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Buzzcut1's avatar
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Jul 12, 2021

Glad I caught this

Doing my usual walk around something caught my eye. I noticed one of the bolt heads on my front jack mounting plates was missing ( drivers front corner) I wasn't too worried as there are 5 bolts on that plate and 6 on the other side of the corner. Then I checked closer, not just one bolt head was missing but two others were snapped off but still there stuck on by Dicor.

I figured and hour tops to use an easy out and replace the bolts. Nope try 5 hours. Had to take the jack and mounting plate off as one of the bolts snapped diagonally and I needed better access to drill. OK the Lance is a 2008 1055, aluminum frame.

When I pulled the jack plate I figured out the issue. on one side of the plate no lap sealant, the other side had over 1/8 of an inch of lap sealant. The plate was not flat agaist the camper and over time the flexing of the plate on the sealant caused the grade 5 bolts to crack and fail.
I replaced all the bolts with Grade 8, cleaned up all the old sealant, reapplied a thin even layer dicor and then after remounting the plate I sealed all the bolts and seams with no sag dicor

I did inspect all the bolts on the other jacks and they were all good

It pays to check all your stuff on a regular basis


Truck Campers
  • JoeChiOhki's avatar
    JoeChiOhki
    Explorer II
    Jul 22, 2021
    markchengr wrote:
    These are the ones that work. Been using them professionaly for years.

    https://www.amazon.com/RIDGID-35585-Extractor-4-inch-2-inch/dp/B000WQYJIG/ref=sr_1_51?dchild=1&keywords=bolt+extractor+set&qid=1626550122&sr=8-51


    Think I need one of these, a couple of the super long lag bolts I was using on one side of merry snapped their heads off as I was tightening them down.
  • 87WW_Alpine10's avatar
    87WW_Alpine10
    Explorer
    Jul 20, 2021
    I realize, even tho I am new to the RV world, that maintenance is crucial, and also a PITA. That being said: as I am remodeling my 1987 Alpine 10, I exclaim to the wife: "If we seal this thing well, and maybe every other season, depending..., go through, in the off season, and take a couple windows a day, and re-seal them...its not that much of a task". Am I wrong, in that..., each window, two people working, will take aprox. 1 hour to remove and re-seal?? Also....do the same with seams and jacks, and outside and roof ports.

    Its still a PITA...but will alleviate bigger headaches on the road.

    -e
  • Buzzcut1's avatar
    Buzzcut1
    Nomad II
    Jul 20, 2021
    JoeChiOhki wrote:
    Buzzcut, just so you know, those FB links do expire, so the images sadly no longer work


    Linked to somewhere else now
  • JoeChiOhki's avatar
    JoeChiOhki
    Explorer II
    Jul 20, 2021
    Buzzcut, just so you know, those FB links do expire, so the images sadly no longer work
  • covered_wagon's avatar
    covered_wagon
    Explorer
    Jul 19, 2021
    Om my camper they only caulked the perimeter of the mounting plate but, not the bolts. That way water has a place to go. Isn't that wonderful? :E
  • markchengr's avatar
    markchengr
    Explorer II
    Jul 17, 2021
    These are the ones that work. Been using them professionaly for years.

    https://www.amazon.com/RIDGID-35585-Extractor-4-inch-2-inch/dp/B000WQYJIG/ref=sr_1_51?dchild=1&keywords=bolt+extractor+set&qid=1626550122&sr=8-51
  • JRscooby's avatar
    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Jul 13, 2021
    Supercharged111 wrote:
    I just weld a nut to the broken bolt and spin it out if I can't grab it with pliers.


    I have done that when the bolt was broke flush or above. But broke off down in the hole does not work.
  • JRscooby's avatar
    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Jul 13, 2021
    Reality Check wrote:
    thomas201 wrote:
    "Easy Out" multiple big lies, it ain't easy and it might not come out. I wish I was smart enough to make something better. A left hand bit and running the drill in reverse sometimes works, sometimes drill it all out then tap a new hole.

    You did the most miserable job of them all. Good catch!


    This ^^^ most miserable tools with almost zero reasonable alternatives. You'll be a popular and wealthy hero if you figure out something better!

    Buzzcut, nice job noticing the loose ones.


    Over the years I have decided the best place the start is a left-handed drill. Many times this alone will back the bolt out. And if it doesn't, most methods require a hole, so nothing is lost.
    1 night I discovered most of the transmission/bellhousing bolts broken. The only way to get a drill to them would be remove that 13sp trans. Out of desperation I grabbed some welding rods too short to use. With a good ground, the short clamped tight, I would stick the rod down hole to bolt. Had helper turn on welder, the I would pull the rod out until arc, stick. Pliers on the rod to unscrew, a tap to clean any slag out of threads, new bolts with Lock-Tite, discuss with driver about how he didn't notice the clutch pedal was funky.

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