jhlady
Portland, Oregon
New Member
Joined: 12/20/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
Hi all,
Just got back from vacation last week and had a minor problem on the way home. 2004 Fleetwood Jamboree 23E with only 9K miles on it.
Started to get a harmonic vibration in the headliner area above the cab. Thought maybe a board in the bed area had split or something and was vibrating. Took the headliner down earlier this week and discoverd that 13 of the 15 rivets that attach the metal cab roof to the cab over bed area were all snapped off! Just curious if anyone else has had a similar problem and how they choose to fix it. Debating between using aluminum rivets again vs. nuts and bolts with large washers. Would have to peel back the paneling surface of the bed area to use nuts and bolts otherwise I can't get to the backside.
Ideas, advice, experience?
Thanks,
|
ron.dittmer
Near Chicago
Senior Member
Joined: 02/26/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I vote for nuts and bolts, but be sure to use the locking nuts with the nylon inserts. They will never come loose with vibration.
Bought new in June 2007, Phoenix Cruiser-2350
Fits inside our garage.
Dingy towing a red Toyota MR2 Spyder
See The Inside by clicking on "View Profile" and scroll down
|
Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
Senior Member
Joined: 07/22/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Agree as well. Rivets are great for fast production. Cab overs need to stay strong to help prevent leaking.
|
SRTchris
calgary alberta
Senior Member
Joined: 03/10/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
i would use stainless steel rivets, can you get a drill in there to "upsize" the holes and put a larger diameter stainless rivet back in there??
05 3500 laramie 4X4 SRW CTD
07 3500 laramie 4X4 DRW CTD
07 Jayco eagle 341rlqs
|
Cool Mike
Mendocino. Calif.
Senior Member
Joined: 06/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I agree try larger SS rivets, if you have trouble getting them in tight holes, go to SS bolts with washers and lock-nuts, and as many as you can get in that area, with in reason.
Aluminum pop rivets are not all that strong, especially if the hole is a little to large, or there are too few of them, any movement or vibration in the steel sheets will cut right through them.
They were just trying to save money. You can fix it.
2001 27' Four Winds Class-C E-450 V-10.
Buick Park Ave Ultra, Ford Ranger PU, JD 500 backhoe.
1941 Farm All "A"
|
|
|
Dakzuki
Carnation, Wa, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/01/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Another vote for threaded fasteners with large diameter washers on both sides. Rivets have their place and that doesn't sound like it.
95 Chinook Premier
|
Fulltimers
Anywhere, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/16/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
My 95 Fleetwood Class C was coming apart on the sides where the cab is attached to the motorhome. It was put together with screws. I removed the screws and drilled the holes larger and used nuts and bolts with loctite. Never had a problem after that.
Fulltimers
Fulltimers Weblog
2003 Rexhall Aerbus 3550BSL
W-22 Workhorse
2001 Saturn SC2 (Mr. Toad
Photos
|
jhlady
Portland, Oregon
New Member
Joined: 12/20/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks to all for your input. This weekend I re-installed new rivets and am going to keep an eye on them. If they come apart again I will have to take the bed apart and use bolts and nuts etc. After putting it back together it looks better than when new. Probably just a poor job by the manufacture. The rivets that I used have larger heads and appeared to pull up very tight.
Thanks again and will keep you all posted if I have to re-do this job.
\
|
DoxieBox
Laguna Hills, Ca
New Member
Joined: 04/26/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Whoa! I was looking for something else and came across this thread...thank Goodness! I have a 97 Jamboree rallye...
After a long trip, I noticed the cab really creaking and the headliner on the left slipping down out of the holding beads and the headliner on the right pushing up. I thought it looked like the cab got torqued or something! The opening where the seat belt goes into the liner and is anchored to the guts was larger and looked crooked inside- all shifted! I used to have a truck camper and was always concerned about torsion/chassis torquing.
I'm gonna go out there and open her up and see what's going on now! Thanks for sharing JHLady and everyone's helpful answers! What would we do without you all?!
Ah, good taste! What a dreadful thing! Taste is the enemy of creativeness. -Pablo Picasso
|
