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Old 11-15-2018, 05:04 PM   #1
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"Insurance" against dinette table falling while under way

There are occasional, yet persistent reports from fellow Airstreamers of their dinette table "bouncing out" of the wall brackets and crashing down while under way. Probably less likely for those who have the table on the tongue end of the trailer, but, for five bucks or so, why take a chance.

All that is needed is a 3/16" hole drilled through all three layers (wall bracket, table bracket, aluminum backing skin). Just be sure the table bracket is fully seated (upward) into the wall bracket, and drill the hole centered 0.300" up from the bottom edge of the wall bracket.

Then, I used these pins to hold it together: https://www.mcmaster.com/98404A006

That should take care of any likelihood of the table popping out and down, yet the pins are easily removed if you want the table down "on purpose."

Where else can you buy peace of mind for such a small price

Rob
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Old 11-15-2018, 05:19 PM   #2
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While that's a good solution, a better solution is to simply place the table in the lowered position before towing, and avoid the situation altogether.
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Old 11-15-2018, 05:40 PM   #3
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RFP - aren’t you the guy who also posted the door handle opening fix? Why doesn’t AS add those mods right from the factory? BRILLIANT!! Love it!
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Old 11-15-2018, 07:14 PM   #4
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RFP - aren’t you the guy who also posted the door handle opening fix? Why doesn’t AS add those mods right from the factory? BRILLIANT!! Love it!
Yep... I'm that guy 😉

Thanks for your kind compliments!

Rob
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Old 11-15-2018, 07:20 PM   #5
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While that's a good solution, a better solution is to simply place the table in the lowered position before towing, and avoid the situation altogether.
Yup! A pretty simple solution that takes a minute or two, once you have mastered the various steps.

Keep It Simple, Stu.
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Old 11-15-2018, 07:23 PM   #6
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. . .
Then, I used these pins to hold it together . . .
. . .
I thought you built a custom hinged table that did not have this problem?

Peter
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Old 11-15-2018, 08:09 PM   #7
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Yup! A pretty simple solution that takes a minute or two, once you have mastered the various steps.

Keep It Simple, Stu.
Well, folks, I respectfully disagree... my 'solution' i much simpler. After a five-minute-fix, there are NO steps...
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Old 11-15-2018, 08:12 PM   #8
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I thought you built a custom hinged table that did not have this problem?

Peter
Hi, Peter... my table still uses the factory mounting hardware... we love the folding table!
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Old 11-15-2018, 11:43 PM   #9
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Hi, my table is different than yours and when in the stored position, it would slip down to the floor. I also used those type pins to prevent my wooden sliding channel from moving. I also have sliding cabinet doors in my bathroom that are locked in place while on the road.
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Old 11-16-2018, 08:00 AM   #10
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Rob...I always love coming across your projects. Thanks for sharing!
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Old 11-16-2018, 10:42 AM   #11
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Trinity

General concensous, when we asked this question, was to always travel with the table down. We have had no problem since. It is a pain to put it up/down, so we bought two folding tables to use when we did not want to put the table up. Also, in another post they reduced the width of the table to just beyond the wall brackets. We like this idea and plan to do the same using a cabinet maker friend. A lot, I know - sorry. We have a 2018 27FB Flying Cloud and are full timing since April. Safe travels, 6955
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Old 11-16-2018, 11:20 AM   #12
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Table screwed to the wall using angle iron from Home Depot.

Problem solved. Table hasn't fallen down so far.
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Old 11-16-2018, 10:56 PM   #13
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Table screwed to the wall using angle iron from Home Depot.

Problem solved. Table hasn't fallen down so far.
Hi, I hope that you meant "angle aluminum". Also called aluminum angle.
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Old 11-28-2018, 11:37 AM   #14
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There is another simple solution and it may cost less than $5. I screwed two cheap robe hooks facing down under the seats and stretched a bungee cord across the table and hooked to each hook. If you buy bungies by the bag, each is cheap and the hooks are around a dollar each, so I estimate it is a $4 fix. It doesn’t lock the table in place, but reduces the range of motion from road shock and swaying and should prevent the table from pulling off of the wall. If the bungee is too long, put a few knots in it so it is a fairly tight fit.

What are now called angle braces were called “angle irons” when I was a kid. They often were steel, not iron. Shall we use the historical name or the name of the substance of which it is made? When I go buy some, in my head it says “angle iron”, but if I asked a store employee where they are, I guess I would have to say “brace”. I wish to make it clear, I do not ask directions because the adventure of finding it myself is manly even if I never find it and my wife shows me where it is because she asked someone. Asking directions is a sign of weakness.
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Old 11-28-2018, 12:55 PM   #15
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There is another simple solution and it may cost less than $5. I screwed two cheap robe hooks facing down under the seats and stretched a bungee cord across the table and hooked to each hook. If you buy bungies by the bag, each is cheap and the hooks are around a dollar each, so I estimate it is a $4 fix. It doesn’t lock the table in place, but reduces the range of motion from road shock and swaying...
Well, Gene, there are lots of ways to make the table behave...

While cheap enough, my child bride would have my hide if I even suggested draping a bungee cord across the table !
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Old 11-28-2018, 01:21 PM   #16
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The bungie cord is removed when we aren’t driving.
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Old 11-28-2018, 01:38 PM   #17
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The bungie cord is removed when we aren’t driving.
Sure, I understand... bit is is just another "thing to do."

How 'bout this:. PM your mailing address to me and I'll mail to you a couple of the little pins. Drill a 3/16th hole as described and pop in the pins. Then let me know how you like it. Be happy to mail 'em to you.

Rob
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Old 11-28-2018, 09:16 PM   #18
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Not sure if this will work...interesting design applicable to RVs and boats.

https://www.amazon.com/Marine-Teak-L...ds=lagun+table
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Old 11-29-2018, 06:43 PM   #19
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Sure, I understand... bit is is just another "thing to do."

How 'bout this:. PM your mailing address to me and I'll mail to you a couple of the little pins. Drill a 3/16th hole as described and pop in the pins. Then let me know how you like it. Be happy to mail 'em to you.

Rob
Rob, thanks for the offer, however, I am happy with what I got plus I don't think the fiberglass and foam wall of our present trailer would work the same way as an Airstream wall.

And a thought from my weak understanding of physics. The most momentum is at the point furthest from where the table is secured. Thus locking it to the wall transfers most of that force to the wall, stressing the wall and however the table is secured. I always thought the few screws (I don't think they were rivets, but I haven't looked in quite a while) holding the table bracket to the wall were all that string for the long term, but I can't remember if there was a frame part behind the bracket. By having the bungie about 1/3 of the way from the outer end, the table moves less and everywhere there is a lot less stress. After a long time the bungie will wear and snap and the table will have bungie marks, but I think I will be too old to notice.

We adapted to this "another thing to do". Barb especially has adapted often doing the bungie thing when I forget about it, which is often. Compared to the rushed packing of trailer and fridge the days before we travel, removing or installing a bungie gives me a chance to sit down for a minute and try not to think about stuffing another cooler load of food into the dense foodwall I see when I open the fridge door. Since our dinette is along the side wall, the table has a lot more rocking to do from starting and stopping, than the Airstream where it was along the back wall, and swayed side to side. At least I think the side wall location is worse on the table. That's why I had the lightbulb moment when I was thinking abut how to stop the table from moving—it will move, but less and constrained from sharp blows of inertia.

I am sure there are as many different solutions to the table thing as there are roads to nirvana. Each has it fans. The real bummer is it is still November and how many months before I can get on the road with my bungie? The answer is around 4 1/2 months and that's too many.
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Old 11-29-2018, 06:58 PM   #20
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<snip>installing a bungie gives me a chance to sit down for a minute and try not to think about stuffing another cooler load of food into the dense foodwall I see when I open the fridge door. <snip>
Gene !

Now, THAT"S a plan... love it!

You bring up some really good points. I, too, was thinking that the sheet metal screws that hold the table brackets to the wall might be a "weak link." With that in mind, I installed "Jack Nuts" so I could use #10 machine screws. Also, with my folding table, the moment arm is reduced by half, and my table leg is positioned roughly in the center of the table's mass. Anyway, it's pretty darned secure.

Yep, November. Our last trip of the year was a couple of weeks ago... went to Galveston. Texas. It's going to be a long wait 'till we're on the road again.

Bummer

Have super-great holidays, Gene
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