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02-16-2014, 12:30 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: TN
Posts: 7
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Bedlift Kit problem
I purchased the HatchLift BedLift kit from Camping World. I have installed following the instructions for the short platform. The struts would not compress or move at all. I then moved the wood blocks that came with it to a new location following the instructions. Still no movement. From my days of working in an auto assembly factory and working with struts to hold up liftgates, I expect movement from the struts. Has anyone else had any similar problems with this kit? Could the struts be bad? That's my Thought. Any input would be appreciated.
James
__________________
2014 Keystone Passport 2650BH
2006 Ford F-350 DRW 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel
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02-16-2014, 01:57 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,739
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Struts for the bed are a real bear to compress. When shopping for mine, my 160 lbs of body weight was nearly inadequate to compress the strut in the store. The trunk struts and rear glass struts on our family cars are *much* easier to compress.
That said, when I installed mine, I had to *really* anchor both ends with sturdy screws through sturdy wood for it to stand up to the pressure.
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-Scott, DW, DG, DB, and DD
2011 Passport 2590BH
2009 Ford F150 SuperCrew F X4 5.4L w/Max Tow
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02-16-2014, 03:56 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: TN
Posts: 7
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Thanks for your input. I just now took one and put one end against a deck board that was over a joist on the back deck of our house. I put all my weight on it to see if it would compress. There was absolutely no movement in the length of the strut. Am I missing something? The strut should compress, shouldn't it? I can't pull it out any either. I haven't been able to get any movement from either of the struts. They hold the bed up fine, you just can't lower them at all. I'll probably have to contact the maker of the kit. Hate to have to make a run back to Camping World since it is about an hour plus each way.
James
__________________
2014 Keystone Passport 2650BH
2006 Ford F-350 DRW 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel
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02-16-2014, 04:18 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: TN
Posts: 7
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I've just downloaded instructions from Hatchlift's website. These instructions are totally different from the ones that were included with the kit. I'm planning to try the new instructions tomorrow. Hopefully I will have better results.
James
__________________
2014 Keystone Passport 2650BH
2006 Ford F-350 DRW 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel
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02-16-2014, 05:00 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Colorful Colorado
Posts: 798
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The Forest River camper I look at had struts on the bed and it was really nice. I looked at some yesterday at a camping store to try and determine if I wanted to give it a try or not. I'm thinking that might be just as good to use a prop rod in the middle. Less stress on the bed frame and a lot less hassle.
__________________
Current:
'17 Winnebago Vista 31BE / Wife, pesky Eski and loco Toto dog
Former:
'15 Open Range 256BHS / '05 F350 CCLB RWD V10
'14 Keystone Passport 238ML / '13 GC Trailhawk Hemi
RIP Birch (pitbull)
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02-16-2014, 05:26 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Here
Posts: 313
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Bought a set of the standard bed lifts at cw, could not compress them without leverage. Since we are camping and the bed frame is quite light duty, i did not have the tools here to beef up the frame, took them back to cw.
__________________
2012 Passport GT 3100RK
Previous Campers:
2010 Trailmanor 2720SL
2003 R-Vision Traillite
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02-17-2014, 12:48 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: TN
Posts: 7
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I finished the install today. The new instructions I downloaded worked great. The instructions that I downloaded were totally opposite to the instructions that came with the kit. I installed some more support in the new install location. f6bits, your were right on about the struts being a real bear to compress. Thanks to all for your input about this.
James
__________________
2014 Keystone Passport 2650BH
2006 Ford F-350 DRW 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel
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02-20-2014, 11:41 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Airdrie, Alberta
Posts: 552
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Has anyone seen their bed flip up during travel due to the pressure these struts put out? I added a locking clasp at the foot of the bed after realizing how difficult it is to push the bed back down LOL
__________________
2013 Passport 3220BHWE, upgrade axles, Kumho Radial 857's, all LED, TST507 TPMS, Reese DCSC, DIY corner stabilizers
2012 Ram 1500 Sport crew cab, Hemi, 4x4, 3.92 LSD, factory brake controller, S&B CAI w/scoop, Moroso air/oil can, 87mm ported/polished/knife-edged throttle body, Magnaflow exhaust, 180* t-stat, Rear lowered 2", Airlift 1000.
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02-20-2014, 02:01 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: TN
Posts: 7
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audio1der. I've thought the same thing and told my DW that I would probably add a hasp of some kind just in case it opened during travel.
James
__________________
2014 Keystone Passport 2650BH
2006 Ford F-350 DRW 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel
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06-21-2014, 06:07 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lancaster, PA
Posts: 96
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photos of bed hatchlift mods?
can you folks post some photos of what your final framing/support looked like for the hatchlift mod? I am concerned that the platform my bed sites on is really thin plywood - so i think i need to build a heavier framework around the edge to support the brackets -- any photos would be appreicated!
thank you!
andy
__________________
Andrew Miller
Lancaster, PA
2011 Keystone Passport 3220BH Limited Edition
2010 Ford F-250 Diesel FX4, Crew Cab, 6.5 ft bed
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