Voltage Screw Problem

Question

As listed in my sig, we have a 2011 Voltage 3200. When we got the trailer out of storage after this wonderful winter we have had in Northern Illinois, I noticed a few screw heads missing from around the front slide. Upon further inspection, most of the screws that hold the exterior framework of the front slide onto the box were missing. Turns out that Dutchman used steel self taping screws and after 3 years they are all rusting right under the head. With that information I started checking all the screws on the main room slide and all of the Schwintek rails. Well, you guessed it, 2/3 of them were either missing or fell off when touched. I have since purchased a box of #8x1" stainless Steel screws and drilled new holes next to all the missing screw heads and installed the stainless screws. I am also replacing any of the screws that did not rust with the stainless ones. The new screws are not white, but at least they will not rust.

I am now in the process of going around the whole trailer looking for the same 1" self taping screws and replacing them with the new Stainless Steel ones.

afishinado · Answer

Ouch!  Just a note, if you are putting stainless into aluminum you might want to put a dab of Tef Gel on each screw..  We do that with boats www.corrosionandmarine.com

beemerphile1 · Answer

Normal.  It is a fact that if RV manufacturers built in the quality of craftsmanship and of materials that we all want - most of us wouldn't be able to afford them.  Thus they are built cheaply and quickly.

dave_wilburn · Answer

I had to do the exact same thing to mine.  I still find another broken screw about every trip out.

rvpullinguy · Answer

beemerphile1 wrote:Normal.  It is a fact that if RV manufacturers built in the quality of craftsmanship and of materials that we all want - most of us wouldn't be able to afford them.  Thus they are built cheaply and quickly.I don't mean this to be personal, but I disagree with what you said.  In today's world of material science, engineering, and lean production process expertise there is no excuse for the kind of quality we see in RVs IN GENERAL.   The science and process knowledge exists to solve this issue of quality and at affordable prices. And, when you add great customer service through a dealership network it caps it off.  I see all the FANCY and somewhat expensive - non functional or less pragmatic - "stuff" in the new toy haulers today and think, they have room in their margins to improve things that really matter.

beemerphile1 · Answer

RVpullinGuy wrote:beemerphile1 wrote:Normal.  It is a fact that if RV manufacturers built in the quality of craftsmanship and of materials that we all want - most of us wouldn't be able to afford them.  Thus they are built cheaply and quickly.I don't mean this to be personal, but I disagree with what you said....I don't take disagreement personal.  I welcome differing opinions.When comparing cost and quality, keep in mind that GM recently chose to kill a number of their customers rather than spend an extra 50 cents on an ignition switch.Manufacturers agonize over a penny in construction cost.  Fancy appearances and low cost sell RVs/vehicles.

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Voltage Screw Problem

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