The springs on my TH are too strong. I plan on taking it to the dealer, but I'm trying to learn all I can in preparation. Anyway, when I open the ramp, it will not drop all the way to the ground. The coil springs are so strong, the door will balance still about 2 ft off the ground. It takes additional weight on the ramp for it to fully drop to ground level. During the PDI, the tech stated the springs will weaken with age, but I don't think I want to wait to find out. Because with closer inspection, the problem is more serious. The ramp bolts to a steel 'bumper' and it is being twisted as the ramp opens. A gap of 1/2" opens between the 'bumper' and the floor edge and has pulled the flexible sealant loose. My ramp door isn't too large or heavy, while most TH's have 5 or 6 hinges with coil springs, mine has just four.The hardware is supplied by Lippert Components and their website list two different replacement coil springs SKU# 133633 and SKU# 173067, but no info on differences.Has anyone had a similar issue and if so how was it fixed?

Those hinges do not open to 180 degrees. With that 1/2" gap you're talking about are you sure it's not the hinge / spring assembly reaching it's fully open position and stopping there?

BoonHauler wrote:Those hinges do not open to 180 degrees. With that 1/2" gap you're talking about are you sure it's not the hinge / spring assembly reaching it's fully open position and stopping there?The hinge is only open slightly more than 90 degrees before the ramp balances and it takes very little additional weight to bring the ramp fully down, so the hinges are not reaching their limits. The top edge of the steel frame bows out 1/2" it the area between the two attachment points with the frame rails and the black flexible seal has a gap in that area, it is only still intact for about a foot at each end.

Be very thankful for that. I added two extra springs and the ramp is still all I can handle. It's very heavy until I get it 6' off the ground. I'm 6'3" 275lb.I'm thinking of adding extra bumpers to tighten up the springs more.On edit: the twisting and pulling away is a bad thing but I don't think putting in weaker springs is the solution.

I agree with Joe, something should be done with the bumper flexing like that before you deal with the springs.Have you reached out to Lippert about the different spring part numbers? ..... are they really different spring tension rates?

If the bumper is bending that much, it might be putting the hinges in a bind and that could be what is holding up the door rather than the springs. Maybe you could have a welder add some steel to stiffen/strengthen the bumper and solve that problem first??

Ramp door springs | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

Bob_E_
Explorer
Nov 16, 2017
If the bumper is bending that much, it might be putting the hinges in a bind and that could be what is holding up the door rather than the springs. Maybe you could have a welder add some steel to stiffen/strengthen the bumper and solve that problem first??
BoonHauler
Explorer
Nov 16, 2017
I agree with Joe, something should be done with the bumper flexing like that before you deal with the springs.

Have you reached out to Lippert about the different spring part numbers? ..... are they really different spring tension rates?
joebedford
Nomad II
Nov 16, 2017
Be very thankful for that. I added two extra springs and the ramp is still all I can handle. It's very heavy until I get it 6' off the ground. I'm 6'3" 275lb.

I'm thinking of adding extra bumpers to tighten up the springs more.

On edit: the twisting and pulling away is a bad thing but I don't think putting in weaker springs is the solution.
Dayle1
Explorer II
Nov 16, 2017
BoonHauler wrote:
Those hinges do not open to 180 degrees. With that 1/2" gap you're talking about are you sure it's not the hinge / spring assembly reaching it's fully open position and stopping there?

The hinge is only open slightly more than 90 degrees before the ramp balances and it takes very little additional weight to bring the ramp fully down, so the hinges are not reaching their limits. The top edge of the steel frame bows out 1/2" it the area between the two attachment points with the frame rails and the black flexible seal has a gap in that area, it is only still intact for about a foot at each end.
BoonHauler
Explorer
Nov 16, 2017
Those hinges do not open to 180 degrees. With that 1/2" gap you're talking about are you sure it's not the hinge / spring assembly reaching it's fully open position and stopping there?

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Ramp door springs

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