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vlopddap's avatar
vlopddap
Explorer
Jun 08, 2023

2004 Viking 1706LS popup camper, uneven roof lift (HELP!)

I've found many thread about pop-up camper roof lifting system adjustment, but I've not found nothing that suit my exact pop-up lift system or maybe I need some more clear instructions with photos. Most of the information I found online refer to a system with some exposed binder that can be adjusted. But my popup feature a fully enclosed system without any visible moving/adjustable part at first glance.

Actually the front of my popup roof is about 1.25 inch lower than the rear. I also noticed a slight difference (maybe 0.25 in) between the left and right but I don't think it's a big deal. The uneven front/rear roof is causing me several issue where the canvas are too tight on back and loose on front and I also have issue closing/opening the door as well. While I can still use my popup as is, I would like to adjust the roof to enjoy it completely.

Thank you!!

Here's my pop-up and here's what my lift system look like from under :





  • vlopddap's avatar
    vlopddap
    Explorer
    Jun 08, 2023
    shastagary wrote:
    if you read the posts here it may help you identify the system you have
    it does not look like there is much adjustment in these systems there held up with springs pulled with cables the springs could weaken over time

    I think '05 was the last year where Viking used the IDT lift system


    Although it doesn't bring any solution to my adjustment issue, it definitely explain lot of thing about the lifting system of my popup! Thank a lot. This is definitely the IDT system on my unit and it looks like a very crappy system that only been used during a few years. I even found about a safety recall for the falling roof that can cause injuries or death. But I found a conformity sticker on my unit saying it's been serviced about the recall, so at least this thing will not eventually kill me.

    As you said, this system doesn't look very adjustable so maybe I will consider modify the popup as a workaround to the issue, like moving the two front post mounting brackets 1.25 inch higher than rear of the roof... definitely a ghetto fix, but if I put the roof bracket 1.25 inch higher on front, that will make rear at the same height... sort of.
  • vlopddap's avatar
    vlopddap
    Explorer
    Jun 08, 2023
    p220sigman wrote:
    It looks kind of like a coleman style. Have you taken the cover off of the center section to see what adjustment may be inside? If it is a coleman style, take the cover off and you should see the wiffle tree with four eyebolts (one for each corner) with adjustment nuts. You adjust the length of the eyebolts to adjust the height of each corner. You can also raise the roof to extended position and put equal-length supports at each corner so the roof is at equal height on all four corners and then adjust the eyebolts as needed to lift equally.


    On my Viking the aluminium tube for the lifting system is a 1-piece tube and it doesn't have any removable cover... it looks like the only option to get inside (sort of) is from each ends but I don't exactly how. But the tube itself is 1-piece.
  • p220sigman's avatar
    p220sigman
    Explorer
    Jun 08, 2023
    It looks kind of like a coleman style. Have you taken the cover off of the center section to see what adjustment may be inside? If it is a coleman style, take the cover off and you should see the wiffle tree with four eyebolts (one for each corner) with adjustment nuts. You adjust the length of the eyebolts to adjust the height of each corner. You can also raise the roof to extended position and put equal-length supports at each corner so the roof is at equal height on all four corners and then adjust the eyebolts as needed to lift equally.
  • vlopddap's avatar
    vlopddap
    Explorer
    Jun 08, 2023
    shastagary wrote:
    a search like this comes up with a lot of results can you find what you need here? viking pop up camper roof lift
    or this see the recall viking pop up camper lift system diagram


    Thank you for this suggestion, but being myself an IT engineer for 21 years, I very well know how to use Google search... but all the results of these search are regarding repairing/replacing lift system out of a Viking pop-up, none of them are referencing on how to adjust this system. Morever, most of these results seem to refer to older Viking than mine (90's probably) that have a legacy lift system with visible cables. My system is 100% enclosed as you can see on the images and have no visible cables of any kind. :(
  • vlopddap's avatar
    vlopddap
    Explorer
    Jun 08, 2023
    schlep1967 wrote:
    I'm guessing here, but in the second picture there is a bolt head between the two tubes coming out of the long box. That may be your adjustment. I'd lower the roof first and then see if it turns.


    Good observation, but they are not bolts heads, they are only some round metal caps that can't be actually removed. I try to remove them to see what is underneath using a good pair of vice-grip pliers without any success.
  • schlep1967's avatar
    schlep1967
    Nomad
    Jun 08, 2023
    I'm guessing here, but in the second picture there is a bolt head between the two tubes coming out of the long box. That may be your adjustment. I'd lower the roof first and then see if it turns.
  • vlopddap's avatar
    vlopddap
    Explorer
    Jun 08, 2023
    Horsedoc wrote:
    Hope this youtube video helps

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp8RIylrps4



    Thank you but as you can see on my images, this video is about a completely different lifting system than mine.
  • Horsedoc's avatar
    Horsedoc
    Explorer II
    Jun 08, 2023
    Hope this youtube video helps

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp8RIylrps4

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