help on one man with bad shoulder setup of as 6

[buffres]

I have a 2013 as  6 which I have used several times on short trips with no real setup issues...yes it is heavy, especially for a 70 year old but do-able. At least until I acquired a frozen shoulder condition this winter thanks to my new pellet stove and unloading 3 tons of pellets.
So my question is has anybody come up with an easy way to lift the bed section up and then lower it in position? Or is it "sale time"?  Doc says 1-2 years for 90% recovery...no I am not pleased! My wife said it is simple...just ask for help when you get into the campground. She does not realize its like asking for directions when you are lost...in other words its a " male thing".

Any ideas would be appreciated...really don't want to sell it but...

[dh50]

No brainer...do what your wife says.

[admin]

The problem with this is leverage and at what point you get diminishing returns for your efforts. Off the top of my head I could see possibly installing a gas strut/shock system that could help to start lifting the bed. The problem is that you would then have to devise a way to disconnect the strut, get it past the center line and then support it on its way back down. Another thought would be some sort of winch system, but again this runs into problems if you dont have a pivot point high enough up. You might get away with a bar that is a little longer than the bed itself with an pulley or snatch block at the top. It could then support a line with is used to lift the bed up to center, then with a little push, the same line could be used the then lower the bed again. This is still cumbersome and a lot of effort but I could imagine it working.

Honestly if it were me, I'd hate to let it go, but I don't think you arent going to find a solution that isn't overly complicated and/or cumbersome.

Sorry about your shoulder

-Sean

[buffres]

Thanks...that's kind of what I thought...the idea of showing up at a campground late at night or raining or? and knocking on people's door says "hi, I was wondering if you could lift this for me...for the next  couple of years is not very appealing!

Guess I will pursue another direction after all spring is coming...isn't it? I hope...tired of going to the basement and seeing my baby all wrapped up and no place to go!

Thanks to all for your thoughts.

Geo

[williamwallace]

insert quote here

Could your wife not help with opening the bed? Between the two of you it would make the job much easier .

[pinstriper]

I think she made her position on the matter very clear. She didn't say "just ask me and I'll help". She meant "ask someone else for help".

A hard sided trailer doesn't have these issues. They have other issues, but not that one.

[mozmichael]

Sounds like I'd get a second opinion on your shoulder. If you didn't see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in Sports Medicine, go find one. I've never told a patient that it will take 1-2 years for a frozen shoulder to heal. There are other ways to get yourself better, quicker!

[snocrvr]

I am 68 years of age. Because of torn rotator cuffs on both my left and right shoulders, I was unable to use my 5.0 for one summer.  In anticipation of the following summer,  I tired to figure a way to lift the top to fold it out into the bunk position.  I came up with the attached drawing.  Come the spring, I was able to open my 5.0 without any help.  However, I was all ready to build the device - drawing attached.

The drawing is pretty basic, but I think you'll get the idea.  [attachment id="712" thumbnail="1"]
The rod that extends up from where the tongue meets the front of the camper box.  The rod was to be aa approx. 3" pvc pipe with a pvc "T" on the upper end.  I envisioned that the lower end of the pvc would go over one of the bunk supports for forward pivoting and stability.  A line would be connected from the non-hinged end of the bunk/top, through the "T", to someone pulling on the line.  Obviously, your 6.0 is rotated 90 degrees, but there should be a way to do this.  I never got around to trying it, so I can't tell you if it will work at all.  However, I'm just like you and wasn't happy with the "get help at the campground" suggestion.  Good luck!

[admin]

@snocrvr, what was the plan for lowering the bunk back down after you got it past vertical? Seems like a simple enough design, I just have a hard time picturing it from start to finish.

-Sean

[snocrvr]

For me, the problem was lifting.  Once the bunk was on its downward journey, I would be able to use my arms.  I had enough strength to lower it.  Because I had enough strength to lift and lower by the next camping season, this was a plan in progress and never tested.  In all honesty, I was truly afraid I would have to sell my 5.0.  My mind and emails to others were looking for a reasonable solution.  As I look back, I think buffres wife had the right idea . . .!

[peislander]

Snocrvr  -- I just had to say I really enjoyed your drawing. Your self portrait is charming and your mechanism is communicated very effectively. It is a very good sketch.