|
12-29-2011, 05:07 PM
|
#1
|
Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 70
|
How do I fix the bay doors?
I have a 2004 Dolphin LX, and most of the bay doors are falling apart. Specifically, the inside of the door is coming apart from the outer fiberglass shell (see pics below).
It's causing the doors to "warp", and I noticed I had some water infiltration this weekend when I was driving home in some rain. I had puddles of water in the floors of the bays where the doors are warped the most. I assume it's because of the doors and not some other leaking.
Anyway, does anyone have a fix for this they have done before? I don't think glueing them back together will be a permanent solution. It takes quite a bit of compression force to squeeze those two surface back together.
__________________
Denny
2004 Dolphin LX - 34 ft.
Workhorse W22, four Koni FSDs
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
12-29-2011, 05:33 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Everett WA.
Posts: 211
|
No expert here...but looking at the construction I'm going to assume that this is a common problem. If it were me I would start with the dealer. See if you can get some good info about inner construction, and if there are any mechanical fasteners in there. I'm thinking that to fix it correctly you'll need to remove them and completely separate the two halves...super cleaning and prep, then press them back together with an appropriate epoxy.
__________________
Wore out, Fed up and done! IT's PLAY TIME
1999 Monaco Windsor 40PB
|
|
|
12-29-2011, 06:02 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Warner Robins, GA
Posts: 2,613
|
If it is possible I would take them apart, clean them up, replace the insulation and then use angle iron and pop rivets to put them back together. Then I would caulk them to keep the moisture out.
Jon
__________________
Jon & Sue Francis (Retired U.S.A.F.)
Lil Girl-Rescued, Abby Rescued, Peaches Rescued
06 Allegro 35TSA Workhorse Chassis
2013 Chevy Spark Dinghy
|
|
|
12-29-2011, 06:29 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,618
|
Don't take the back off unless you must. I removed one of mine and it took a long time to clean up the inside of the door, the inside panel also became unuseable. Spray some of this stuff in the cracks around the edges Red Devil Triple Expanding Foam 12 oz. and clamp it down on a bench till dry. The Red Devel product expands to three times it's install thickness and bonds the two parts together. It's very much like the stuff Ortega used in the plant. After it sets up clean off the extra and caulk the edges. Then paint the inside panel.
Removing the inside panel may well cost you a new door and there about $700 each. But Ortega will make them for you but in Fibre Glass not plastic. They arrive unpainted with no hardware or latches.
Dick
__________________
1999 Tradewinds 7372 Cat 3126
Albuquerque, NM
|
|
|
12-29-2011, 06:37 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Everett WA.
Posts: 211
|
There ya go. Words of wisdom from those who have gone into the darkness before you! LOL
__________________
Wore out, Fed up and done! IT's PLAY TIME
1999 Monaco Windsor 40PB
|
|
|
12-30-2011, 07:25 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: May 2007
Location: El Cajon CA
Posts: 2,083
|
The doors on the 04 model are fiber glass not plastic.
__________________
2007 Sea Breeze LX 8321 Ford Chassis
2004 Ford Ranger Edge
El Cajon CA.
|
|
|
12-30-2011, 02:51 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Nor'easters Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: CT
Posts: 778
|
Well at least I am not the only one with this problem ... I posted a similar question a few weeks ago here http://www.irv2.com/forums/f105/more...ns-107146.html
Our doors that are separating aren't quite at the condition that yours are - but I do want to take some measures to repair them. What I am considering doing is to get/make some lightweight angle brackets, possibly out of aluminum, that will "angle over" each side of the doors and secure them with either some stainless screws or rivets. In order to ensure that they are sturdy enough, I'm thinking that the brackets should follow the shape of the side of the door, almost covering the entire side, then bring them in about 1 1/2 - 2 inches on the inside of the door.
My primary concern with the inside portion of the bracket will be ensuring that we don't do any seal damage or compression that will leave gaps for water to intrude.
I'm thinking that a full length bracket on both sides of the door should provide enough compression and force to keep the edge where the handle is tight. Of course, we should also do some re-sealing around the entire perimeter of the door where the insert meets the door edges.
I'm interested in any ideas you may have and seeing your results when you get there.
__________________
2005 National Sea Breeze 1311
2015 VW Tiguan SE 4Motion (trailered)
Follow us online https://OurRVJourney.com
|
|
|
12-30-2011, 05:02 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Nor'easters Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: CT
Posts: 778
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ctusdenny
I had puddles of water in the floors of the bays
|
We also have had some significant puddles of water in the basement, but for us it was mostly in the bays that are behind the wheels. What I found was that we have some rust on the edges of the basement compartments that wasn't immediately noticable, but after a more thorough inspection, there are some spots that I can poke through. The compartment bays do/did have a light coating of undercoating, but it's obviously worn off and I can see the compartment construction along with the styrofoam that lines the bottom of the bays.
That's just another fix that we'll be working on when the weather gets nicer.
__________________
2005 National Sea Breeze 1311
2015 VW Tiguan SE 4Motion (trailered)
Follow us online https://OurRVJourney.com
|
|
|
12-30-2011, 11:05 PM
|
#9
|
Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 70
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Labs
Well at least I am not the only one with this problem ... I posted a similar question a few weeks ago here http://www.irv2.com/forums/f105/more...ns-107146.html
Our doors that are separating aren't quite at the condition that yours are - but I do want to take some measures to repair them. What I am considering doing is to get/make some lightweight angle brackets, possibly out of aluminum, that will "angle over" each side of the doors and secure them with either some stainless screws or rivets. In order to ensure that they are sturdy enough, I'm thinking that the brackets should follow the shape of the side of the door, almost covering the entire side, then bring them in about 1 1/2 - 2 inches on the inside of the door.
My primary concern with the inside portion of the bracket will be ensuring that we don't do any seal damage or compression that will leave gaps for water to intrude.
I'm thinking that a full length bracket on both sides of the door should provide enough compression and force to keep the edge where the handle is tight. Of course, we should also do some re-sealing around the entire perimeter of the door where the insert meets the door edges.
I'm interested in any ideas you may have and seeing your results when you get there.
|
Yep, kind of what I was thinking, too. Some angle and rivets. When I get some free time in the next few weeks, I'm going to pull one of the doors off and get after it. I'll post what I find. Thanks.
__________________
Denny
2004 Dolphin LX - 34 ft.
Workhorse W22, four Koni FSDs
|
|
|
12-30-2011, 11:07 PM
|
#10
|
Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 70
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Labs
We also have had some significant puddles of water in the basement, but for us it was mostly in the bays that are behind the wheels. What I found was that we have some rust on the edges of the basement compartments that wasn't immediately noticable, but after a more thorough inspection, there are some spots that I can poke through. The compartment bays do/did have a light coating of undercoating, but it's obviously worn off and I can see the compartment construction along with the styrofoam that lines the bottom of the bays.
That's just another fix that we'll be working on when the weather gets nicer.
|
Hmmm, I'll have to check the bays for rust. Didn't think of that. Maybe it rusted under the carpets where I can't see it. Good tip. Thanks.
__________________
Denny
2004 Dolphin LX - 34 ft.
Workhorse W22, four Koni FSDs
|
|
|
01-01-2012, 08:53 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 1,056
|
I had one repaired by a shop. It did cost me $100, but they did an expert job of disassembling everything, cleaning, and glueing it all back together. The inside of the door looks better than the factory ones with a neat caulk line between the liner and the door edges.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Orion, Ford Transit 3.7L: previous
'09 Pleasure Way Lexor, '05 NRV Dolphin 5342
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|