Another Mercedes vs. Airstream issue

[kfrere]

First, allow me to stress how much my husband and I love our AI. It's a wonderful alternative to our AS trailer and allows us to cover a lot of ground quickly. Yes, there have been some kinks to work out but we expected that with a vehicle having so many components.

The complaint that I have is that it's been difficult at times to get proper servicing. Our local Mercedes dealer doesn't have a rack long enough to raise it, and the local Freightliner quit working on them. We now have a wonderful service center not too far from us (European Auto Garage of Knoxville) that is incredible with the Sprinter issues.

Current problem is that the upper hinge on the sliding door has become bent so that it doesn't close properly. Turns out that the extremely tight fit of the sliding screen door has caused too much tension on the hinges and, after 14,000 miles, has caused a door alignment problem. The garage adjusted the hinges (a Mercedes issue), but wants to modify the screen door (an Airstream issue). AS will only warranty the work if done by an AS service center. I wouldn't let the one closest to us touch my bicycle, must less my AS. So, we will pay out of pocket for this garage to come up with a solution.

When I had the AI at Jackson Center this past Spring for some repairs we pointed out the door closure issue. They just shrugged. Of course, they were so busy trying to keep up that they were servicing the vans in the parking lot outside the service bays. It was a mad house!

Has anyone else had this screen door/sliding door issue?

[wachuko]

What about doing a road trip to Airstream HQ facilities to get their help fixing it? Not an option?

[kfrere]

Well, it's a day up, a day back and at least one work day in-between. Even though I think HQ is good I was hoping to keep those trips down to once a year.

[Lily&Me]

I’m pretty sure there are threads on this sliding door issue, as it has come up before.

It may be that an RV dealer could look at the door and perhaps fix it.

Maggie

[Titus]

I don't think that I have hinge problems but the door seems to be extremely hard to close. There are indents in the mousehair panel at the bottom - and I have already removed the bungee-cord cover one the storage space to give an additional 1/8 to 1/4" clearance. Next step may be to cut 1/4" off the floor to give yet more clearance. (I saw this being done as a repair at JC but don't know how much or if this helped.) I may have to reposition the door closed step sensor to make contact. But so far I have just been slamming the door.

[Tronadora]

Maybe this relates: we cannot have the screen door closed when we close the sliding outer door. The big slider would impact the screen door at the last minute as it snugs into position. We have learned to live with it and I do not know if this is the way the factory intended. (we acquired our AI GT six months ago)

[Boxster1971]

These sliding door issues are caused by Airstream. Mine became hard to close and I realized is was the parts added by Airstream in the step well pushing against the door that were causing the issue. I trimmed away part of the door covering and it now works like normal. I posted a thread on this a few months back.
I recommend getting an RV shop to fix the problem. But if you can find someone else to do it that too can work. Of course the best spot might be Airstream HQ in JC.
Good luck.

[Titus]

Boxster:
I recall seeing your previous post but cannot find it and cannot recall the details.
How much additional clearance did you gain by replacing the lower part of the mouse fur panel with a metal (brushed aluminum?) panel? How did you finish the lower cut-off part of the mouse fur panel? Did you cut the mouse fur backing panel a bit shorter than the mouse fur, so you could wrap (and glue?) the mouse fur under the backing? Did you rivet the new metal panel to the door? Did you use sheet metal screws to fasten the lower part of the mouse fur panel to the new metal panel? I may start by removing the mouse fur panel and see if the door closes any easier. If it does then your solution may be easier than what I saw (pun intended) being done at JC.

[m.hony]

The Mercedes-Benz dealership in Jackson, MS has been wonderful servicing our friend Jannie's Interstate.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Titus

Boxster:
I recall seeing your previous post but cannot find it and cannot recall the details.
How much additional clearance did you gain by replacing the lower part of the mouse fur panel with a metal (brushed aluminum?) panel? How did you finish the lower cut-off part of the mouse fur panel? Did you cut the mouse fur backing panel a bit shorter than the mouse fur, so you could wrap (and glue?) the mouse fur under the backing? Did you rivet the new metal panel to the door? Did you use sheet metal screws to fasten the lower part of the mouse fur panel to the new metal panel? I may start by removing the mouse fur panel and see if the door closes any easier. If it does then your solution may be easier than what I saw (pun intended) being done at JC.

Here is link to thread with photos.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...en-165207.html

I gained about 1/4" to 1/2" of clearance. I removed the interior door panel installed by Airstream. It is a piece of 1/8" plywood covered by the "mouse fur" fabric. I pealed back the lower rear corner of the fabric to cut the plywood so it would clear the Airstream installed part in the step well area. Then I refastened the fabric to the trimmed plywood.

Photos in post #6 of linked thread show the final results.

[Haasman]

Kelly & Matt- I'd politely and persistently escalate your concerns until you feel the problem has been resolved to your satisfaction.

Haasman