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06-10-2011, 01:03 PM
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#1
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hang up and drive
2010 30' Classic
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 238
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Anyone come up with better Corian counter extension bracket?
Just broke our first one (thank you very much I-70 in Indiana), and I'm not too keen on letting the same bracket fail again. It's off for now. I've read about similar experiences and multiple bracket failures from other Classic owners here in the forums.
If it gets loose, that thing can do all sorts of damage in a trailer on the road. That sucker is unreasonably heavy.
__________________
Kyle
2023 Ford F350 Lariat 7.3/4.30 FX4 CCLB
2010 Classic Limited 30
ProPride P3-1400
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06-10-2011, 02:12 PM
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#2
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My Grandparents Airstream
2007 28' Safari SE
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 174
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I am thinking Nascar. Get some of that 200 mph duck tape and that should fix it. Do you have a picture of the bracket that failed. Did it come loose from the cabinet or did the bracket just break. If it just came loose can you use bolts instead of screws to hold it on. Pictures!!
__________________
Andrew Selking
WBCCI #6062
International 3rd Vice President
"Airstream the Best trailer ever built."
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06-10-2011, 02:52 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
2002 31' Classic
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 442
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On my 2002 ASCL 31' the corian top of the extension became “un-adhesived” within the first few months of purchase; and yes it is damn heavy. It fell to the floor (no damage) because the factory didn’t use enough adhesive to stick it to the extension’s plywood backing. I got a big tube of silicone rubber and slathered the entire back side of the corian, pressed it on, squeezed out the excess and it hasn’t come off since.
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06-10-2011, 03:22 PM
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#4
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Iv'e used this for a lot of repairs... boat, Airstream and automotive.
A really good all around repair option, tough as nails... Marine Tex, epoxy resin, adhesives, silicone grease, engine treatment, cleaner, repair, bond, fill, seal, fiberglass, aluminum, plastics, Starboard, wood
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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06-10-2011, 03:35 PM
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#5
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hang up and drive
2010 30' Classic
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 238
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Thanks, gents. I wish it were that easy. At the end of the day, I could ask Colonial to send me a new bracket, and I am sure they would comply promptly. But I have absolutely no confidence in this design. What I need is a better (stronger, etc.) bracket that has the needed slack built in to assure a proper mating to the fixed counter.
Here are a couple of pics to illustrate the issue a little better, and sorry for not posting them earlier.
__________________
Kyle
2023 Ford F350 Lariat 7.3/4.30 FX4 CCLB
2010 Classic Limited 30
ProPride P3-1400
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06-10-2011, 03:57 PM
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#6
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Wise Elder
2010 30' Classic
Vintage Kin Owner
South of the river
, Minnesota
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,169
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Mine came off of the side of the cabinet because the screws were too shallow. I think it's on with bolts and a nut and washer inside now.
I believe the bracket is fundamentally a sound design but you may have to shim it a little bit so that everything lines up a little better.
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06-10-2011, 03:58 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
2002 31' Classic
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 442
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My bracket is just like yours. In the collapsed position the vertically hanging top can flex the right angle of the bracket at the mounting which could fatigue the bracket at the angle, which is what seems to have happened to yours. Mine has over 32,000 miles of towing on it and I don’t see that mine has fatigued. Maybe you just got a bracket that was faulty, i.e. weak or work hardened at the angle which failed. Try another one since mine doesn’t show any sign of failure.
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06-10-2011, 04:06 PM
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#8
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Gotch'a, thats the extension that hangs down next to the door.
If it broke in the folded position I wouldn't depend on the OEM replacement doing any better. Ours has held up well but it's a wooden extension of the Corian counter. I would see about getting a HD replacement at one of the BB stores. Take it with and explain what you need.
So this just may be your first up-grade.... Good Luck.
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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06-10-2011, 04:31 PM
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#9
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hang up and drive
2010 30' Classic
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 238
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Thanks for the opinions. Hmm...what to do? The original bracket failed at less than 3,500 miles.
I think I'll head down to the HD and see what they've got. Certainly couldn't hurt. If no luck, I'll ping Colonial for a warranty part and give it another go. This military-gypsy lifestyle doesn't exactly lend itself to maintaining a shop and tools where I could fabricate a bracket.
Thanks again for the help, and please continue to chime in if there any other ideas.
P.S. Bob, this would be my second upgrade. I drove home last week from Alumapalooza on new 16" Michelins.
Kyle
__________________
Kyle
2023 Ford F350 Lariat 7.3/4.30 FX4 CCLB
2010 Classic Limited 30
ProPride P3-1400
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06-10-2011, 07:54 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2021 27' Globetrotter
Saint Louis
, Missouri
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,107
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kry226
thank you very much I-70 in Indiana
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There's your problem! That road is pathetic. We avoided it on the way back by taking US 36 across. Much better road and scenery. Of course it took a little longer than I-70 but the time was worth the savings in wear and tear.
__________________
Dennis
BRN #20321 Air #4056
"Oooh - They have the Internet on computers now!" - Homer Simpson
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06-11-2011, 05:39 AM
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#11
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hang up and drive
2010 30' Classic
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 238
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cosmotini
There's your problem! That road is pathetic. We avoided it on the way back by taking US 36 across. Much better road and scenery. Of course it took a little longer than I-70 but the time was worth the savings in wear and tear.
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I wholeheartedly concur. But most interstates are not even close to being that bad. Headed east, we hit I-64 from just west of St. Louis to visit family in Kentucky and it was much better.
If time allows, we definitely need to get off the beaten path more.
__________________
Kyle
2023 Ford F350 Lariat 7.3/4.30 FX4 CCLB
2010 Classic Limited 30
ProPride P3-1400
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07-04-2011, 10:32 AM
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#12
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1 Rivet Member
2007 30' Classic S/O
2010 31' Classic
West Linn
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7
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We also had a failure. It was replaced with same bracket. We now use blue masking tape to prevent it from bouncing as we travel. I-5 around Stockton, Ca most likely caused it. Nevertheless, Airstream should have designed it to lock down.
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07-04-2011, 09:52 PM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member
2005 30' Safari
Houston Texas
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 480
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We lost then same bracket at about 15k of towing. It appears to be really thin metal and mine broke with the safari butcher block cutting board which is definitely lighter than the corian.
I am possibly thinking a fine stainless piano hinge would be better.
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07-05-2011, 01:58 PM
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#14
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hang up and drive
2010 30' Classic
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 238
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SafariSS
I am possibly thinking a fine stainless piano hinge would be better.
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Care to elaborate? Got a pic?
__________________
Kyle
2023 Ford F350 Lariat 7.3/4.30 FX4 CCLB
2010 Classic Limited 30
ProPride P3-1400
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07-06-2011, 05:09 AM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
2005 30' Safari
Houston Texas
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 480
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I have not done the mod yet, however it would look just like the hinge on your main bathroom door or drop leaf table.
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07-06-2011, 06:51 AM
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#16
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hang up and drive
2010 30' Classic
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 238
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Got it, thanks.
__________________
Kyle
2023 Ford F350 Lariat 7.3/4.30 FX4 CCLB
2010 Classic Limited 30
ProPride P3-1400
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09-16-2012, 11:31 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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Any better Ideas?
One of our brackets broke today in the same place as the one in this thread. I am wondering if anyone has found a better substitute yet.
Ken
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09-17-2012, 01:47 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
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Check out marine parts stores for stainless steel hardware (hinges, brackets, nuts and bolts). Boats take a lot more pounding than land yachts, and stainless steel is better suited for RV use than hardware from Home Depot and Lowes. However, be prepared for sticker shock. The good stuff is expensive, but you probably won't have to replace it ever again.
See link below for examples of typical hardware. However, the same or similar parts are available from other local and online sources, probably at better prices.
Search Results at West Marine
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09-17-2012, 04:58 AM
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#19
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hang up and drive
2010 30' Classic
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 238
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We lost our second bracket recently, and the counter extension now shamefully resides on top of a cabinet in the garage...
__________________
Kyle
2023 Ford F350 Lariat 7.3/4.30 FX4 CCLB
2010 Classic Limited 30
ProPride P3-1400
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10-13-2012, 12:51 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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Quote:
Originally Posted by w7ts
One of our brackets broke today in the same place as the one in this thread. I am wondering if anyone has found a better substitute yet.
Ken
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Well I did not find a substitute. I did order two new ones from Out of Doors Mart. They were not on their web site, so I ordered them by phone. They are called "collapsible shelf brackets". They cost 4.95 each plus 10.95 to ship both of them. According to ODM, they cost about 10.00 each, if purchased from Airstream. I ordered two ,so that I will be prepared for the next one to break. In all due respect to the bracket, it broke on the worse pot-holed interstate I've towed on.
Unlike the one that broke, these did not come Pre- "bent out of shape".
Ken
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