Lift Arm Bolts Catching On Side of TM

The lift arm bolts (driver's side) on the front shell have started catching on the edge of the TM back shell when I try to lift the front shell. This started when I didn't realize that the back shell latch on that side had released while the trailer was folded. Now it is catching every time, even if the back shell is latched tight. I'm hoping I didn't bend something the first time it happened and that I can solve the problem by adjusting the lift arm, torsion bar or latches (never adjusted any of them). Has anyone encountered this situation and found a solution? That front shell lift arm has always been very close to the edge of the back shell, but it now requires two people to lift the front shell, one to lift while the other slightly pushes in on the bottom edge of the rear shell so that the lift arm bolts don't grab it. Thanks.

[commodor47]

Brian,

Where do you stand when lifting the front shell? Sometimes the shell will lift slightly askew and changing your position/location will correct the problem.

Dick

My TM did this as well especially when the trailer was parked on a slight slope like when it is on a side of a street.

I fixed this by re-installing the four bolts so that the heads were on the inside and the nuts and threads pointing outboard so now there is less to get caught up on.

Ok may have to try reversing the bolts. I'm still raising the shells by pulling/lifting from the center of each end and never had a problem before. I was afraid that I might have caused a changed in alignment or adjustment to the lifting mechanism. I'll see if I can figure anything out with it this weekend.

[Bill]

If you are going to go through that, you might consider replacing the hex-head bolts with round-head or even pan-head bolts of the same size. Not carriage bolts, though.

Bill

This may be obvious but still good advice:
Replace the bolts one at a time and then nothing comes loose and missaligns.

Great advice and suggestions from all! Thanks!

[myersm]

I replaced some of my bolts this last summer. Be sure to support the shell when you try to pull the bolts out. I used a floor jack and a 2X4 to take the pressure off the bolts before I pulled them out.