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Wayne&Sam · 06-07-2007, 05:52 PM

Cleaning the Safari SE after a trip we found a rivet on the floor. It came out of the interior wall near the door. I guess I'll have to figure out if it just held two sheets of aluminum or it it also anchored to a stud of some sort. It looks like a regular old pop rivet, but I recall reading discussions about types of rivets and am not sure if that was just an interior/exterior thing. Any suggestions?

Excella CM · 06-07-2007, 06:02 PM

The interior is riveted with pop rivets. Try another one in the same place.

Wayne&Sam · 06-07-2007, 06:39 PM

Thanks.

silverback · 06-07-2007, 07:38 PM

Wayne&Sam,
From our experience that is very normal. Especially above the door. I would have your dealer replace it under warranty (being done on ours right now). I have a theory that it is related to frame flex when using a weight distributing hitch.
-KL

RangerJay · 06-07-2007, 08:06 PM

Might also want to check the balance on your tires.

Jay

Wayne&Sam · 06-08-2007, 04:03 AM

The rivet is maybe 3/4" long, so I don't think it just held two sheets of metal. Either it went through something else and the long shank allowed enough flex for it to fail or it just wasn't put in right.

Dealer is nearly three hours away so maybe I'll call get their advce and just pop a new one in.

overlander63 · 06-08-2007, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

The rivet is maybe 3/4" long, so I don't think it just held two sheets of metal. Either it went through something else and the long shank allowed enough flex for it to fail or it just wasn't put in right.

Dealer is nearly three hours away so maybe I'll call get their advce and just pop a new one in.

Make sure you use an aluminum rivet, you don't want to start dissimilar metal corrosion on such a young trailer.
I had to replace quite a few rivets in our trailer, none had ever been replaced.
The advice about tire balancing is sound, even if they were factory balanced, one or more tires could have shucked a weight, causing a vibraqtion., Lost rivets are one of the first signs of out of balance tires and running gear.

SRoffe · 06-08-2007, 06:58 AM

Did you find where it came out? We took delivery of a new trailer and after a couple trips I found a rivet head on the floor, but haven't located where it came from yet. I am thinking it was left over debris from the factory. I found a lot of shavings and stuff like that. It made me thing the factory had a few slobs working for them. That subject is for another thread...another day.

Sam

yukionna · 06-08-2007, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

The rivet is maybe 3/4" long, so I don't think it just held two sheets of metal. Either it went through something else and the long shank allowed enough flex for it to fail or it just wasn't put in right.

The purpose of rivets is to secure the metal to an internal trailer rib or other support structure in the trailer. The only time you will see rivets holding together two sheets of metal is when someone missed the rib but the rivet will probably haven fallen out by then!

Wayne&Sam · 06-08-2007, 10:14 AM

Sam- yes we found the hole with the misiing rivet.

Yukionna- Yes, it is at a place when sheets are not over lapping. Also, the length of the rivet makes me thing it's grabbing soemthing that's 3/4" away from the sheetmetal. I'll check it out over the weekend.

Silvertwinkie · 06-08-2007, 10:14 AM

Saw the same thing on a brand new 2006 25' FB unit at an RV show. It was missing the rivet up near the front entry door on the ceiling....of course, even Artisans (as Airstream calls them) can't always be 100% on the rivets.......

ArtStream · 06-08-2007, 12:52 PM

Invest in a hand pop rivet gun (under $50 bucks) and an assortment of Aluminum pop rivets. You'll be surprised at the many uses you will find for it.

Michael

Wayne&Sam · 06-08-2007, 01:04 PM

I have a pop rivet tool, I'm just concerned about re-riveting it blind- not knowing if I'm catching the right pieces inside the wall. It would be nice to know the construction in there.

yukionna · 06-08-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

I have a pop rivet tool, I'm just concerned about re-riveting it blind- not knowing if I'm catching the right pieces inside the wall. It would be nice to know the construction in there.

I wouldn't worry about it...I would just do it (as long as you know how to use the rivet gun and to choose the correct size and type of rivet). You aren't going to hurt anything (the hole is already there, right?).

You can tell where the ribs are by looking at the line of other rivets. Start on the outside and it is easy to see.

Wayne&Sam · 06-09-2007, 05:42 AM

I should start a poll- Who is tired of hearing about my rivet?

Anyway I finally had time to poke around a bit and realized it does just go into a rib, but there is a 1/2 inch space or so between the sheet metal and the rib. The hole in the sheet and the hole in the rib were all lined uo, so I popped a new rivet in and I won't worry so much next time.

yukionna · 06-09-2007, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

Anyway I finally had time to poke around a bit and realized it does just go into a rib, but there is a 1/2 inch space or so between the sheet metal and the rib. The hole in the sheet and the hole in the rib were all lined uo, so I popped a new rivet in and I won't worry so much next time.

Woohoo! Great news! I'm happy it all worked out for you!

I can empathize with you as I was worried too when I purchased my first trailer. By joining this forum, you have taken the first big step on the road to recovery!

SRoffe · 06-09-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

I should start a poll- Who is tired of hearing about my rivet?

Rivets are just a part of life.

I like the suggestions on keeping a Pop Rivet gun and some rivets handing with us all the time. I've notice some loose rivets since we've taken delivery of our trailer. I guess their bound to come loose. Every time we drive these things down the road, they get a good shake rattle and roll.

Sam

SilverCabin · 08-13-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artstream

Invest in a hand pop rivet gun (under $50 bucks) and an assortment of Aluminum pop rivets. You'll be surprised at the many uses you will find for it.

Is there a suggested assortment of rivets (sizes, types, aluminum of course, etc.) that one should carry for making repairs on the road?

Randy

Wayne&Sam · 08-27-2007, 07:54 AM

Hmm. Today I noticed the same rivet popped out again. Should I keep replacing it, or just leave it out? Will leaving it out add to the flex and cause more to pop?

ROBERT CROSS · 08-27-2007, 08:32 AM

Could be that the 1/2" gap you mentioned is too great for the rivit to draw together properly. Something you may want to bring to the dealers attention. One thing you must be careful of is not to enlarge the existing hole, a larger dia. rivit would look out of place. My wife spotted them right away on our previous trlr!!
Not to change the subject, but there are no longer any A/S dealers in NY, is your selling drlr. out of state??