Front door upper hinge pin

[Beach Bum]

I noticed the front door upper hinge pin was out about 1/2 inch. Whacked it back in place with rubber a mallet. We have a 30' 2014 FC with about 3k miles. This newbie wants to know if this is normal ?



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[overlander63]

It happens. There are a couple of fixes, the cheapest and most effective fix is to drill a hole through the hinge, through the pin, and tap a 1/8" roll pin into the hole. It will never come out again. Open the door and drill the front-facing part of the hinge so it will be less noticeable.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Beach Bum

I noticed the front door upper hinge pin was out about 1/2 inch. Whacked it back in place with rubber a mallet. We have a 30' 2014 FC with about 3k miles. This newbie wants to know if this is normal ?



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Your trailer is being shaken.

Some of the causes are excessive rated hitch bars, excessive rated tow vehicle, and the biggest cause is lack of proper running gear balance.

Installing some Centramatic balancers will cure the balance issue.

Andy

[Markj55]

Originally Posted by overlander63

It happens. There are a couple of fixes, the cheapest and most effective fix is to drill a hole through the hinge, through the pin, and tap a 1/8" roll pin into the hole. It will never come out again. Open the door and drill the front-facing part of the hinge so it will be less noticeable.

I second that. I took the same measures with mine 6 months ago and no further issues.

[SteveH]

There's an easier fix that requires no drilling. Clean the surface of the hinge where the pin goes in, and that area of the hinge pin with any solvent that will remove the oil that might be on it. Tap the hinge pin back in place with RED Locktite liberally applied around the area, and let it set over night. It will not come out again.

[Markj55]

Originally Posted by SteveH

There's an easier fix that requires no drilling. Clean the surface of the hinge where the pin goes in, and that area of the hinge pin with any solvent that will remove the oil that might be on it. Tap the hinge pin back in place with RED Locktite liberally applied around the area, and let it set over night. It will not come out again.

Why didn't you tell me that before Steve. I didn't really want to drill into my trailer. But, it worked and it really doesn't show.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Markj55

Why didn't you tell me that before Steve. I didn't really want to drill into my trailer. But, it worked and it really doesn't show.

Well, maybe because you didn't ask???

[Beach Bum]

Thanks all, just got home and the pin pop up again. Will fix before we leave again on Tuesday. We prefer to be home on holiday weekends too may crazy's in the campgrounds.

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[Markj55]

Originally Posted by Beach Bum

Thanks all, just got home and the pin pop up again. Will fix before we leave again on Tuesday. We prefer to be home on holiday weekends too may crazy's in the campgrounds.

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Agree -agree! Nothing ruins a great holiday like amateurs screaming and carrying on until all hours of the night, harshing the mellow you sought. I liken it to New Year's Eve when the same thing is true. I always called it amateur night.

And while my wife and I thought we'd bring in the new year in our AS this past January, in a quiet campground in the mountains..... At about 4pm our empty park started filling up with people, all young. We of course were able to bring in the new year on the east coast (we live on the west). But, 2 hours later we were awoken by our neighbors - all of them - as they hooped and hollered until the wee hours! Happy New Year... Not so much.

[kswelsh]

We had the same problem with the top pin coming out on our 2006 Classic. We tried installing the Centramatics as Andy suggested as well as the Locktite. Didn't work. We took it to the dealer who put in the new version pin and haven't had a problem since. Glad we got the Centramatics though

[dznf0g]

The new grooved and e-clipped pin is the easy clean non-intrusive fix. They are about $20 each though.

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[idroba]

On a 2014 trailer, it is a dealer warrantee issue. Let them fix it, we pay enough for the trailer to begin with. You have 2 years of service free. Use it.

[Beach Bum]

Centramatic's are in my future plan to get them after I get back in July. Makes a lot of sense.

Read a lot of the running gear info on the board lots of conflicting info and folks who swear by whatever they have. Did not realize that running gear topic is as volatile as politics and religion

I have the grooved pin. Maybe the e clip may have failed I will compare with the lower hinge and call AS customer service.

If not will try one of the other fixes.

If a dealer was closer I would take it there. Cost me more in gas and time than this is worth if I can fix easily.

[dznf0g]

By grooved, I'm now talking about the knurled top...I'm talking about a land cut around the circumference where the washers are between the two halves of the hinge. There should be several round washers for variable door height and an e-clip in the upper gap.
Just to be clear.
If the clip is there, there is no way for the pin to walk up.

[Beach Bum]

Thanks go the addtional info. I'll check when I get back to the AS on Tuesday.

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[Beach Bum]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

By grooved, I'm now talking about the knurled top...I'm talking about a land cut around the circumference where the washers are between the two halves of the hinge. There should be several round washers for variable door height and an e-clip in the upper gap.
Just to be clear.
If the clip is there, there is no way for the pin to walk up.

E clip was missing. Got a replacement and a spare from local hardware store. Thanks, kinda of a duh moment for me. Should have looked at it closely in the first place. Oh well.
Defiantly got the shock and vibration test today. We drove north on I 95 in South Carolina today thought we were back in the north east pot holes, dips and really crappy road repairs. It was so bad I slowed down so we did not break any teeth

Thanks again for the help.

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