I have a jayco journey that is two years old. Just lately the roof has moved out of alignment when it is lowered making it extremely difficult to lock down the roof. It has moved toward the awning side so l believe that the awning caused it to shift. Has anyone else had this experience? What can I do to repair it? Thanks in advance, Terry
Check your gas struts, one could be unserviceable. The roof is probably off set more to one side - that will be the problem strut.
Had the same thing with our Freedom, when it came time to pack up I couldn't latch down the roof because it was out of alignment. To get home I had to throw ropes over the roof to tie it down.
Actually, in my case the gas and black oil leaked out of the strut - that made it easy to find the u/s one.
By the way, fitting a strut back on is fiendish but there is a trick to it - use a ratchet tie down to compress the strut down to slip it on. If you want to do it yourself (and save money) contact me and I'll walk you through it.
Murray
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-- Edited by Long Weekend on Wednesday 19th of September 2018 08:52:48 PM
Thanks Murray. I have allready removed struts and put them back on using ratchet tie downs . They check out ok. Jayco wants $115 to realign but won,t tell me how they do it. I believe fault may be in lift/lower handles.? Regards, Terry
SWMBO helps me lower our Journey roof while I keep pressure on the end frames away from the awning side...works OK.
Also before latching ...I climb aboard the obligatory milk crate and give the roof a couple of hefty shoves away from awning as well. The roof really is not that heavy either....1st front...latch opposite side....and then back ...latching opposite side before doing the rest.
Sound complicated and labourius....but the longest part of the job is turfing everything outa the aforementioned milk crate.....and then putting it all back before shoving it inside the door.
Cheers Keith
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Nuthin is ever the same once I have owned it ......
Lower front first...The bracket screws that hold the lifter to the roof have slots so they can be adjusted to bring is down a little squarer. My lifter arm was bent so ended up having a new one fitted. Mine has a aircon on roof and two big solar panels so its quite heavy, dont suggest removing struts they are a B#!$% to get back on.
-- Edited by OutbackMK on Sunday 23rd of September 2018 09:53:53 AM
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Brian & Nada retired and > "Ready to live the Dream" Live in the Shire!
76 series V8 Landcrab with Jayco Starcraft Outback Poptop
I couldn't find a Utube about installing gas struts using a ratchet tie down.
But I did find where it was recommended that struts be fitted with the barrel down and the rod uppermost. That is to keep the seal inside from drying out and allowing the gas and lubricant to escape.
I remember that the struts on our Freedom were fitted with the barrel on top - maybe that was the reason that one strut did leak black lubricant causing it to fail.
I thought that it could simply be re-gassed but was informed that once the lubricant had let go that could not take place.
Just a thought for all those with pop tops - might be worth keeping an eye on your struts.
Murray
-- Edited by Long Weekend on Monday 24th of September 2018 09:12:19 AM
For anybody wanting to replace their struts using the same technique the main thing to watch for is to use a quality ratchet tie down and not an el cheapo. Also the minimum width would be 25mm.
I did mine slightly different. Put an 8mm D shackle around the neck at the top of the barrel, clicked the bottom rod onto the ball mount then placed a loop of strong cord around that mount. Another loop of cord through the D shackle then hooked the hooks of the tie down into the loops. Ratcheted it down to the right length then popped the top onto the ball mount. Removed the D shackle and loops - job done. That way there was no danger of the strap sliding off the rounded ends of the strut.
I might add that before I worked out how to use the ratchet tie down I spent a couple of frustrating days trying various ways to compress the strut so that it could be fitted. Wished I had known about the utube!
Hope you solve the problem of the misaligned roof. If all fails you can still travel by throwing ropes over the front and back of the roof and tying it down.
I couldn't find a Utube about installing gas struts using a ratchet tie down.
But I did find where it was recommended that struts be fitted with the barrel down and the rod uppermost. That is to keep the seal inside from drying out and allowing the gas and lubricant to escape.
I remember that the struts on our Freedom were fitted with the barrel on top - maybe that was the reason that one strut did leak black lubricant causing it to fail.
I thought that it could simply be re-gassed but was informed that once the lubricant had let go that could not take place.
Just a thought for all those with pop tops - might be worth keeping an eye on your struts.
Murray
-- Edited by Long Weekend on Monday 24th of September 2018 09:12:19 AM
I think you will find the gas strut should be fitted with the barrel uppermost, this is done to minimise dust and dirt ingress through the seal and so prolongs life.
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Chris & Sharyn.
Tea Gardens. NSW.
2015 VW Touareg V6 Air suspension, 2012 Jayco Sterling 21.
1. If you have scissor springs on the ends, check that a screw has not disappeared as this will cause a roof realignment. Because the slider assembly can move. It might also start to cut into the roof as it vibrates, so well worth checking anyway!
2. Replace all the struts otherwise there will be unequal forces on the roof.
3. IF the roof alignment is out and you are in the middle of nowhere, use a tie down ratchet to pull the roof across.
Have used all of the above on an older pop top.
Thanks all,
Been informed that Jayco have accepted this as a warranty job and they will replace material around roof and repair what ever has happened to put roof out of alignment. Will post end answers if I get any. Terry
