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11-15-2018, 05:04 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2014 23' International
Hurst
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,495
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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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11-15-2018, 05:19 PM
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#2
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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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.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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11-15-2018, 05:40 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W
, New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
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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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11-15-2018, 07:14 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2014 23' International
Hurst
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,495
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac
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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Yep... I'm that guy 😉
Thanks for your kind compliments!
Rob
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11-15-2018, 07:20 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63
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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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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11-15-2018, 07:23 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RFP
. . .
Then, I used these pins to hold it together . . .
. . .
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I thought you built a custom hinged table that did not have this problem?
Peter
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11-15-2018, 08:09 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2014 23' International
Hurst
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,495
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15
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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Well, folks, I respectfully disagree... my 'solution' i much simpler. After a five-minute-fix, there are NO steps...
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11-15-2018, 08:12 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2014 23' International
Hurst
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,495
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15
I thought you built a custom hinged table that did not have this problem?
Peter
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Hi, Peter... my table still uses the factory mounting hardware... we love the folding table!
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11-15-2018, 11:43 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,367
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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.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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11-16-2018, 08:00 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2016 23' International
Centennial
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,684
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Rob...I always love coming across your projects. Thanks for sharing!
__________________
Steve "Centennial Man"
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11-16-2018, 10:42 AM
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#11
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2 Rivet Member
2018 27' Flying Cloud
Orange Beach
, Alabama
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 41
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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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11-16-2018, 11:20 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Olympia
, Washington
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 618
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Table screwed to the wall using angle iron from Home Depot.
Problem solved. Table hasn't fallen down so far.
__________________
Richard Wills, Olympia, WA --- WBCCI 8873, WL7Z
"Aurum": 2018 Ram/Cummins 3500
"Argentum": 2016 AS FC 27 FB
RIP "BigDog": M Harlequin Great Dane, 150 lb
"St. Rocco": M Black Great Dane, 150 lb
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11-16-2018, 10:56 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,367
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rgentum
Table screwed to the wall using angle iron from Home Depot.
Problem solved. Table hasn't fallen down so far.
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Hi, I hope that you meant "angle aluminum". Also called aluminum angle.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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11-28-2018, 11:37 AM
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#14
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,694
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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.
__________________
Gene
The Airstream is sold; a 2016 Nash 24M replaced it.
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11-28-2018, 12:55 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2014 23' International
Hurst
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,495
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gene
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...
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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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11-28-2018, 01:21 PM
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#16
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,694
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The bungie cord is removed when we aren’t driving.
__________________
Gene
The Airstream is sold; a 2016 Nash 24M replaced it.
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11-28-2018, 01:38 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2014 23' International
Hurst
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,495
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gene
The bungie cord is removed when we aren’t driving.
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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
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11-29-2018, 06:43 PM
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#19
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Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,694
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RFP
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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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.
__________________
Gene
The Airstream is sold; a 2016 Nash 24M replaced it.
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11-29-2018, 06:58 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2014 23' International
Hurst
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,495
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gene
<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>
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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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