So I was happy that FreshAir44 just bought a 2008 23’ Safari SE with L-Lounge (Congratulations!) and had a question that I could answer.
And in my usual style, I went out to the trailer to take some photos to illustrate the answer:
The slide-out gaucho section extends the bed area width to about 45", which is about 6" shorter then the stationary street-side section. I would not try to extend the slide-out section more than it is designed to function for several reasons. One is that this cantilever design is designed to carry a certain weight over a specified distance. Making the distance longer could stress the metal glide rails and wooden support arms. And if the pullout section were 6" longer it would go into the door entry space.
Now, one more look under that slide-out section of the gaucho…
Which made me into a groucho…
Because the curb-side wood support arm, which the factory had only stapled on, was now separating away from the gaucho frame and no longer adequately supported the metal glide rail and slide-out section. The street-side arm was also stapled, but had not yet separated.
In retrospect, after completing several trips using the gaucho, we had noticed that the curbside corner (by the door) of the gaucho slide-out section appeared loose and lower than the street-side. On previous trips, we occasionally had been having some difficulty extending and retracting the gaucho. It felt as if something was catching when we pushed/pulled on the slide-out. While looking at the extra heavy-duty drawer glide bracket under the gaucho, we noted that the hardwood bar support under the glide hardware was separating from the cabinet frame. It had been secured only with staples at the factory. The wooden bar support fell off when touched! The front ¾" wood screw securing the glide hardware to the cabinet frame had become loose, stripped out of its hole, and had fallen onto the floor.
Larry replaced the missing wood screw at the front of the glide hardware with a 2 ½" flat head deck screw. The rear ¾" wood screw holding the other end of the glide fell out during the repair and was replaced with a 2" flat head, 10 gauge, machine screw. The machine screw penetrates the lounge frame and curbside exterior upholstery fabric, and is secured with a nut and washer. (Note: the flat head screw securing the glide bracket must set in flush with the metal to allow the segments of the glide to side over each other to properly allow extension and retraction of the hardware. The wooden bar supporting the glide hardware was pre-drilled and re-attached to the cabinet frame with 5 to 6, 1-5/8" wood deck screws.
Then on go the sheets: a full top sheet sewn onto a fitted bottom sheet… Thanks, Rich L. for the suggestion.
(Note the vintage and flattened goose down pillow, which will hide nicely under the bedding, and yet can be bolstered with other pillows nearby when in use).
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