The Marshians 17.56.2 OB

[Smergen]

OK, hit a little, but annoying problem on the recent trip to Robe. Some absent minded caravanner (i.e. me) forgot to tighten up the black awning arm lock nuts (you know the round ones that tighten up the arms...). As expected, the lovely "smooth" roads across the border shook one clear off the van, and the other hanging in the balance with no tightening lug. Obviously this means putting up the awning impossible.

Off to the local hardware shop (twice) and I managed to source a combination of screws and washers that at least gave us a working solution.



Now the question is, do I source replacing the nuts with the same style, stick with the current solution or try something else?

 

[coled1970]

We had the same problem on our corner trip, but i know i did them up. Lost one on the way to Eldee Station, went back into Broken Hill to get some but none to be found. Ended up going to a metal shop and buying 6mm thick 1" alloy bar and tap and drill and made my own, put a small peen at the end of the threads so they wouldn't come loose and never had an issue from Broken hill to the corner , Innamincka and home. Keep a couple of spares with me now just in case as we have since changed vans and don't trust the originals.

 

[Smergen]

Thanks for the idea @coled1970... The simple nut and bolt worked really well, just a little more annoying to tighten and loosen.

 

[Marv_mart]

Same thing happened to me, got replacement sets of nuts and knobs from my local Jayco dealer. They sell a lot, obviously we are not the only ones to 'forget' to tighten them. A bit tricky to get the square nut back and screw the knob back in, needs long thin fingers but do-able.

 

[bigcol]

I made a new one out of 4mm piece of plastic, cut it just bigger than the "slide" area
when I got the bolt into the hole, and started to screw it up, it moved ofcourse - but jammed itself (winner) so I made a spare one just incase I forgot again...........

havent used it, but still carry it

 

[cruza driver]

That has never happened to me not in the last 12 months anyway

Good quick fix on the run though @Smergen

 

[davemc]

I think these are like printers they make the money off refills the awnings cheap .. yes we lost one and now I triple check and have a spare packet in the van.

 

[Smergen]

Well, now that I have my $4.40 packet of nuts and bolts which provide the "work around" I don't think I'll buy too many of the replacements. Anyone got a link to some online? Might just call in at Jayco in Bendigo when up that way in a few weeks.

 

[bigcol]

here you go @Smergen
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Carefree...26?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item418ac4b16e

or

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DOMETIC-...24?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item43da83af58

 

[Smergen]

Thanks @bigcol, much appreciated. Wow... they're pretty pricey indeed. Might check out the price in the shops and see the difference... Will give me chance to window shop...

 

[bigcol]

yeah, I was a bit shocked at the price - but I cannot remember what they were at the local Jayco shop

hey @dagree your constantly popping into Caravanland - can you check out the prices?

 

[dagree]

I've been banned from there @bigcol
But may be heading down that way for work next week and she'll never know LOL. Will just tell her I called in to say Hi to a friend if I get caught out!!!

 

[Smergen]

I've been banned from there @bigcol
But may be heading down that way for work next week and she'll never know LOL. Will just tell her I called in to say Hi to a friend if I get caught out!!!

Tell your friend all your online friends say hi as well.

 

[Marv_mart]

$24 for a pair is the price I paid last year. Thought it was reasonable. Have one as a spare as I only lost 1
Cheers, Marv

 

[Smergen]

OK, day in the yard after our bash in the Wombat was washed out... I had noticed the front left seemed to have a slow leak in it. So I thought I would take the opportunity to change a tyre as I hadn't done it before. And from this I learnt a few things which will be quite handy...

1. Not sure where to jack the front wheel up, I decided on the axle as close as I could to the hub after sounding the idea out with @17triton. Not sure if this is the right spot, so feel free to set me straight.
2. Whoever last did the nuts up, they were far to tight. The wheel nut brace started rounding them. Cue socket set and a different wheel brace.
3. The jack location was terrible for winding up. Might think of upgrading to a compact bottle jack or similar.
4. That I'm very happy to learn the above in my backyard in "controlled" conditions!

Tyre being taken to shop tomorrow to see if it was the same issue as the spare, where the rim had caused issues. If that's the case, Jayco will have two wheels to replace at it's annual service. Another good day of learning....

 

[bigcol]

my advice, in this situation.............. as you have the two axles

get your "ramps" that you use to level up the Van
loosen the wheel nuts, put the "ramp" next to the other wheel, and reverse it onto the "ramp"

in theory and according to Hoyle, it should lift the front axle as well as the rear one.............

 

[Drover]

As you have the Jayco scissor jack then my advice is bin it and get a 2ton bottle jack, is much safer, easier to use and takes up less room, oh ! and it wont kill you. Whenever a tyre shop or for that matter after any service on van or car, always check your wheelnuts it is not uncommon to find them overtightened or loose.
My jayco jack was rated at 1500kg and struggled to lift one wheel on my van, bottle jack is great.

 

[achjimmy]

my advice, in this situation.............. as you have the two axles

get your "ramps" that you use to level up the Van
loosen the wheel nuts, put the "ramp" next to the other wheel, and reverse it onto the "ramp"

in theory and according to Hoyle, it should lift the front axle as well as the rear one.............

It's a load sharing axle by the look @bigcol so as the one wheel goes up and compress the spring the other spring will push down so it might take more than a ramp to get it in the air?

 

[bigcol]

It's a load sharing axle by the look @bigcol so as the one wheel goes up and compress the spring the other spring will push down so it might take more than a ramp to get it in the air?

not having dual axles myself..... but you do raise a good point that I had not thought of.........

I also agree with @Drover - those nasty scissor jacks are far more dangerous than the missus with a credit card.........

 

[Robbie Reddog]

lso agree with @Drover - those nasty scissor jacks are far more dangerous than the missus with a credit card.........

GOLD