strength of lift mechanisms

Thank you, Bondebond,
Your comments are exactly the technical sort of response I am looking for, and I appreciate the reference to the popup trailer model that you own.
2bRVguy

Well, limiting the candidate pool for answers to such a degree might not get you any, but I'll throw in anyway.

The Goshen Lift system is quite popular and is fairly simple to repair if things go wrong.

Jayco has a very reliable lift system, to the point that it has a lifetime warranty (may not be transferable, but still...). Most failures I've seen with this system are not the lift's fault; it was the wood rotting out that supported the lift system anchors.

The Coleman/Fleetwood lift system has one major failure point, which is a Delrin nut that is part of the threaded shaft. That failure is not so common but if something goes wrong, it will generally be that or possibly the chain gears at the handle.

All of these are susceptible to cable failures.

More info can be found at this link.