Community Forums

Skip Y · 11-14-2020, 12:48 PM

Have a 2010 Journey, and one of the front hood latches fell off. Made a sketch of the one remaining and will make a replacement latch, but not sure what type of epoxy to use. Any suggestions?
Also, even though BAGO discourages drilling bolt holes in the fiberglass front cap due to potential cracking of the f'glas, I'm considering doing just that. Has anyone added bolt holes in the front cap, and have there been issues.

Skip Y
2010 Journey, 2015 Equinox
Loc: MICH

rk911 · 11-14-2020, 12:53 PM

what about JB Weld?

Skip Y · 11-14-2020, 01:02 PM

rk911, that's one of the options on my list. I've had success with it before, but this is pretty tuff duty for epoxy and I don't know if there's anything better for gluing steel to f'glas.

Thanks, Skip Y

LeeB · 11-14-2020, 01:08 PM

I just drilled 8, 1/4 starting with !/16 and working my up to remount my Fog Light supports. I did the 1/16 from the inside and yes cracked a little going through but by the time I got up to 1/4 you could not even see it.

LeeB

ga traveler · 11-14-2020, 01:21 PM

I have replaced several of these in my career as a tech and service manager. The trick is to clean the area thoroughly. Put in a bed of epoxy and install the bracket. Let cure. Another layer of epoxy going about a inch beyond the edge of the bracket. While still soft, work a layer of fiberglass cloth into the epoxy. Let cure. Install one last layer of epoxy covering the cloth and about 1/4 inch beyond. Never had a single failure using this fix.

Skip Y · 11-14-2020, 01:36 PM

Thanks guys. Cpla questions: LeeB have the cracks progressed due to vibration or stress?,
ga Traveler, what kind of epoxy do you use?

LeeB · 11-14-2020, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Y

Thanks guys. Cpla questions: LeeB have the cracks progressed due to vibration or stress?,
ga Traveler, what kind of epoxy do you use?

To be honest I have not used my MH since I drilled the holes.
LeeB

ga traveler · 11-15-2020, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Y

Thanks guys. Cpla questions: LeeB have the cracks progressed due to vibration or stress?,
ga Traveler, what kind of epoxy do you use?

Most epoxys are the same ingredients. Just look for the highest strength. Also do not get the slow setting. Get one that sets in 10 minutes or so. That gives you time to work it in but lessens the chance of running. ACE, Home Depot, are Lowe’s will have everything you need. You also might find a epoxy kit that has the fiberglass cloth included.

David 70 · 11-15-2020, 09:31 AM

I also had a hood latch missing on my 2000 adventurer. It took the dealer I purchased it from ( a previous Winnie dealer) about four months to get the right pieces. If you look up Winnebago parts for your model they should list the latch. I had a body shop do the mounting.

Skip Y · 11-24-2020, 04:22 AM

Thanks everyone for the feedback, sorry it took so long for this reply. but - stuff happens. Latest is that WBGO uses Plexus MA 8111. I found some on Amazon, haven't bought it yet. Have not been able to find reviews on it (other than WBGO) nor comparison to MA 311, which is more available. Will keep you informed.

corvetteSS · 11-24-2020, 07:51 AM

I just don't trust epoxy for this purpose. My unit is a 2017 with 20K miles, and one already fell off, and the other was loose. I went with 2 stainless 1/8 bolts with a fancy painted exposed cap. I don't know why this is a problem. I use many bolts/screws in my fiberglass boat, and it gets abused a lot more than this hood. We have all sorts of screws holding on awnings and such into the fiberglass and they don't seem to have any problems. All I know is that I don't want my hood flopping around when I am on a trip away from home, and I know these stainless (small) bolts will never fail like that. I think this approach was done by a bean counter thinking they could save a few pennies during production, not because it's a good way to do this. After all it only needs to hold until the warranty is over.

danhannah · 11-24-2020, 11:35 PM

Sorry you lost the hood support. I also thru-bolted my supports through the fiberglass, with no problems. I used a SS screw with a nice looking head, and also a stiff rubber washer to protect the fiberglass a little.

No problems in many miles.

ALSO, wire or wire-tie the other supports so if they fall off you will still have them, and they won't cause a tire blowout!

Park Super · 11-30-2020, 07:45 AM

We had one fall off and were able to recover it. Cleaned everything with wire wheel, grinded some groves on edges and glue side, and really ruffed it up with grinder. Used JB Weld and plenty of it to reattach. The other side was loose as well so used my wire wheel on that side and applied JB Weld. That was 3 years ago or longer and all is well. If I ever have to repeat I will do as the tech in the above post suggested using multiple coats and fiberglass mat. That sounds like a very good fix.

In my opinion and experience, bolts and thin-unreinforced fiberglass will tend to crack and fail over time costing lots of dollars to repair or replace the hood.