Window Rock Guard Question

[ASIS17]

I bought a new International 30 last summer and have been having trouble latching the corner window rock guards. I can line up the pins but I can't seem to get them in deep enough to make the 1/4 turn and have them catch. It seems like the rubber is either too thick or the pins are too short. Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

[Garfish]

Same issue with my 2017 Bambi. They just aren’t very good fasteners.

[ASIS17]

I can't get any of them to catch. I figured that as long as the middle window is closed tight, the corner guards can't come open. So I would do my best to line the corner guards up and secure the middle guard. I've been traveling like this. Then last week I read on this forum about someone who had one come loose while going down the road, causing serious damage.

It's too cold here to work on it now but once the weather breaks I'm going to find someway to fasten them. I may shave off some of the rubber grommet to make them work.

Garfish, thanks for responding. I couldn't believe I was the only one having this problem.

[uraljohn]

Same issue with our 2017 Int Serenity 23. Was at Jackson Center for warranty work last August. The Tech shaved off about 3/16 of rubber. works fine now. The quarter turns Dzus fasteners are not the best choice for that application.

[woodfox45]

You can buy a longer latch screw from Airstream .

[Acheron2010]

IMHO, this is an example of an item the Jackson Center should take away and get to their engineering team for a fix, then issue a tech bulletin for parts replacement or maintenance instructions. Warranty fix?

[ASIS17]

Originally Posted by woodfox45

You can buy a longer latch screw from Airstream .

That's great but why weren't they installed from the factory? I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one with this problem. I'll make the latch screws I have work.

I just joined this forum last week. I was hoping I could find someone that had this same problem.

Please don't think that we aren't happy with our airstream. We love it. We spent years trying to figure out what we wanted in a camper. Then a couple more deciding which airstream was right for us.
We wanted an airstream because of the thought put into their design and the quality of their workmanship. I just have to remind myself that the factory worker are human.

Thanks.

[bel73]

I had two of the latches (the rubber grommet piece) go bad on our camper. The latch part inside the rubber grommet delaminated from the rubber and would spin. Every time I tried to turn the screw the latch would spin with the screw and not latch.

Something to check before you get longer screws.

[leeqmuth]

Originally Posted by uraljohn

Same issue with our 2017 Int Serenity 23. Was at Jackson Center for warranty work last August. The Tech shaved off about 3/16 of rubber. works fine now. The quarter turns Dzus fasteners are not the best choice for that application.

And same issue with our 2018 16” Sport. Removed the Rock Guards to clean windows and could not get curbside guard reinstalled. So did the above: filed about 3/16” off the grommet so those weird short little FSU’s fasteners would “catch” inside grommet. Worked well! Now we’ll see if they “stay” during camping trip next week. Thank goodness for this forum. So much to learn!

[leeqmuth]

Originally Posted by leeqmuth

And same issue with our 2018 16” Sport. Removed the Rock Guards to clean windows and could not get curbside guard reinstalled. So did the above: filed about 3/16” off the grommet so those weird short little FSU’s fasteners would “catch” inside grommet. Worked well! Now we’ll see if they “stay” during camping trip next week. Thank goodness for this forum. So much to learn!

Not FSU (auto correct) but Dzus fasteners

[AirMiles]

I had the same issue where the metal piece inside the grommet spun. I fixed it by through-bolting a stainless steel screw with locking nuts through the grommet. Here are the pictures of the repair: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post1996232

[sncnidaho]

Originally Posted by AirMiles

I had the same issue where the metal piece inside the grommet spun. I fixed it by through-bolting a stainless steel screw with locking nuts through the grommet. Here are the pictures of the repair: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post1996232

This obviously worked for you, but I'm not drilling out the rivets on an $85,000 trailer which should have been done correctly at the factory. I've owned 4 different Airstreams and this has been a problem on 3 out of the 4.


Thanks for the link and idea though.

[sncnidaho]

Originally Posted by leeqmuth

And same issue with our 2018 16” Sport. Removed the Rock Guards to clean windows and could not get curbside guard reinstalled. So did the above: filed about 3/16” off the grommet so those weird short little FSU’s fasteners would “catch” inside grommet. Worked well! Now we’ll see if they “stay” during camping trip next week. Thank goodness for this forum. So much to learn!

Did this actually work...........long term? The fact that you didn't make another post, makes me think it must have; just making sure.

[ASIS17]

In April, I removed about 1/8" from each grommet and was able to latch to rock guards. I've traveled over 2500 miles with the trailer since then and had no issues. In fact, I find that I've been cleaning the corner windows more often since I'm able to lock the rock guards. Each time they have locked nicely. If anything changes, I'll be sure to post it.

[az-streamer]

Asia - great to hear your mod worked. I have a 2014 fc with the same issues. I can usually get one of the bits to hook easily- then struggle with the other. Any possibility you could posts pic(s) of the grommet mod? Thanks

[centennialman]

It definitely is a frustrating problem. So glad that there is a fix for this challenge. I struggle and struggle to get them re-latched after cleaning the windows.

[mdschaefer]

Same issue on my 2019 Flying Cloud. Found a longer 1/4 turn screw and it's deep enough the get a great grab and latch tight. Found the part online.