panel below gridge on 179
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8745
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Topic: panel below gridge on 179
Posted By: Pmorris1
Subject: panel below gridge on 179
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2016 at 5:28pm
| Has anyone had a problem with the panel below the fridge that hides many wires ,coming loose. there are only two screws that hold it at the top. this panel moves in and out as you open and close yout 179 slideout. I tried tightening the two wcrews every time,but they they keep coming loose while pulling your Ropd. finally my two screwa have stripped out and no lomger tighten. is there a way to correct this from happening. |
Replies:
Posted By: MoPod
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2016 at 7:08pm
|
Following..... Forgive me for stealing your thread, but I would also like to know if someone has removed the offending panel and replaced with something different. I'm tired of getting on my knees and poking wires back every time I open the slide to prevent stress on this panel. ------------- Bill & Nancy 2015 RPod 179 Previously 2010 RPod 176 2014 Explorer Sport |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2016 at 11:17am
|
I added a hinge to ours to allow it to swing back, but even that has its issues if something gets behind it and you extend the slide without knowing it.
I know some have replaced it with a curtain and I'm thinking more and more about doing that with ours. |
Posted By: MoPod
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2016 at 11:48am
I like this idea. Since I was planning to redo the slide curtains in the back I'll have my sewing machine out and dusted off. Just need to buy more fabric. ------------- Bill & Nancy 2015 RPod 179 Previously 2010 RPod 176 2014 Explorer Sport |
Posted By: Pmorris1
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2016 at 12:03pm
| I can't believe forest river couldn't come up with a better way to attach the panel. I'm surprised more owners haven't complained about this on here. I don't thing my wife would go along with the curtin, but thanks for the idea. I was thinking about a piano hinge. What problem did the hinge cause you? |
Posted By: Pmorris1
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2016 at 7:40pm
| I wonder if you ran a long piece of say 1" heavy strength Valcro all the way across the top of the panel. Put the other piece of Valcro across the opening below the fridge, and attached it that way. You could hang the panel once you put the slide out, and remove it when the slide is in while pulling the RV |
Posted By: Mojave1
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2016 at 8:09pm
| I'm not familiar with how the panel fastens. However, might a BLIND NUT work? |
Posted By: Pmorris1
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2016 at 8:46pm
| There are two screws , one on each end of the panel. The screws are screwed into a thin metal strip . The panel kind of just hangs, which allows the panel to move while your traveling . The movement causes the screws to loosen. Each time you relighted the screws the more they start to strip out in the original holes.i have went two sizes larger already, but after a while they won't hold the panel tight. |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2016 at 11:57am
They work fine for items hitting the panel from the interior side, but if something gets in behind the panel, the hinges don't help when the slide is extended. The hinges are spring-loaded to keep the panel from "leaning back" into a non-vertical orientation, as it would do with piano hinges. Since my prior post, I've figured out how to add a second set of hinges to allow the panel to swing out if something gets behind it when the slide is extended while still keeping the panel vertical when it's not under stress. |
Posted By: Pmorris1
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2016 at 12:17pm
| Could you post a photo showing what you have done |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2016 at 8:03pm
|
I replaced the three screws with anchors (the kind that look like transluscent white wings) in the aluminum channel. For the screws, I used caps to hide the heads. While it works better than the three screws that were in our 179, it is not perfect. I have been trying to figure out how to attach the panel so that it can flex in both directions if it hits something. I have not yet found a suitable double-action hinge to use though. In addition, I took some wire ties and used them to help suspend the wires so that they don't drag on the floor. I had to make sure they were tight enough to work, but loose enough so that they will still move with the slide. That helped with the panel also. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Pmorris1
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2016 at 12:50pm
| Mine came with only 2 screws not 3. I picked up some Industrial strength Velcro on Amazon. I got the 1" width. I ran a solid piece of the Velcro across the opening. The Velcro holds the panel great. There is still some movement at the bottom of the panel. But at least the panel is hanging straight, and not falling off. If I ever have to get behind the panel, I can just remove it, and put it back. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2016 at 4:07pm
|
Industrial strength Velcro does seem to be a good option. I'll have to take the panel off and look at it again. Perhaps that teamed with the screws which would serve more for alignment than holding would work well.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Pmorris1
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2016 at 6:20pm
| I am happy with the way it looks. I did away with the screws, and plugged the holes. That Velcro is rated to hold 15 lbs. the sticky on the back is so strong it sticks even to porus material |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 9:51am
Please explain (preferably with pictures and parts source) how you did this. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Pmorris1
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 12:09pm
| The product you want is Velcro 624 . You can buy it on eBay or Amazon. Get the 1" cut a piece of the Velcro long enough to go from one side of your panel to the other. Remove the backing on one side of the Velcro and run the Velcro along the top of the panel. Remove the backing on the other side of the Velcro you placed on the panel. Now just align the panel as it came from the factory, and push firmly all along the top of the panel to give you a good contac |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2016 at 12:20pm
|
The Velcro, I understand. It was the hinges that TheBum mentioned about which I wanted information
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2016 at 10:51am
|
I will certainly post photos as I'm adding the extra hinges. It may not be a while because we have an R-Pod rally this weekend and then my wife has the 'Pod the following weekend for her monthly flea market.
I had to chuckle a little after we got the 'Pod back following the fender replacement. They also did some overdue (our fault) interior work and put new screws into the panel without noticing the hinges. |
Posted By: R&J
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2016 at 10:36pm
I believe the panel is too heavy so going to replace with a much lighter piece of hardboard and a couple of more screws, just have to decide what colour to paint it  ------------- Rhona & John POD: 2015 179 'OzPod' Tow: 2014 Holden Colorado |
Posted By: Pmorris1
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2016 at 5:24pm
| Did you ever get the new hinges installed |