My Coleman Utah Fold Down Trailer Won't Come Down

Coleman Utah pop-up campers, manufactured by either the FTCA Corp. or Dutchmen Manufacturing, are a popular way to camp. If your Coleman refuses to fold down, don't panic. More often than not, simple solutions to simple problems exist. Common hand tools and a spray lubricant will usually do the job.

  1. Frozen or Stuck Bearings

    • Your Utah camper has a series of levers and screw assemblies. These work like a scissor jack, allowing the tent portion to travel up and down. Over time, these bearing surfaces dry out and become frozen in place. Look at all the parts that slide, move or have hinge pins. Obtain a can of spray lubricant or light oil. Spray all the moving bearings generously. Don't forget about the screw assemblies. Spray the lubricant in the internal components as well. You may have to climb under the camper to get at them. After spraying, tap the bearings gently with a small hammer. Sometimes, the shock will unfreeze them.

    Bent Levers

    • Examine all the levers and folding mechanisms. Look for signs of bending or damage. A lever can bend if, during a previous fold attempt, a large object such as a cooler was left inside the camper, and the cooler bent the lever. if you find a bent framing member, remove it and either try to unbend it, or find a replacement. The FTCA Corp. went out of business in 1989, so finding a replacement part may be difficult. Talk to a local metal shop, which may be able to fabricate a duplicate part.

    Tent Fabric Interlocking

    • Sometimes, the tent fabric inter-folds with the levers, preventing closure. A helper will have to look closely at how the fabric is folding in while you are lowering the top. If any fabric starts to interfere, lift the top and refold the tent fabric so it does not entangle with the mechanism.

    In-Depth Repairs

    • If after all the aforementioned steps are taken but the camper still does not fold down, more in-depth repairs may be required. Your local Coleman dealer may advise you of a repair facility that can professionally service the camper. Explain to the facility you tried to lubricate and replace, but to no avail. It will scrutinize the camper closely, and look for any defective components and replace accordingly.