Author |
Share Topic Topic Search Topic Options
|
Happy Tripping
Senior Member
Joined: 27 May 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 473
|
Topic: Axle falls off rv – nearly finished repairing Posted: 24 Jul 2019 at 1:13pm |
As far as I can tell, I’ve now sorted out the damage done when my R-Pods's axle fell off in our
driveway, however one thing remains –a screw holding up the wiring bundle going
to the right wheel has pulled out and the bundle is now loose. It screwed into
the’ material’ lining the bottom of the trailer between the frame and the side. I say ‘material’ because I don’t
know what it is, it is like cardboard that has been ground up and made into a
sheet. Unfortunately, I cannot find a stud behind this to screw into for
support, I don’t think there are any.
So, my question is - What is the best ‘fix’ for this? Seeing
how flimsy the ‘material’ is, I’m not excited about just screwing into it, like Forest River did, but
maybe (probably?) I’m wrong and the stuff is really quite durable.
Any suggestions are very much appreciated.
|
 |
Our pod
Groupie
Joined: 03 Oct 2016
Location: Olympia WA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 62
|
Posted: 24 Jul 2019 at 2:18pm |
Affix the wiring harness screw too a thin metal plate and epoxy that to the weird underlayment.
|
Life is good.
|
 |
mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419
|
Posted: 24 Jul 2019 at 5:30pm |
Happy,
I have spent considerable time on the bottom. One thing I noticed is frequent use of sheet metal screws into a composite. You can't over tighten, it just doesn't make sense. I use a regular wood screw and some kind of sealant. Like Liquid Nails or a good adhesive caulk, sheet metal screws don't do well in composites. Move your new attachment point away from the original point. Good luck.
|
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
|
 |
offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
|
Posted: 25 Jul 2019 at 9:04am |
Depending on where the harness came loose you could also use SS self tapping screws into the frame or cable tie the harness to the axle or something else solid under there.
|
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
|
 |
GlueGuy
Senior Member
Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2709
|
Posted: 25 Jul 2019 at 3:10pm |
Originally posted by offgrid
Depending on where the harness came loose you could also use SS self tapping screws into the frame or cable tie the harness to the axle or something else solid under there. |
I just finished installing our E-go, and I can say for a fact that self-tapping screws into any part of the frame was an exercise in frustration. Any self-tapping screws had to be pre-drilled. We ended up using cutting oil and progressive pilot holes for all the through-bolts.
There were numerous spots where I was able to use heavy-duty UV-stabilized tie wraps though.
|
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
|
 |
Motor7
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2019
Location: E. TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 196
|
Posted: 25 Jul 2019 at 4:30pm |
Originally posted by GlueGuy
Originally posted by offgrid
Depending on where the harness came loose you could also use SS self tapping screws into the frame or cable tie the harness to the axle or something else solid under there. | I just finished installing our E-go, and I can say for a fact that self-tapping screws into any part of the frame was an exercise in frustration. Any self-tapping screws had to be pre-drilled. We ended up using cutting oil and progressive pilot holes for all the through-bolts.
There were numerous spots where I was able to use heavy-duty UV-stabilized tie wraps though. |
That's odd, when I installed my under hanging spare tire carrier I used some large self tappers and they went right into the frame with no pre-drill and no issues. I must have used half a dozen per side.
|
2016 R-Pod 176T
|
 |
GlueGuy
Senior Member
Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2709
|
Posted: 25 Jul 2019 at 6:11pm |
Originally posted by Motor7
Originally posted by GlueGuy
Originally posted by offgrid
Depending on where the harness came loose you could also use SS self tapping screws into the frame or cable tie the harness to the axle or something else solid under there. | I just finished installing our E-go, and I can say for a fact that self-tapping screws into any part of the frame was an exercise in frustration. Any self-tapping screws had to be pre-drilled. We ended up using cutting oil and progressive pilot holes for all the through-bolts.
There were numerous spots where I was able to use heavy-duty UV-stabilized tie wraps though. |
That's odd, when I installed my under hanging spare tire carrier I used some large self tappers and they went right into the frame with no pre-drill and no issues. I must have used half a dozen per side. |
Interesting. When we did the hide-a-spare we drilled through holes for some 5/16 SS bolts. That also required cutting oil and progressive pilot holes. We only needed 4 of them though.
|
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
|
 |
podwerkz
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2019
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 966
|
Posted: 25 Jul 2019 at 8:44pm |
Not all self-tapping are self-drilling, and although they may seem like one is the same as the next, I find that TEK is a good brand of self-drilling screws.
|
r・pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
|
 |
offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
|
Posted: 26 Jul 2019 at 4:22am |
+1 The Tek brand is to self drilling fasteners as Kleenex is to facial tissue. Good stuff, especially if you have lots to install. If you only have one or two pre drilling and using self tappers is fine too. Self tapping screws have a pointed tip, self drillers will have a fluted tip.
|
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
|
 |