Held together with Duct Tape and Bubble Gum?

Karl404 · 09-26-2021, 05:49 PM

Posting this as a heads-up and to seek commiseration rather than a solution. We're getting ready for a long trip in our 2021 Axis 24.1 and found that the trim on one of our wheel wells has pulled away from the body. The screw that is supposed to hold it in place doesn't go into anything and the adhesive has all pulled away.

I crawled underneath and saw that there are similar screws around the perimeter that are either: 1. starting to come loose, 2. were never fully recessed, 3. go into the trim, but not the underlying sheet metal at all.

Today's project is to shore this up before a four hour drive tomorrow. Take a look at your's before your next big trip. :-)

Lt Keefer · 09-26-2021, 09:09 PM

Typical Thor construction practice. Duck tape and bubble gum would be an improvement.

Chateau_Nomad · 09-27-2021, 04:12 AM

On another thread there was a complaint about the corner trim pieces on the slide-out, which were just stuck on with adhesive. I suggest a thorough check before any long trip. Time consuming and mind numbing... but will probably save headaches down the road.

The Gritz Carlton · 09-27-2021, 06:17 PM

Volume and turnover at the plants are so vast, workers know nothing will ever come of their poor quality of work/assembly. That's from the mouth of a technician at the warranty center. I know every builder is not this way, but it only takes one bad apple....

Chateau_Nomad · 09-27-2021, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Volume and turnover at the plants are so vast, workers know nothing will ever come of their poor quality of work/assembly. That's from the mouth of a technician at the warranty center. I know every builder is not this way, but it only takes one bad apple....

Who is responsible for allowing that "poor workmanship" to go out the door and be sold to the public? Those "bad apple" ill-trained workers?

Yes there is poor workmanship. But let's take that 5 year old kid running around the grocery store, screaming and knocking stuff off the shelves. Do you blame the kid for not behaving? Or maybe the parents? Why do SOME kids behave? Is it just "natural"... or just MAYBE the parent of those kids taught them respect, discipline? Maybe those kids behave because it's expected of them... and they KNOW there are consequences.

EXACTLY the same principle applies in "shoddy workmanship". Who is responsible for that product going out the door in that condition?? BINGO - Thor is! Ultimately the CEO of the company is responsible... NO. ONE. ELSE.

No one is holding a gun on the CEO forcing him to deliver poorly manufactured products. Please remember that the next time something breaks on your RV. Most likely that "bad apple" worker was TRAINED to assemble things that way... using tools and materials provided by Thor! SOMEONE is letting those "mistakes" out the door... in HUGE numbers! I seriously doubt a line worker makes those decisions.

happy · 09-27-2021, 07:22 PM

Come on ...get this back on topic.
What brand of bubbler gum works best?

Thank for the heads up. Our Thor is soon arriving and I will put double sided trim tapeon my "haveon hand" list.

Scubawise · 09-27-2021, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl404

Posting this as a heads-up and to seek commiseration rather than a solution. We're getting ready for a long trip in our 2021 Axis 24.1 and found that the trim on one of our wheel wells has pulled away from the body. The screw that is supposed to hold it in place doesn't go into anything and the adhesive has all pulled away.

I crawled underneath and saw that there are similar screws around the perimeter that are either: 1. starting to come loose, 2. were never fully recessed, 3. go into the trim, but not the underlying sheet metal at all.

Today's project is to shore this up before a four hour drive tomorrow. Take a look at your's before your next big trip. :-)

When we bought our vegas 2020 MHS caulked around these areas.. when home I added extra almond caulking

Scubawise · 09-27-2021, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happy

Come on ...get this back on topic.
What brand of bubbler gum works best?

Thank for the heads up. Our Thor is soon arriving and I will put double sided trim tapeon my "haveon hand" list.

Get almond caulking at lowes

Chateau_Nomad · 09-28-2021, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scubawise

Get almond caulking at lowes

I actually used almond silicone caulk from Lowes around a small trim piece on our front cap. It really isn't quite dark enough. Possible there's a certain brand that matches better??

I think I'm going to just use clear silicone from now on...

MLP · 09-28-2021, 04:32 AM

Silicone is not meant for RV calking. It will fail, and even silicone once cured will not stick to silicone. There are products that can remove the silicone bond. I had to do this in the S&B shower. I did not use silicone to reseal.

Geocel Proflex RV can be found on Amazon and comes in Black, White, Bright White, and Almond.

morningglory · 10-02-2021, 06:37 PM

One of my rear wheel trim pieces is on the roadside somewhere... as is part of the trim under the bottom of the door. Caulk is holding in the other rear wheel trim... sigh...

Selurgniman · 10-02-2021, 06:48 PM

All of the fenders and trim around my entire 24.1 started falling off after about 2000 miles. Thor replaced the ones that had fallen off while driving and their official recommendation is to travel with self tapping screws and a tube of caulk because this will continue to happen no matter how it's fixed

taylor-rob · 10-02-2021, 07:07 PM

I have been RVing over forty years and I have found most are built that Way..Talk to a tech that had worked at Tiffin and the Quote was they only have to when you over on the test drive !!!! If you have a over head cabinet..You may want to check it .. Mine fell on me while it was driving because the screws went nowhere or had came loose.. My best Friend has become original gorilla glue on every screw.. It expands as it dries and will not work loose.. Happy Hunting for loose screws

RichS · 10-02-2021, 07:30 PM

I have a 2016 Freedom Elite 28Z. Bought it new. I have had extended warranty on since new. Glad I have it. I plan on keeping it. I know what has been fixed and know what will probably be next. Sooner or later things should be good. If I bought a new RV it would be a whole new set of problems.

The work force now just don't care. You see it in all businesses. There is no work ethic anymore. Most places are lucky if they can get workers. I do not see RV dealers getting any better with quality plus the supply line being slowed down. Once again shortage of truck drivers. Short cuts will be taken. Then they want dealers to do the warranty work. That's if the dealers can get help.

Things need to change in this country.

Scubawise · 10-02-2021, 07:34 PM

Why would things change..the rich get richer

dPad2 · 10-02-2021, 08:23 PM

Cut my loses & got rid of a new 2017 Vegas after 8 months of utter hell. Electrical fire, leaking windshield, shoddy workmanship all over, wipers even regularly slapped off the sides of the windshield & would run round and catch & stick to the side mirrors! Maybe a lemon. Got a Winnebago and maybe I just lucked out on who was working that day but 3+ years and only minor blips. Love it.

bobj73 · 10-02-2021, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

On another thread there was a complaint about the corner trim pieces on the slide-out, which were just stuck on with adhesive. I suggest a thorough check before any long trip. Time consuming and mind numbing... but will probably save headaches down the road.

Yup, already replaced 3 out of 4 corner trim pieces on our windsport.

Chateau_Nomad · 10-02-2021, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dPad2

Cut my loses & got rid of a new 2017 Vegas after 8 months of utter hell. Electrical fire, leaking windshield, shoddy workmanship all over, wipers even regularly slapped off the sides of the windshield & would run round and catch & stick to the side mirrors! Maybe a lemon. Got a Winnebago and maybe I just lucked out on who was working that day but 3+ years and only minor blips. Love it.

And this coach was built LONG before Covid was even a thought.

I think the "starving the slaves" mentality has been shown it's not a viable business model... akin to "the beatings will continue until morale improves".

Since major U.S. corporations abandoned home turf manufacturing, millions of skilled workers had to take jobs in a predominantly service economy. Now we have tons of $10/hour burger flippers... and all the training programs for skilled manufacturing have evaporated. You reap what you sow.

Combine that with the millions of people who discovered working from home was an attractive option. The perfect storm.

Scubawise · 10-02-2021, 11:50 PM

Thanks all I just used geoflex on all trim pieces..some were lose...best to all

KReed464 · 10-03-2021, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl404

Posting this as a heads-up and to seek commiseration rather than a solution. We're getting ready for a long trip in our 2021 Axis 24.1 and found that the trim on one of our wheel wells has pulled away from the body. The screw that is supposed to hold it in place doesn't go into anything and the adhesive has all pulled away.

I crawled underneath and saw that there are similar screws around the perimeter that are either: 1. starting to come loose, 2. were never fully recessed, 3. go into the trim, but not the underlying sheet metal at all.

Today's project is to shore this up before a four hour drive tomorrow. Take a look at your's before your next big trip. :-)

It's sad because there are simple answers like "threadlocker"

Unfortunately I have a baggie full of screws I found during and after various road trips and I don't know where they go?

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