Apache Camper Trailer Pop Up Chain Replacement -- 1971 & Newer
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- Опубликовано: 30 янв 2016
- This is a tutorial on replacing the plastic chains that are used to lift the roof of many Apache trailers. I am by no means an expert in this. Its possible there are better methods out there but these are the methods that worked for me on my chain replacement.
Job can be done by one person. A second person would be helpful for a few of the tasks. You need to do this job in a garage or on a windless day. Your camper should be level. The roof will sit on your side walls so they should be all the way up (as though you are setting your camper up). The beds to not need to be removed or even pulled out. Gearboxes on this trailer were replaced last year. Chains, to my knowledge were original.
Camper used in the video is a 1976 Apache Ramada but the same (or very similar) procedure should be followed for all Apache models with plastic lift chains made from 1971 and on)
The chains used in this video were made by apachecampertrailers.com/store... They have a very large selection of hard to find parts for your Apache trailer. Highly suggest checking out their website store for your Apache needs. Great guys to work with.
I was following the instructions found on this site www.apacheowners.com/GearboxPr... so credit to those guys for the physical instructions. I suggest reading over these before starting as well.
Additional suggestions/tips I have received post video publishing are as as follows (as with any tip or suggestion it is up to you to decide if this is something you need or want to do on your own trailer)
-- When you clean your tracks out with the rag, it has been suggested that you put the rag in the middle of a longer wire than I used. This way you can pull the rag out the top, then pull it back in and out the bottom, then back in and out the top until no debris comes out. This is at the 9:15 mark in the video (or here • Apache Camper Trailer ... )
-- When you take the plastic bushings/sliders out, with the 3 buttons on the side, it has been suggested that you put a beveled edge on the short ends of it so that the upper telescoping tube can slide past it easier during the reinstall. In my video I was able to do this task with minimal interference issues. You will want to do this really at any point that you have the sliders out. I discuss these parts about 20:02 in the video (or here • Apache Camper Trailer ... ) 
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Thank you for sharing this, I am replacing my chains and rebuilding gearboxes this week. And also, thanks for ensuring your Apache rolls on for generations to come.
Thanks, hope you got yours up and running now.
Excellent video! Great step by step instructions and hints. Thank you so much for going into detail. I'll have to perform this task this spring.
+jimmy2timexutube Thanks, glad you found it useful. I have had a few other hints/suggestions given to me by those who have come before me. Ill be adding those in the description as I get them.
This is extremely helpful. Thank you very much for filming and sharing this.
Thanks. No problem
This is fantastic! Thanks for taking the time to share this. Very helpful.
Thanks. Finally found an un-touched corner of the internet and decided to cover it. Not often you don't find something on the internet anymore. I always look to videos for guidance before attempting something new.
Good job man. This is going to help a bunch of people
Hope so. I rely on youtube and people who have come before me to help me all the time. Give back where I can.
I love the power of the Internet Machine! I have my chains on order and should be here in a week. Thank you so much for sharing this! I think you just saved me a lot of future problems! Thanks again!
Hey thanks. I go to RUclips looking for videos every time I am about to complete some task I haven't done before. I was surprised to find something that didn't exist on the internet (in video form) and figured I could contribute. Not a world class production, just taking the instructions I found online and putting a video and my experience with it. Turned out longer than I was planning but in the end hopefully it helps people keep these campers on the road and not turning them into utility trailers.
Thank you soooo much for this video! About to attempt this operation with confidence thanks to you. We REALLY appreciate it!
Not a problem. I go to RUclips for almost all new project attempts and I was surprised to find there was not a video on this replacement process. Very well documented written instructions and photos but I like videos. I figured it was my turn to give back to the RUclips universe with something others might could use. Hope you got yours replaced with no issues.
Thank you for this helpful and informative video. You really saved me.
Thanks. Glad I helped. I only know enough to be dangerous. Just took the information online and turned it into a video format while changing my chains anyway. Might as well record the process.
Very professional video, thanks Man!
Thanks, I tried. I see lots of areas I could have made improvements but it gets the point across. Wasn't something I wanted to re-do for the sake of the video.
I replaced all chains and new gear boxes on my 71 Ramada, and yes this video is well done but be prepared to be patient and take your time you also my need a couple weekends because more issues pop up. I will say I had plenty of bad words thank goodness my wife was around to assist.
Yup. I picked up my chains on eBay from a guy who bought them but then decided to sell the camper. They didn't come with the rivets I needed to attach the chain assembly to the telescoping arm. Chad at www.apachecampertrailers.com/ really did me a favor by quickly shipping exactly what I was missing and needed. Can't say enough about that. Was very grateful. I also had a plastic piece explode on me while installing. Shot plastic all over the garage. Again, i reached out to Chad and shipped him my broken chain. He repaired and shipped it back out within a couple days. Outside of those issues its frustrating enough dealing with jimmying the chains back into the track. I was working in tight quarters in our garage in January running a small electric heater. Kept it about 50 in there. There were plenty of choice words not in this video. By the time i did this video (2nd set of chains) I was feeling more confident and knew a few tricks at that point. I feel much better knowing they are all replaced now. Doesn't mean we wont ever have an issue but hopefully we will have years of faithful service from them.
Oh yes Chad's great I did my chains 3 years ago. I'll tell you my situation I had one set in and out 4 times I couldn't figure out why I had a problem it would not seat correctly something was blocking and getting in the way. I had really cleaned the channel before but I decides to really do something so I got an air hose down inside and hit it with some air after that I re ran a rag through and low and behold if I didn't get some pieces of broken chain. After that everything worked it was a 3 weekend project instead a of one, off and on of course, I haven't worked on my Ramada in 3 years but this year I'm going to put some money into it and really get it to looking good, Chad will get some business shortly. I'm impressed with Chad's parts inventory he really has expanded in the last few years.
Great Video, thanks for the tips
Thank you
Great video, I am going to attempt in the next few weeks. Do you know the approximate price on the chains? I have a 1978 Ramada that I bought new in April 1979. We have put probably over 150 thousand miles on it. We live in northern Michigan and have been in 46 states. My chains have never been replaced, and I think part of the secret is to back off the chain a 1/2 crank when raising and lowering the top, which takes the pressure off of the chains. Thanks again, Pat
Thanks. Not too many single owner Apaches out there, that's awesome on its own. Chains are $90 each. You should service the gearboxes (if you don't regularly or haven't). You can buy those from this site as well. They sell a kit of 4 chains and 2 gear boxes for $600 as well. I'm not affiliated with the site but I have done business with them. Their gearboxes and chains (along with a bunch of odds and ends parts) are on our Apache now. This is the site, scroll down to the "Lift System" section. www.apachecampertrailers.com/store.html