Cabinets hinges not secure

[DualSport]

We're on our 2nd shakedown trip with our new 2012 Lacrosse 301RLS. I noticed a few cabinet hinges were loose but couldn't be tightened as they'd been "stripped".


Up to this point I'd understood that the Prime Time Cabinets were solid wood (as pointed out by the salesman) but closer inspection shows the frames are vinyl-covered particle board. I checked the PT swebsite and find the Lacrosse specs include:


Solid Hartford Cherry Cabinet Doors
Solid Wood Core Cabinets
Predrilled and Screwed Cherry Finish Cabinetry


Not sure what "solid wood core" means but "Cherry finish cabinetry" usually means "not real wood".


Short of using larger screws each time they come loose, has anyone had this problem and found a long term solution?


Bob

[wyo700]

I had this problem with one of my cabinets on my toy hauler. I put some gorrila wood glue in the whole and then put screw back and so far so good hasn't come loose again and I have gone quite a few dirt roads since then.

[Tiggerdad]

Only one time have I had stripped holes. Fill them with tootpicks and a dab of wood glue. Reinstall screws after glue is dry.

[hockeytownmom]

I had that problem in my Roo, I used gorilla glue to keep the screws in.

[Wildwood Danny]

Have had the same problem with all of our trailers, so it is not just a PT problem. Fixed them with the glue and toothpick/matchstick trick. Had one door in the LaCrosse jar open on some rough Iowa roads, tore the screws out of the wood real bad, glue trick didn't work. Bought some dowel rod, drilled the holes out just a hair larger than the rod, cut some short plugs from the dowel, glue them in, touched up the finish, drilled new screw holes, reinstalled the door, 2000 miles and door still in place and working good.

Keep on talking RVing.

[Hob]

Originally Posted by Wildwood Danny

Have had the same problem with all of our trailers, so it is not just a PT problem. Fixed them with the glue and toothpick/matchstick trick. Had one door in the LaCrosse jar open on some rough Iowa roads, tore the screws out of the wood real bad, glue trick didn't work. Bought some dowel rod, drilled the holes out just a hair larger than the rod, cut some short plugs from the dowel, glue them in, touched up the finish, drilled new screw holes, reinstalled the door, 2000 miles and door still in place and working good.

Keep on talking RVing.

Bought a "new" 2011 Flagstaff V-Lite nobody wanted because it had a table and chairs versus a dinette. I was a cranky old man on here because I had to do 32 hinge holes like that and put blind nuts through the slide to hold the table in the slide properly. The reason I did all of them was at least this way I knew they were done right. I thought that was too large of a number to have to repair. So much for quality control from an assembly line. At least I didn't get a Lippert frame to worry about too.

[ironj]

same issue here with my 318bhs.....those screws are like 1/4 inch....seriously??? i asked the tech at my dealer for some longer ones, and he said they use the toothpick/glue method....

i went to home depot and found some rubbed bronze hardware screws a little longer...THEN i used the toothpick/glue method....

you dont realize how many doors/hinges are on your trailer untill you attempt this...what can i say, im a perfectionist and it bugged me to no end that the hinges were loose.....and the ones that werent would probably be after a while.....

i tell ya, whoever gets this trailer after me in a couple of years is gonna think prime time makes the best most well built trailers in the world after im done with it! LOL

[DualSport]

Thanks for all the good advice.

Does anyone question why the manufacturers use particle board for an application that requires screws? It's heavier that most woods and can't save enough $ to justify the warranty labour claims.

Bob

[Timex]

Just use duct tape!

[FreedomTracker]

We had same problem on our MiniLite. First tried larger wood screws but they also would not hold.

Finally used bolts that went all the way thru and tightened them securely with washer & nuts. Just did the ones that were loose and figured I'd do others when/if needed.

Problem solved.

[Mountainmanbob]

Originally Posted by DualSport

I noticed a few cabinet hinges were loose but couldn't be tightened as they'd been "stripped".

for the best easy repair
JB Weld Quick Set
apply a small amount into hole
and onto screw
lightly screw the screw back in
in 60 min pretty much rock hard
I have done about 5 of these in the last year
all still (super tight)
one repair on the door shock larger screw
lot of pressure there
still (super tight)
if one wishes to break screws or bolts loose later
no problem
Mountainman