Need Direction on a Fab Requirement

[UpSideDownClown]

All - my Dad bought an Apache Mesa pop-up camper 20 years ago but never opened it up. He is now 97 years old and I need to sell it ASAP. We don't have the correct crank tool that plugs in at the back to open up the rig. Also, it would appear that the attaching setup there is different from what RV people are familiar with. I was finally able to confirm that with enough force using a prybar, it will start to open. However, the bracket there is bending and will eventually fail, and the pin holding it to the nub will probably fall out. Plus, I can't physically use this method multiple times. So my questions would be; are people familiar with this attaching arrangement, and can you suggest an inexpensive fabrication solution that I could achieve quickly? The nub stays on, but that bracket probably should be replaced with something better. It's held on with some kind of rollpin. I would love to have something that a 1/2" drive ratchet or better yet breaker bar could interface with. I've attached pix. Thanks,

 

[GeoBruin]

Drift that pin out, or cut it with a grinder. Then put a die on that shaft and cut a thread. If you have a welder, spin a nut on and tack it in place. If you don't weld, spin a nut on, then spin another on as a jam nut. Then use the appropriately sized socket to spin it.

 

[UpSideDownClown]

Thank you, but I have never been able to tap threads, and if I mess this up, it's pretty much over. However, what I might do is remove that bracket, take it down to my welder and have him weld on the bolt as you suggest. I would really rather have a 1/2" hex there so that a ratchet or breaker bar could interface with it. I am not finding such a hex device. Do you know if they exist?

USDC

 

[whateg01]

Use a 3/4" instead and a 3/4"/19mm lug wrench or 4 way will work.

 

[GeoBruin]

Thank you, but I have never been able to tap threads, and if I mess this up, it's pretty much over. However, what I might do is remove that bracket, take it down to my welder and have him weld on the bolt as you suggest. I would really rather have a 1/2" hex there so that a ratchet or breaker bar could interface with it. I am not finding such a hex device. Do you know if they exist?

USDC

When you say hex, do you mean a half inch square drive? If it's a hex you want any size should work cuz you're going to have to put a socket on the end of that breaker bar anyway.

If you want a female square drive on the shaft, just weld a socket on there.

 

[Firebrick43]

As geobruin says, weld a socket.

You MAY be able to find a impact deep socket that will fit snuggly over the shaft and you can drill it thru for a roll pin/rivet

Just to warn you, pop up campers that set for any time are likely to be full of mice and holes where they ate thru the fabric.

 

[The Cobbler]

it very likely needs some lubrication as well.
after 20 yrs, I am willing to bet the canvas is compromised as well. your project may end with plight the first time you get it raised .

 

[tarbellb]

Smash a tight fitting socket over the shaft

Drill a hole and run a bolt or pin through it

Pop up for even more fun projects

 

[GeoBruin]

I

Smash a tight fitting socket over the shaft

Drill a hole and run a bolt or pin through it

Pop up for even more fun projects

I recommend an impact socket for this approach.

 

[ZRX61]

There's a FB Apache Preservation group:

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

 

[UpSideDownClown]

Thanks to all for the feedback. I like the idea of putting a socket on there. Yes, a 1/2" drive square drive is what I was going for. As stated above, apparently the way to do that is to put a socket on there. I just posted up on that FB group so thanks for that.

 

[mike93lx]

Sell it as is and let the next guy deal with it. I doubt opening it will get you any more money for a pop up that hasn't seen light for 20 years

 

[UpSideDownClown]

Unfortunately I can't do that. Regarding the hole that needs to be drilled in the deep-well impact socket, anybody know what kind of bit would be needed? Or would I need a machine shop for that?

USDC

 

[gungatim]

I wouldn't bother and sell it as is. The minute you try and get it all the way up, the old dry cable and pully system is going to snap and then the whole thing is scrap.

 

[DGersic]

I wouldn't bother and sell it as is. The minute you try and get it all the way up, the old dry cable and pully system is going to snap and then the whole thing is scrap.

It‘s Schrodinger’s pop up camper. It’s already scrap, but he hasn’t opened it yet, so he doesn’t know it.

 

[UpSideDownClown]

I'm trying to help out my 97-year old Dad who had a hoarding problem that would rival that show on TV, except with him it was vehicles of all kinds. Anybody on the drill bit info?

USDC

 

[DGersic]

I'm trying to help out my 97-year old Dad who had a hoarding problem that would rival that show on TV, except with him it was vehicles of all kinds. Anybody on the drill bit info?

USDC

Impact socket won’t be hardened, so any normal metal drilling bit you have should work fine.

 

[mike93lx]

I'm trying to help out my 97-year old Dad

We know. And we are trying to help you.

He thinks it needs to be opened, you think you need a drill bit. Neither will end you up in a better spot

 

[UpSideDownClown]

Impact socket won’t be hardened, so any normal metal drilling bit you have should work fine.

That's good news. Thank you,

USDC

 

[UpSideDownClown]

We know. And we are trying to help you.

He thinks it needs to be opened, you think you need a drill bit. Neither will you up in a better spot

You have helped tremendously, and I do appreciate it. I have considerable experience in many auto-related areas, but it's not comprehensive, so a lot of stuff you guys know like the back of your hand, I have no clue about. I can repair certain failed automatic transmissions for a few hundred bucks, yet I have no clue about a drill bit or fabbing stuff up.

USDC

 

[Gutman]

Second on lubricating it, maybe even hitting it with pbblaster or some penetrating oil at the points of rotation.

It's bent/bending because it's bound up, probably from sitting for so long. Looks very much like a trailer tongue jack handle setup.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Looks like
Tear off bracket.
Punch pin out.
Find new pin, longer with washer-end if possible.
Add nut / cotter pin to end(s) of pin.
Insert pin.
Find deep socket to fit.
Slot end of socket to fit pin.
Lube mechanism of at all possible.
Work deep socket back and forth until Apache Mesa ****** happens.

Side note: a friend installed a mini-winch so he could power operate the pop-up. Shame UV from the sun killed the top panel. It ain't easy living near Mesa.

 

[UpSideDownClown]

I don't know that there's evidence that it's bound up. There hasn't been a good way to get proper torque on it, as mentioned. Again since I am unfamiliar, how would I lubricate it?

USDC

 

[Jswain]

I don't know that there's evidence that it's bound up. There hasn't been a good way to get proper torque on it, as mentioned. Again since I am unfamiliar, how would I lubricate it?

USDC

You don't think the bracket being bent is good evidence? Worm gear winch shouldnt take too much force to lift something that light...

 

[UpSideDownClown]

Well I've been tweaking ON that bracket, which isn't what normally happens...of course it got bent,

 

[whateg01]

Well I've been tweaking ON that bracket, which isn't what normally happens...of course it got bent,

This makes no sense. You are supposedly trying to get this camper in shape to sell, but you intentionally bent the bracket out of shape? That doesn't make sense at all I would think if you were to do anything with that bracket, you would have been trying to raise the camper top. Which is exactly what the bracket appears to be there for. And if having done that bent the bracket, then it stands to follow that there is something binding up that's causing the bracket to bend instead of it's been the shaft.

 

[UpSideDownClown]

Again, I don't have the crank tool that works with that bracket, and don't expect to get it. The bracket needs to be removed, and I will do that today. The first thing I needed to do was to make sure that the mechanism to open this thing up works, and by cranking on that bracket with a tire iron I could hear things starting to move. From feedback above, I know that the best approach is to put a socket on that nub once I get the bracket off, and then use a ratchet or breaker bar to try to open this up. I don't think it's significant that the bracket bent, since I was hammering it with a tire iron; that's not how the bracket is designed to be used.

USDC

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

I wouldn't overthink this. If you just want to get it popped up to inspect the condition, I'd put a pipe wrench to it (with or without removing the damaged bracket first). If everything looks good, move forward with welding/pinning/etc a drive connector on. If it's garbage when you get it open, you won't have wasted much time or effort.

Or even easier just get it listed right now as-is/where-is. Unless it has been stored indoors in a secure/clean area for 20 years I think the chances of increasing value by getting it open is kind of unlikely.

 

[Jswain]

Well I've been tweaking ON that bracket, which isn't what normally happens...of course it got bent,

I don't see how else it would work with the shaft being round. I'm assuming that bracket is supposed to be able to take the cranking force and it bending is probably due to the condition of the winch/cables/pulleys/pivots etc.

Like mentioned put a pipe wrench on it because anything else just to see the condition is going to be a waste of time. Or scrap the camper and use the trailer for something else.

 

[UpSideDownClown]

Yes, all good points fo 'sho. So for today's installment of 'this is ridiculous', that pin is equally ridonculous, so all I could do was snip off both ends to remove the bracket, then whale on a 3/4" deep socket for the rest of time and if that EVER comes off I'll be surprised. Then yes, that allowed me to take this baby up, for whatever that's worth. THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT.

 

[tarbellb]

Right On!

Fun game, find another one to do

 

[UpSideDownClown]

I want to thank everybody here for the help. This forum totally rocks.

USDC