Hunter Compact Junior Lifting mechanism for roof top

[Anne in NM]

I recently bought a Comact Junior, I also have a Hunter Compact 2, unless I have the names mixed up again. The new-to-me trailer has the pop top that extends the entire length of the trailer. It came without any way to lift and secure the top! Seller had some 2x4 blocks hanging down on hinges, which he propped up to hold up the top. Problem is, I'm 77 and cannot lift the roof by myself, seems much heavier that my 1st Hunter trailer.
Has anyone come up with a way to install hydraulic lifters (that do not cost $1800?) and/or a way to solve this problem?
We tied the top down to the interior with ropes while retrieving the trailer, I am so glad we did. The Jeep type latch hooks came unhooked during the ride home. That's a problem we can probably solve with new hasps.

Mainly, I need to have a way to lift and secure the pop top.
Thanks for your help, please share your experiences.(It might be posted here, but I don't know how to use this site search thingy.)

[ReneS]

I looked up your trailer and found this suggestion for easier lifting of the pop up. She installed pistons. Google "Hunter pop up camp trailer" and open the option with the bright yellow trailer with the red stripe. Within that are choices of topics of their renovations. Choose "pop up." Good luck! I will try to add the link here.

[ReneS]

https://youtu.be/Lhkp6HgB1yY

Here is the link to the girl who installed piston lifts in her Hunter Compact!

[Bsharp76]

Electric actuators possibly?? Not familiar with the camper

[Frank R]

There is some important information about stability of the pop-up roof around the 6:00 mark in their follow-up video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5IDbMCQsU

[Anne in NM]

Yes, I saw that, and it is a great suggestion. It only lifts one side tho and it is impossible to do both ends (all 4 corners) at the same time, this way. The heavy lid would be quite unstable on 4 thin posts. The original mechanism is about 3 or 4 inches wide, making it more stable when extended.

So far, this is what we've come up with. We bought 2 Lifts that extend with the use of my electric drill. By placing 2 boards between the beds (23 inches up off the floor) then placing the jacks on the boards. (Haven't had a test run on this yet, but soon as I'm over this flu...) The jack are meant to stabilize big slide outs in motorhomes and support 5000lb each. I know, that's overkill but they were the tallest available. So when the top is lift up, I will flip the 2x4 blocks up and put in a pin/bolt to secure it. IF this works, I'll send pictures. This is a temporary fix as it it still has blocks hanging down, and they are head bumpers, for sure. We need a mechanism that pivots sideways...