Headlights glued to coach body??

wagonmaster2 · 11-10-2011, 02:43 PM

I just finished spending several days glueing the headlight brackets back to the front cap on my 2004 Winnebago where they had broken loosen from. Looks like a very sorry and cheap way to attach them.

A Tiffin is going to be high on the list for my next motor home and was wondering if they also glue parts together on their motor homes, such as hood brackets to front cap, front and rear hoods on DPs, and so on.

Wagonmaster2

ottffss · 11-10-2011, 03:00 PM

Pretty much everything is glued on mohos no matter what price point. Sidewalls/caps to the framing are no exception, roofing and floor lamination, etc. Am surprised at a headlight assembly being glued in, that does seem a little strange.

paz · 11-11-2011, 06:44 AM

The headlights on our Allegro Bay are held in by brackets and screws. I have never tried to remove them, but I don't think there is any glue involved. Our Bay is a gasser, so we have a hood in the front. I see no sign of glue whatsoever around the hinges or latches - only screws. I did remove the grill a few days ago to repaint some areas that had chipped paint - screws only.

Of course, our coach is an '05, and things may be done a little differently on the newer models. We have done the factory tour numerous times (including about a month ago). Tiffin uses a lot of sealant and caulk on things that might leak, but I don't remember seeing glue or sealant on things that may need to be serviced or removed like hinges and latches.

sgtjoe · 11-11-2011, 07:21 AM

I helped glue a light back on a Vectra in Sierra Vista AZ a few years ago. We used Gorilla glue. I was also surprised that Winabago would do that on such a nice coach. I was really impressed with the glue when one of the guys hung on it to show how good the glue would hold.

wagonmaster2 · 11-11-2011, 10:49 PM

Thanks for the info guys. Just hope my J-B Weld Kwik holds for a few more years. The worst part of the whole glue idea from the manufacturer is they didn't even bother to clean the high gloss paint off the brackets that were glued to the inside of the front cap. They attached the headlight brackets to the front cap instead of the frame work behind the front cap. Any idiot should know that you can't make glue stick to a shiny slick painted surface.

Wagonmaster2

Automobilist · 11-12-2011, 12:32 AM

The new Boeing 787 is pretty much glued together, so an earthbound coach should be fine with it.

Lault · 11-12-2011, 05:28 AM

My new Phaeton head light brackets are glassed or glued to the front cap.

paz · 11-12-2011, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lault

My new Phaeton head light brackets are glassed or glued to the front cap.

Ours are, too, but the headlight assemblies unscrew from the brackets.

Lault · 11-13-2011, 07:26 AM

Paz, that is the way mine are.

wagonmaster2 · 11-13-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Automobilist

The new Boeing 787 is pretty much glued together, so an earthbound coach should be fine with it.

I would almost bet Boeing had smarts enough to properly prepare any parts that are being connect by glue though. We'll see how mine hold up after grinding all the paint off the brackets before applying the glue. Looks like my generator hood brackets are starting to work loose also, so guess that's my next project.

Wagonmaster2
2004 Meridian 36G

cdouglas · 03-04-2012, 07:54 PM

WM2,

I lost my lower rear panel brackets to the same defect. I repaired those with fiberglass Bondo. They had to be redone after a caravan trip to Alaska. Fortunately, the cap was held on loosely by the attaching screws on the sides. This week I notice one of my headlights had fallen into the lower front panel. Both sides of the bracket had detached. I did a quick/temp repair by wedging in lengths of 2X2 wood between the light brackets and a frame member, and Gorilla gluing both ends of the 2X2. The wedge repair held up for the weekend trip but I am looking for a repair with metal bracing in addition to glue or glass adhesion. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

CD