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Topic: Jacknife bolts (Read 646 times) previous topic - next topic

Jacknife bolts

The Jacknife sofa in my 2004 U 270 has never been secured properly. The original owners had it in place but not fastened when i bought it.  I'd like to know what were the original fasteners.
At this point I have 1/2" lags and 1/2" bolts that are stripped out. I need to do a one time fix for this problem. Can the original bolt holes be drilled out for regular bolts and can nuts be added to the bottom area of the slide.
Thanks!
 
David & Michele Moss
Maiden NC
primary interest: turning wood, motorbikes, especially the BMW Boxer kind

Re: Jacknife bolts

Reply #1 –
Mine has just plywood under it then the sub structure (steel tube). Dont think the lags were over 2".

Re: Jacknife bolts

Reply #2 –
When I removed my jackknife so far for recovering I believe it had one and a half inch or so lag screws.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Jacknife bolts

Reply #3 –
No way to add bolts and nuts.

You could probably use some kind of hollow wall anchor. 

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Jacknife bolts

Reply #4 –
I have also filled holes with pc11, a 2 part epoxy, and then re-drilled Holes.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Jacknife bolts

Reply #5 –
I've had three couches out but on older models (95 & 97). All were screwed to the floor with 3" Robertson screws.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Jacknife bolts

Reply #6 –
Thanks everyone for all your help and advice on the Jacknife bolts. Today I took out the couch again and found that the factory fix for the rear LH screws were installed in the crack between plywood and the 3/8" steel plate. They were doomed to fail.  All the other lag screws in plywood had stripped out.
I re-drilled the LH rear plate and drilled (two holes) and tapped the steel plate 3/8"-16. On the RH rear I made a 4"x 4" X 3/16" steel plate with a  3/8"-16 nut welded in the center. I fastened the plate to the floor with 8 screws. Fort screws in wood and four in wood/metal.  Pretty solid!
Drilled and tapped the LH front hole to 3/8"-16 as well. I think this will be a permanent fix. My original concern about the Jacknife sofa needing support when open has been minimized with some drilling and tapping. I cant help but wonder why the factory guys would have given their OK to such a poor original install. Maybe it was just a Friday afternoon install.
Anyway, its rock solid now and the grand boys can do belly flops on it while the bed is open.
David & Michele Moss
Maiden NC
primary interest: turning wood, motorbikes, especially the BMW Boxer kind

Re: Jacknife bolts

Reply #7 –
Quote from: djonmoss –
I cant help but wonder why the factory guys would have given their OK to such a poor original install. Maybe it was just a Friday afternoon install.
I thought the same thing, especially when most other aspects of FT are executed so well. Good to hear you got it fixed. Ours was similar to yours in that the mounting screws holes, all into wood, were stripped-out. My fix was almost identical to what you did, except I had no original mounting to steel.

Greg
Greg & Cathy
2000 U320 4010 DGFE Build #5650
Had: 1999 Tradewinds 7370
 

Re: Jacknife bolts

Reply #8 –
My thought was.....I wonder if they had a recliner there and put the jackknife sofa back in to make the sale?

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Lynn & Marilyn Sickel
Tollville, AR
1997  U320  40'
2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Motorcader  17257