For those owners with the older coaches like our '89 GV you might want to go around the beltline (the molding just above the cargo compartments) and check the screws. Twenty-five of ours were stripped--so bad that turning them in had no effect. The hole in the steel tubing, not the screw itself. They are #8 x 3/4" long pan head (tapered under the head) Phillips drive stainless screws.
I got tired of them backing out during the summer so I bought #10 x 3/4" long screws and they screw in tight!!
Now I only have one screw loose to worry about. >:D >:D
Yes this is something I have mentioned on Forum a few times as I think most do not think about them at all. They are on coaches up to 2000 (as mine has them) and every 6 months I go over each one with a hand screw driver and fix or replace them. Luckily I now have all tight ones due to this regime. The roof ones are VERY important (even clearance light ones too)
JohnH
Yup, next diameter up, same length, Stainless Steel. Bed with some Boatlife polysulfide or similar on the threads.
Good call guys, thanks for the heads up ^.^d going to check ours today.
The #10 screws have a slightly larger head dia---.344 dia.
The #8 screws that are on our coaches have a .305 dia. head
The head on the #10 does stick up above the c'sink in the molding so some might want to try a different method of anchoring the old screws.
Oval heads do stick up just a little, but are not obtrusive.
It is not that the head sticks up "a bit" but the fact that on some of the holes a polishing rag or cloth can catch on the O.D. of the head because the c'sink isn't quite deep enough.
Thanks, fellas - all of mine ('92) were loose...
Jim
Are the hinges for the bay doors screwed into the same "steel tubing" as the belt line.
There was a post that I saved about over drilling the hole and inserting a dowel piece to screw into. Should this be done for the bay doors AND the belt line. I know that I have to do this because about 1/2 of our belt line is visibly loose, I just don't want to do the belt line and then come back for the bay doors.
Or is the oversized screw the better fix ????
Bob, I can't answer your question because the bay door hinges on our 1989 GV are on the bottom and are pop riveted on.
Hopefully someone else with your arrangement can answer your question.
Bob, I too cannot really tell you but do a test and find out. I would first put some wooden tooth picks (broken in half with a drop of glue on too) into the hole then replce the screw. If it tightens up good you should be ok for 12 months when you do it all again.
My guess is that the door ones go into metal. Another way is to take a length of the trim off and see as this only takes a few minutes to do anyway.
JohnH
Bob
I don't know if your coach is the same as my 93 Grand Villa. There is no metal behind my door hinges or the trim piece. I had to drill oversize holes and insert dowels to secure my bay doors and the trim piece. I used glue on the dowels and silicone on the back of the door hinge and on the stainless steel screws.
Roland
Roland. I believe your original post was probably the one that I saved. I guess I will find out what's back there when I try over drilling a hole.
Just waiting to start. Wettest winter in the willamette valley since 1946.
Before I did mine I used some painter's border tape and marked wglhere the holes were for the trim piece. Then I marked where I was going to drill holes for the door hinge. I found that Foretravel used very small and very few screws on the door hinge. They rely on the trim or molding scree to hold the door hinge in place. Only place on this coach that I have ever found too few screws.
Roland
I have removed and replaced the rear fenders on ours in order to replace the air bags. The rear bags are done and will start the front bags this week. I will try to post some photos of the screws behind the trim piece. The rear fenders were screwed into the same metal as the trim piece. FOT used #8 x 1" phillips tapered flathead screws for the fenders and it appeared to be the same screws as the hinges but I did not remove the bay door hinges.