in the hydraulic system. I forgot where the latch itself is located- seems like it was at the end of the hydraulic cylinder underneath the trailer. The control for it is a pull knob that is located near the electric switch for raising the roof. To release the latch, energize the roof UP to fully extend the hydraulic cylinder and get the weight of the roof off of the latch. Once the weight of the roof is off of the latch, you should be able to move the control knob (I think push it in to release/lower, but my memory could be bad). Once it is unlatched, spin the valve to lower the top. It should come down. Hope that helps.

 

[rdyck]

Ours didn't want to release on one trip, I was able to open the latch manually, lubing the cable got it working again for the next trip.

The gravity latch is just a common gate latch, it engages a loop on the end of the hydraulic ram. The cable release pulls up on the latch to release.
If the cable is binding in it's sheath it may not pull up far enough to fully release. You can release it by hand. Raise the roof fully so there isn't tension on the latch. Look underneath on the road side, you can release it by hand and then have an assistant open the valve. Spray some spraylube on both ends of the release cable and work the release knob in and out to help free the cable up.

Link to the repair manual. Scroll down to the LIFT SYSTEMS heading https://colemanpopupparts.com/pages/repair-guides

First photo shows the gate latch in the unlatched state, second shows the square loop on the end of the hydraulic ram. The ram runs side to side.

 

[Wes Fujii]

Rdyck: Great post! Brings back the memories for the configuration of our Yosemite when I was under it for another reason (I had to repair one of the lift assemblies after a neighbor backed into the side of our trailer). Lubricating the cable sheath is an excellent recommendation! During the 10 years we had ours, we didn't have problems, but it always seemed a stiffer pull than what I liked. I can imagine that after 28 years, the cable is in need of lube!

 

[TahoeDee]

Well, it turns out it was me being an idiot and not pulling the release valve out far enough. Apparently, you need to raise the top up until it makes a funny noise, then you can pull the release out all the way.

 

[rdyck]

Thanks for reporting back your resolution.

Yes, the latch binds when there is tension on it and resists releasing, so if it hasn't released, fully raising the roof and full pulling out the release cable is the best course of action. The latch is unique to the hydraulic lift system, so owners that have the manual lift, or the later electric lift are not likely to be familiar with how it works.
Also, in addition to lubricating the cable, putting some lube on the latch itself, especially where it contacts the loop, will help it engage/disengage more smoothly.

 

[TahoeDee]

Thanks for reporting back your resolution.

Yes, the latch binds when there is tension on it and resists releasing, so if it hasn't released, fully raising the roof and full pulling out the release cable is the best course of action. The latch is unique to the hydraulic lift system, so owners that have the manual lift, or the later electric lift are not likely to be familiar with how it works.
Also, in addition to lubricating the cable, putting some lube on the latch itself, especially where it contacts the loop, will help it engage/disengage more smoothly.

To lube the cables and the latch, do I simply rub lube on them? Or is it more complicated than that? And what kind of lube would you recommend?

 

[rdyck]

Just looked at the repair manual, and it doesn't mention lubing them, seems strange to me.

What worked for me

I used a silicone spray lube on the shaft of the release knob, pull out - spray - push/pull/push etc to work it into the sleeve, the spray lube isn't sticky so it won't attract dirt. For the latch end, push the release knob in, spray on the cable by the latch, pull/push/pull the release knob to work some back into the sleeve.

The latch itself, I would spray where the latch pivots, and put a bit of grease on the parts that the loop on the hydraulic ram rubs against while latching and releasing.

picture of a similar latch on our back gate