Cracked Hinge

[desertwilde]

I've been out of the loop for quite awhile and it's good to be back! I've had my 12SC since June and have had lots of fun since then. Has anyone had a sidewall hinge crack? Mine has cracked on the drivers side rear corner. I sent pics to my dealer who referred me to FR. Bottom line FR is great to work with regarding warranty work. The dealer and FR though it was odd the way the hinge was cracked. I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. Thanks !

[Pooneil]

Can you post the image here?

[handbuilder]

Desertwilde - welcome back! I havent seen this with mine.....whats it look like? Is FR helping to resolve it? Sounds like great news, to have covered under warranty! Curious what part/section of warranty? Walls? Glad I have 2nd year coverage - I'll be alert & look for things...

[desertwilde]

Hi Handbuilder and thanks. The crack is only a small one on the hinge but a crack none the less. Both my dealer and Forest River have been fantastic. The crack has been my biggest concern to date. I've e attached a picture of the crack (look below the top screw). The good news is that the side wall hinges (at least on the 12SC) come in 2 sections. My dealer said he would leave the wall up and remove the broken half of the hinge to in order to support the wall and protect the other hinge. Makes sense to me.

I also had the cabinet door below the sink replaced as well. You need to watch getting the cabinets wet or the covering on the door will bubble up as happened with mine. Other than that, I'm unbelievably happy with our camper.

I purchased the awning/screen room from someone on this forum and it has literally doubled our camping space and a great shade as well

[MinneweeseMI]

It's been awhile since this post was created but I did a search and figured I would upload my pics here.

I suspect this happened maybe because the trailer was not level before trying to raise the side? We are out of warranty and the fix would be to replace the hinge which would probably just put wear and tear on the screw holes.

Has anyone else had this happen? Is this worth pursuing out of warranty? Should I just hit FR up for a replacement hinge? I know which end of a screwdriver to use.

Thanks!

[OYO]

I did some similar damage to the door due to not having the bottom of the door all the way closed while raising the side panel. The lip on the botom of the door top pressed against the top of the bottom door. I can see where that might 'spring' the hinge.

When raising be sure to close the bottom door and have the top door 90° open.

Not sure that's what caused your issue, but I can see it happening.

[MinneweeseMI]

Originally Posted by OYO

I did some similar damage to the door due to not having the bottom of the door all the way closed while raising the side panel. The lip on the botom of the door top pressed against the top of the bottom door. I can see where that might 'spring' the hinge.

When raising be sure to close the bottom door and have the top door 90° open.

Not sure that's what caused your issue, but I can see it happening.

Thanks for the quick reply. I suspect you are correct! It was probably my own doing, I don't think WD could lift it with that much force. It still works just fine and WD hasn't even noticed the hinge yet, so it's really not that big a deal. Good to know how it probably happened though.

[D-mo]

Get it fixed....because each time you lift the wall it will cause an issue.
Im sure you can buy the hinge fromthe dealer...and follow the screw patterns to make it right

[OYO]

Originally Posted by D-mo

Get it fixed....because each time you lift the wall it will cause an issue.
Im sure you can buy the hinge fromthe dealer...and follow the screw patterns to make it right

I'd probably replace that. But I'd just go to a hardware store and get brass, or stainless if I could find it.

[mickrock]

I'd consider replacing the hinge and using some gorilla glue on the screws, making sure not to over tighten the screws. Gorilla glue expands as it dries, and is tough stuff. Good luck!

[OYO]

Originally Posted by mickrock

I'd consider replacing the hinge and using some gorilla glue on the screws, making sure not to over tighten the screws. Gorilla glue expands as it dries, and is tough stuff. Good luck!

Great advice.

[Pooneil]

I just replace the hinge on mine. I think it is caused by frame flexing when traveling because it started when I hit a particularly nasty set of potholes on a highway. The same incident also caused the shelf the microwave sits on to come loose in the back. That area is the most prone to frame flexing because of the door.

I had the dealer do it because it was there for the bubble window replacement.


I personally don't see how a less than level trailer could cause it because the camper doesn't need to be level for that line to be straight. It is not like lifting the roof on pop ups.

[MinneweeseMI]

Thanks Pooniel, good to know. I almost always level the trailer first anyway, so I was at a loss to explain how it happened. I figured I must not have leveled it and perhaps it was really sensitive to leveling. Besides, we just haven't been in any crazy sites that aren't pretty close to level anyway.

[Pooneil]

Pull the drawer under the microwave and check for damage to the shelf attachment to the side wall.