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smcpheters · 06-15-2008, 12:23 PM

Hi all,

New question for everyone. I am finding rivets on the floor occasionally after I move the trailer. Doesn't happen with every move, but off and on. My wife has told me this means a bad thing. Myself, it seems natural that a structure moving along the roads in Maine should have a few popped rivets, I know I do. Do I need to worry or should I just replace the rivets?

Alumatube · 06-15-2008, 12:29 PM

Have you checked your axles? If they need replacement, they could cause enough of a bad ride to pop rivets. Also, you might check your tires for bubbles or out-of-round conditions. Unbalanced running gear is an issue with interior problems like popped rivets, drawers coming out, wall/interior shell separation, etc.

We were popping interior rivets in our moho until we got new tires and redid the suspension. It was very annoying!

Good luck!

Susan

Goin camping · 06-15-2008, 02:09 PM

Timely question.

I have heard various views on this.

Inland Andy says it results from bad axles (they wear out) and/or unbalanced running gear.

Someone else told me that it's normal for rivets to pop out.

Seems to me that if an airplane can go for thousands of miles and landings without rivets shooting out my trailer ought to make it to the camp ground without an in transit disassembly.

So I replaced about 12 interior rivets that self detached and balanced by wheels, hubs and brakes. So far all the rivets are where they belong.

overlander63 · 06-15-2008, 02:11 PM

The other item that may cause the in-flight rivet loss may be a too-stiff tow vehicle suspension, or a WD not set up quite right.

TBRich · 06-15-2008, 02:48 PM

We had a couple of interior rivets pop right after we got our SE unit... we had them replaced and since then none have been lost... (Now watch...the next time we go out we've have them popping out all over he place!)

wayner61 · 06-15-2008, 03:55 PM

Timely post.

I had one rivet laying in the middle of the bed on our new 27FB when I picked it up Friday. Looking at it, it didn't seem to have expanded very much, if at all on the back. I found an aluminum rivet the same size in the garage and popped it in.

Nothing else since then even though we were on some pretty rough roads in construction zones over the weekend.

I will keep my eyes open though.

safari62 · 06-15-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smcpheters

Hi all,

New question for everyone. I am finding rivets on the floor occasionally after I move the trailer. Doesn't happen with every move, but off and on. My wife has told me this means a bad thing. Myself, it seems natural that a structure moving along the roads in Maine should have a few popped rivets, I know I do. Do I need to worry or should I just replace the rivets?

A stands for axles
B stands for bad axle
C stands for Cough up the dough for a new axle

W stands for Wife is right again.......this may be the hardest thing to accept. Oh yeah, and Maine roads are really BAD right now. But that will be fixed in about fifty years and fifty million dollars.

Don't worry, be happy, get a new axle.

47WeeWind · 06-15-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayner61

I had one rivet laying in the middle of the bed on our new 27FB when I picked it up Friday. Looking at it, it didn't seem to have expanded very much, if at all on the back. I found an aluminum rivet the same size in the garage and popped it in.

Wayner61:

It must have been one of those Old Maid rivets that usually resides in the bottom of the bucket, unpopped.

byamcaravanner · 06-15-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 47WeeWind

Wayner61:

It must have been one of those Old Maid rivets that usually resides in the bottom of the bucket, unpopped.

Fred, That's a rather "corny" comment.

Mikethefixit · 06-15-2008, 08:57 PM

Well this is my opinion only and I don't even pretend to be an expert.But I have found working(they leave a little grey stain around them) rivets in bulk heads and walls, under the rear goucho, and now external rivets poped above the axles. Needless to say this unit is GROUNDED till my new axles arrive.This is too big and investment to take chances with, Unless of Course U are made of money. Inland RV has a thread that shows U the proper angle that your axle should be at. Take HEED my friend this could be trouble. Also the PO had our unit way way over hitched,that has caused a few external rivets in the front to pop.
Best of Luck to U
Roger

wayner61 · 06-15-2008, 09:47 PM

Hey Fred - Very NICE!

I had kind of a silly little remark to put in there myself but chickened out.

Wayne

safari62 · 06-16-2008, 06:03 AM

And just a few other thoughts........

Your model and year has the aluminum interior walls that overlap the fiberglass interior end caps. This is where rivets may be more likely to loosen up as the holes in the fiberglass have enlarged over, say, the last 45 years. Try some slightly larger rivets or maybe even epoxy in and between first.

ALSO VERY IMPORTANT!!! Do not travel with large amounts and heavy materials in overhead compartments. Dishes, canned goods etc must be placed in lower storage areas while travelling. I place these kind of things in a plastic tub under the sink, etc and also as much forward in the trailer as you can.

Tires....lots of info elsewhere but avoid truck highply etc. Go radial and away maintain correct pressure.

good luck

smcpheters · 06-18-2008, 07:09 AM

Thanks All,

As it so happens, I have another problem with electric brakes that will require replacing the axle. I need to call Inland at the end of the month to find out what I need to order and get it done. We want to haul to PEI in August with another couple who tow a SOB.

Frank's Trailer Works · 06-18-2008, 08:14 AM

I want to throw my two cents in here... Are the popped rivets in the same area every time? If you have floor issues the rivets in that area will pop out when you tow, due to the floor flexing more than it is designed to. I strongly encourage you to look very closely along the wall below that area. A broken cross member or some soft floor will often lead to the problem you are experiencing. Yes bad axles will cause this too. So is this in one area or all over?

smcpheters · 06-18-2008, 06:57 PM

I am thinking that the transition of aluminum and fiberglass my be the culprit. It is pretty much at the area described earlier.

smcpheters · 07-05-2008, 12:16 PM

I have ordered the new axle from Inland RV. Should be shipping by the end of the month. Time is going to be tight. I have a friend who is handy with such things and is willing to give me a hand. Hope to be at the Airstream gathering in PEI in August.

RIstream'n · 07-05-2008, 12:42 PM

I have been on alot of rough roads while coming across the country and have found one rivet out and there is some seperation of the wall against the bathroom sink. This couldn't be from a bad axle on a brand new unit can it?? Could it be tire balance? Anything else come to mind??