what's up with the cabinet doors?

mother ship · 08-01-2006, 03:24 PM

We have a 25' 2006 Safari. Although we love our camper, we are a little concerned about the quality of the overhead cabinet doors. We have taken three trips so far, and the screws completely came out of one door (on the first trip), and the screws are coming loose on another door. We have been very gentle with the cabinets. The screws seem to be too short, and they don't hold well in the pressed wood doors.

Has anyone else had this experience? Has airstream done anything to rectify?
Thanks
Syl

Roadtoaster · 08-01-2006, 03:36 PM

I also have a 2006 Ssfari but have not experienced your problem, so far anyway. Might try a slightly larger diameter screw along with a little Gorilla glue in the hole.

Greg

mickleton · 08-01-2006, 05:24 PM

I had to tighten our overhead door located above the bed in our 2007 23' Safari. Came loose and since the bracket is slotted, the door dropped down on one end. Just had to tightened up the screws. Checked all the doors and did the same.

Larry

08-01-2006, 05:46 PM

If they get really bad you can use a fostner bit which bores a flat bottom hole and then glue in a solid wood plug and screw the hinge to it. Screws never hold well in particle board.

TIMEMACHINE · 08-01-2006, 10:06 PM

Yes,

We have had similar issues with srcews in our 2006 Safari 25FB SE. A few overheads and also walls and appliances. Seems as though the screws are all too small for the job in most of the areas where we experienced either a loose screw or a missing screw (found the screws on the floor later). While at the service center in Jackson Center we had them replace most of the screws with longer and larger diameter srews. The service tech pronounced the originals were both too small and overtightened.

My guess, somebody at the factory either ordered or used the wrong friggin screws. My advice...check em all...before there is not enough meat left to hold new ones in place

John

mother ship · 08-02-2006, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIMEMACHINE

My guess, somebody at the factory either ordered or used the wrong friggin screws. My advice...check em all...before there is not enough meat left to hold new ones in place

John

John,
My sentiments exactly! Thanks for the advice. The trick is going to be to get them to replace the screws BEFORE they fall out! (PS - now that you've mentioned it, we've had screws fall out in two other places - the pull on the under-couch storage and the bedroom accordian door latch - because they were too short)
Syl

Pahaska · 08-02-2006, 07:11 AM

I have had some experience on my 3 Airstreams that makes me think that the assemblers simply grab whatever screw is handy. I replaced a lot of screws on my International 22 as undersize.

The worst example I had was a 3" screw that was inserted under the sink to attach the sink cabinet to the sliding pantry adjacent. The screw hit the drawer slide that the pantry hangs on and put an "S" curve in it. That resulted in a balky pullout pantry and finally the slide failed altogether. That's when I discovered the long screw. A proper screw would have been about 1 1/2" at the most.

I think they have a big box of assorted screws and just grab what seems appropriate.

mother ship · 08-02-2006, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pahaska

I think they have a big box of assorted screws and just grab what seems appropriate.

Or what seems inappropriate, in this case. . .
Syl

jimmickle · 08-02-2006, 07:31 AM

I had the same problem with screws coming loose in my 99 Bambi. After tightening several times and having them back out again, I put a little Loctite stud lock on the threads before reinstalling them. It solved the problem. I know that Loctite is designed for metal, but it worked fine in this case.

Ray Eklund · 08-31-2007, 06:29 PM

Syl-
I carry a collection of wood and sheet metal screws while on the move in my 2006 Safari LS 23 footer. Being a newbie in the trailer world in 2006, I did not realize I needed to carry tool sets, glue, silicone, grease, oil, seven pounds of bolts, screws, nuts, electrical tape, duct tape, aluminum adhesive tape and ten rolls of toilet paper for the wife just to keep rolling along the highways.

In addition to upgrading those screws and bolts that seem to be popping out, unscrewing themselves on western highways, bolts and screws dropped by the factory are vibrating from their hiding places as "extras". Along with rivet ends and aluminum shavings that go into my savings account.

My top hinged curved door hinges are excellent. Almost no trouble, ever. The dresser type hinges are chronic, needing attention screws and hardware adjustment mongers. I keep a phillips and straight edge screwdriver busy after a tough days drive. By now I should be getting union wages for experience, but that will have to wait. Now it is just routine to count any loose screws on the floor as needing a home and I begin looking. Some times I need to improvise over the factory's assembly technique, but usually a better fitting screw is the answer to everyone's dream...

vswingfield · 08-31-2007, 06:52 PM

An old trick that has worked well for me in the past is to put 1 or 2 strands of heavy monofilament fishing line in the hole. This both works as filler and a nylon locking agent. A single strand will make ordinary nuts behave much lick a nylok nut. You probably have some around anyway. It’s a great first shot.

Vaughan

thecatsandi · 08-31-2007, 09:12 PM

If you use glue then coat the screws with a thin coating of vasaline. You will never get the screws out if you don't.

jzelle · 09-01-2007, 05:42 AM

After 5000 miles of travel no sign of any problems with loose or too-short screws on our unit yet...

lmgreenfield · 08-15-2008, 07:33 AM

We purchased a new 2006 in the fall of 2007; had been sitting on the dealers lot the whole time - not used. We LOVE the layout and have fallen in love with this camper. On our second trip the kitchen cabinet door screws popped out and had to be replaced; on the third trip the pantry door came open while traveling, the pantry door panel came off entirely, and we had items scattered throughout the trailer. We have ALWAYS been ultra-careful to ensure do a final check prior to hitting the road, ensuring that all cabinets are tightly closed and feel 'locked' just to avoid such a thing. In both cases, the screws for the door assemblies were woefully short for the job. Although our camper was fixed under warrantee by the nearest dealer, this was very disappointing in a trailer that we always envisioned as the top-line in terms of quality. Now my husband has added hardware on either side of the problem (or potential problem) doors so we can bungee them during travel. Looks a bit silly, but beats having the doors pop off the hinges or door panels shaking off totally while traveling. I'm hoping that on this next trip - our fourth, we will not experience any more factory-caused malfunctions.