Can't extend tray

Your problem is your RV is 17 years old. RV companies rarely have anybody in Customer service with actual experiance on the product going back more than 5 years. But to your problem, There is a pull handle which you know about. It is on a cable that goes to a Latch directly behind the Genset. Odds are that latch has rusted up. While I don't advise it(I would do it) raise the front of the RV as high as the jacks will allow to crawl under and spray Lubricant(rust destroyer), all over that latch and let sit overnight. Odds are after 24 hours you should be able to pop the latch open. You may have to then replace it. Doug

PS there is no other release.