Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: darstar on December 03, 2019, 06:28:51 am

Title: Basement door separating from rivets
Post by: darstar on December 03, 2019, 06:28:51 am
I just noticed my large compartment door has separated from its metal frame in about half the assembly. The connect fasteners look like rivets or base tube nuts ? Imbedded in FRP of door.  Anyone know how to fix ? At this point door is loose at bottom when shut. I would hate to see this get worse!  My U320 04 year just came out of shop after new Air compressor,been in La Salle,Illinois over Thankinsgiving, bummer ......but that's another story , 2500 later.
Title: Re: Basement door separating from rivets
Post by: Chris m lang on December 03, 2019, 07:31:20 am
Darstar I just had a door fixed with new fiberglass-- he sanded out the damaged spot with coarse sandpaper (60Grit) when filled with rosin and new fiberglass. After he laid in several layers ,sanding between each layer with 180 grit he finished off with 240 grit then painted it. I can give you more details if you want to talk.  Text me at 50one-nine4four-0ne57two and Ill call you back
Chris
Title: Re: Basement door separating from rivets
Post by: Dub on December 03, 2019, 12:22:11 pm
Half my rivets broke at the hinge on the door to my hot water heater.. I riveted it back.. I'm trying to get a mental picture of yours.. Is it not where you can rivet it?
Title: Re: Basement door separating from rivets
Post by: JohnFitz on December 03, 2019, 08:10:16 pm
I replace my hinges and used screws and nuts which IMO are better.  I believe the factory used rivets because it was faster. 
This is an old post for my 1991 but I believe the design is nearly the same.  In 2001 I bought a new 6 foot bay door and the parts personnel told me that the 2001 door would fit my 91 and it did.  I did notice the door was constructed a bit different.
Bay Door Hinge Replacement with Stainless Hinges (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=12654.msg66844#msg66844)
Title: Re: Basement door separating from rivets
Post by: darstar on December 03, 2019, 11:32:34 pm
The door is in like new condition., so I would hate to drill holes thru to replace rivets. The river base has pulled away from the fiberglass. My guess is my bed slide out was not locked and hit the door from the inside hard. My big tool box is there,lots of weight. It seems like the thin door holding the rivet base would not have much meat for a strong contact. I will look again tomorrow. Trying to get further south too, been stuck in Normal,il. Cummins all day. Took them 10 hrs to find a bad ecm cable break ! .....I just duck taped the bottom of door for now.  I may take some photos..........
Title: Re: Basement door separating from rivets
Post by: craneman on December 04, 2019, 01:15:09 am
My slide would not latch all the time so I fixed what was causing my issue.

Joey bed problem solved (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=26903.msg218499#msg218499)
Title: Re: Basement door separating from rivets
Post by: P. Wyatt Sabourin on December 04, 2019, 05:13:39 pm
The cargo doors pulling away from the hinges was a problem on my 96 320.
I fixed them by fibreglassing a 3/16 in harwood dowel to the top edge of each door where the rivets were. I then replaced all rivets with 1/4 inch stainless bolts (about a hundred).
One of my doors actually sheared off when trying to close and slide under the coach.
Are your doors top hinged like mine or pantographic?