lift system issue

[kreckley]

I have a '95 Jayco popup camper. The last two times I opened the camper, the crank turned very hard. I blamed it on my age and confirmed that my age was the problem when I couldn't get the pole in its slot over one of the beds. After a good look at the camper on the outside, I noticed that the roof of the camper was no longer properly aligned with the camper itself. It looks to be a few inches pushed toward the back of the camper. All four telescopic arms slant slightly toward the back of the camper. I'm thinking there is an issue with the pulley lift system, but I don't know where to begin. I don't want to take the interior of the camper apart to get to the lift system if the problem is something else. I have never greased or lubricated the system in the 25 years I've owned it.