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Re: Air Conditioner Cover

 

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Hi Dsmith:

I sew, and I think it would take me three hours to make a cover. $30 an hour is a low shop rate for a commercial shop, so I think their price is fair.

I want to make a new cover for ours, and I might have to spend $30 just for the "tad poll" tubing for the top edge.

Carl.

On 10/2/2023 9:57 PM, dsmithsota@... wrote:

OK. I'm replying to myself... Actually I contacted a local sail and boat cover maker about a cover for my Aliner AC. I know that they do good work, but they want about $100 for a custom made cover, in green to match my trim, with the same attachments method. Seems a bit steep but I have not found any other active cover maker through this email group. opinions? other sources that are still active? I have a couple days to decide. Thanks.?

Re: Air Conditioner Cover

 

OK. I'm replying to myself... Actually I contacted a local sail and boat cover maker about a cover for my Aliner AC. I know that they do good work, but they want about $100 for a custom made cover, in green to match my trim, with the same attachments method. Seems a bit steep but I have not found any other active cover maker through this email group. opinions? other sources that are still active? I have a couple days to decide. Thanks.?
Re: My Gas Spring Adventure

 

I also note he struggles but this is in the first part of the youtube where the gas springs are hanging loose and not connected.? Once connected (last part) is seems to go up very easily with these 26" x 30-pound gas springs.
Re: Plastic Part from Aliner roof

 

There are actually two "glides" at the upper roof on my 2009 Classic.? One on the side, and one that wraps over the top edge.? That one missing would definitely make the roof drag when raising or lowering.? The picture with the strip missing is my camper.? As I recall it was thin and I didn't replace it.? I have replaced the ones that wrap over the top using thin cutting board material.?

The picture with the block of wood is one I found somewhere and kept it for possible use.
--
Don DeRyke
Sunrise, Florida

2009 Classic, 2020 Ford Escape, 2.0 liter EcoBoost, AWD.?
Previous TV 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 ltr EcoBoost engine.

Roof Friction Strip.jpg
20180926_160839 _1_.jpg

Re: Plastic Part from Aliner roof

 

I had the same thing happen,, and fixed it with the fuzzy side of the tape..? Be sure and clean all the old tape and adhesive off first though.??

Sharlene
2011 Aliner Ranger
Spokane, WA
Re: Plastic Part from Aliner roof

 

Yep, when my Teflon pieces wore out I replaced them with the fuzzy side of Velcro. Works like a charm.?

Cindy Harris?
2013 Expedition
Pittsburgh, PA
———-

On Fri, Sep 29, 2023 at 08:02 Eugene Breindel <efbreindel@...> wrote:
John Pfeil suggests using the fuzzy side of a self-adhesive Velcro strip in place of the Teflon. It doesn't have to be long, just one on each side to keep them separated so they don't wear from opening and closing.?


--
Cindy Harris
Pittsburgh, PA
2013 Expedition
Re: Plastic Part from Aliner roof

 

John Pfeil suggests using the fuzzy side of a self-adhesive Velcro strip in place of the Teflon. It doesn't have to be long, just one on each side to keep them separated so they don't wear from opening and closing.?
Re: Plastic Part from Aliner roof

 

I believe these are the nylon slider plates that keep the inside of the roof panel from rubbing on the other.? It should be flat and glued with contact cement to keep them in place.



On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 5:07 PM, laurajmenezes@...
<laurajmenezes@...> wrote:

We were lowering the roof of our 2005 Aliner DL when a piece of bent plastic popped out and fell on the ground a few feet away. Seemed to come from the roof (door-side) as we lowered it but we did not see exactly where it came from. Raising and lowering the roof does not seem as smooth as it was before this happened.

?

Does anyone have experience with this or know where the part came from? Any suggestions on how to fix it?

?

Please see attached photos.

?

Thanks!
Re: Plastic Part from Aliner roof

 

I think it's some sort of self adhesive Teflon strip, that is on the inside lip of the roof to make lowering and raising the roof easier.? Mine has also come lose in places giving it more friction when lifting/lowering the roof.


Maybe someone has more info about it?


Happy Camping
Dan S


On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 3:08 PM, laurajmenezes@...
<laurajmenezes@...> wrote:

[Edited Message Follows]

We were lowering the roof of our 2005 Aliner DL when a piece of bent plastic popped out and fell on the ground a few feet away. Seemed to come from the roof (door-side) as we lowered it but we did not see exactly where it came from. Raising and lowering the roof does not seem as smooth as it was before this happened.

Does anyone have experience with this or know where the part came from? Any suggestions on how to fix it?

Please see attached photos.

Thanks!
Plastic Part from Aliner roof

 
Edited

We were lowering the roof of our 2005 Aliner DL when a piece of bent plastic popped out and fell on the ground a few feet away. Seemed to come from the roof (door-side) as we lowered it but we did not see exactly where it came from. Raising and lowering the roof does not seem as smooth as it was before this happened.

Does anyone have experience with this or know where the part came from? Any suggestions on how to fix it?

Please see attached photos.

Thanks!

Aliner1.jpeg
Aliner2.jpeg

Re: is there a good Instructional on how to replace springs with gas struts for lifting roof?

 

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Hello Don:

Photo 2114 is inside the back wall. In 2000 the inside walls were all vertical so there is a 4" space where the tail lights mount. This photo is shot through the hole for the tail light. The left side of the photo is the inside of the left wall, I think the large hole is for the marker light. The steel strap is on top of the 1x4 that has a hole in it for the spring tail. The screw at the bottom comes from the angle iron in the storage compartment. I pulled the steel strap in a full inch to tighten the spring. Check out photo 619 and you can see how the spring can pull the wall out of position. After I fixed this corner the wall was straight again.

So some time after 2000 Aliner made the front walls the same thickness all the way down. I think they missed a chance to put some innovative storage in this space. In the back it could house one of those outside sink/shower??

Carl.

On 9/27/2023 1:17 PM, Don DeRyke via groups.io wrote:

Carl
I'm having difficulty visualizing where this work is taking place.? Is the hole shown in 2114 where the spring sits on the side all?? And 2015 looks to be in a confined area, like in a storage compartment.? Maybe yours is constructed differently than my 2009.

--
Don DeRyke
Sunrise, Florida

2009 Classic, 2020 Ford Escape, 2.0 liter EcoBoost, AWD.?
Previous TV 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 ltr EcoBoost engine.

IMG_0619.JPG

Re: is there a good Instructional on how to replace springs with gas struts for lifting roof?

 

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Hi Don:

Sounds OK. I think I would skip the part where you remove the spring and work around it. On mine I used long screws to pull it back into place. Side wall support is good, if I were building from sketch I would put the spring tail in a pipe and weld it to the floor frame.

Carl.


On 9/27/2023 1:04 PM, Don DeRyke via groups.io wrote:

At some point soon I plan to inspect and possibly make repairs to my corners.? I did one a couple years ago, but the passenger front corner cap is cracking at the bend, right where the spring terminates at the bottom.

If the corners are not totally water damaged I have been thinking that a simple solution to this spring issue could be to have an enlarged metal bracket around it similar to the latching plate on a barrel bolt slide latch.??

It would have a 90 degree bend at the inside corner to create an angle plate for attaching to the side wall. I'm imagining that I could remove the spring, and work from the inside.? Cut a slot to accept the plate and mount it to the two walls.? Then slide the spring down through the channel.? It would then be pulling on the inside walls, rather than pushing at the outside.

Am I oversimplifying this???

--
Don DeRyke
Sunrise, Florida

2009 Classic, 2020 Ford Escape, 2.0 liter EcoBoost, AWD.?
Previous TV 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 ltr EcoBoost engine.

Re: is there a good Instructional on how to replace springs with gas struts for lifting roof?

 

Carl
I'm having difficulty visualizing where this work is taking place.? Is the hole shown in 2114 where the spring sits on the side all?? And 2015 looks to be in a confined area, like in a storage compartment.? Maybe yours is constructed differently than my 2009.

--
Don DeRyke
Sunrise, Florida

2009 Classic, 2020 Ford Escape, 2.0 liter EcoBoost, AWD.?
Previous TV 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 ltr EcoBoost engine.
Re: is there a good Instructional on how to replace springs with gas struts for lifting roof?

 

At some point soon I plan to inspect and possibly make repairs to my corners.? I did one a couple years ago, but the passenger front corner cap is cracking at the bend, right where the spring terminates at the bottom.

If the corners are not totally water damaged I have been thinking that a simple solution to this spring issue could be to have an enlarged metal bracket around it similar to the latching plate on a barrel bolt slide latch.??

It would have a 90 degree bend at the inside corner to create an angle plate for attaching to the side wall. I'm imagining that I could remove the spring, and work from the inside.? Cut a slot to accept the plate and mount it to the two walls.? Then slide the spring down through the channel.? It would then be pulling on the inside walls, rather than pushing at the outside.

Am I oversimplifying this???

--
Don DeRyke
Sunrise, Florida

2009 Classic, 2020 Ford Escape, 2.0 liter EcoBoost, AWD.?
Previous TV 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 ltr EcoBoost engine.
Re: is there a good Instructional on how to replace springs with gas struts for lifting roof?

 

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Hi Dave:

I need to add two more photos, of the other side of the angle iron. Photo 2 shows the reinforcement to take the force from the spring tail.

Photo 2115 shows the interior of the back wall where the spring tail is under the 1/4"x2" strap. The tail is sandwiched by four bolts at the top. The lower end of the strap is bolted to the angle iron in photo 2 as shown in photo 2114.

I know it was a lot of work, but the camper is stronger every time I fix something.

Carl.

On 9/27/2023 7:25 AM, elegy3983 wrote:

Carl:

?

In your second photo, did you attach the lower spring tail to that angle reinforcement? If so, how did you do that? ?If not, what does it do to keep the lower spring tail from emerging through the end panel?

?

Dave

?

………………….

?

Here are two photos of my repairs. They are working fine. Carl.

IMG_2114.JPG
IMG_2115.JPG

Re: is there a good Instructional on how to replace springs with gas struts for lifting roof?

 

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Carl:

?

In your second photo, did you attach the lower spring tail to that angle reinforcement? If so, how did you do that? ?If not, what does it do to keep the lower spring tail from emerging through the end panel?

?

Dave

?

………………….

?

Here are two photos of my repairs. They are working fine. Carl.
Re: is there a good Instructional on how to replace springs with gas struts for lifting roof?

 

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Here are two photos of my repairs. They are working fine. Carl.

On 9/26/2023 3:17 PM, Brian Hovander via groups.io wrote:

If you store the trailer with the roof panels lowered you speed up the weakening of the dangerous torsion springs that can blow out the end panels.? The most important thing is to keep the flimsy plywood used to secure the lower part of the torsion springs DRY!? Once wet the springs can blow out the end panels.

?

I would need a picture explaining what strengthening you envision accomplishing to comment.

IMG_3955.JPG
IMG_2113.JPG

Re: is there a good Instructional on how to replace springs with gas struts for lifting roof?

 

If you store the trailer with the roof panels lowered you speed up the weakening of the dangerous torsion springs that can blow out the end panels.? The most important thing is to keep the flimsy plywood used to secure the lower part of the torsion springs DRY!? Once wet the springs can blow out the end panels.

?

I would need a picture explaining what strengthening you envision accomplishing to comment.
Re: is there a good Instructional on how to replace springs with gas struts for lifting roof?

 

Brian - Thanks for the time in putting together that extensive write up. Before you posted that link, I already found that article perhaps 2 weeks ago and found it very thorough. I appreciate so much time and explanation that went into the piece. In the idea of replacing the springs, I still think that eventually my walls will fail and i'd rather beat them to the punch. I store my Aliner opened up, which should eliminate alot of the pressure the walls would have applied if it was stored down, which hopefully will extent the time until the walls blowout. I don't have any difficulty opening the roof and lifting the roof panels at this point - I'm tall enough where getting them fully open isn't a challenge. I think when i do replace the springs, I'll add some additional support for the struts somewhere on the sidewalls. it seems like adding a diagonal beam from the frame to the corner (or something like this) for the strut to mount to would be a good idea to prevent introduction of more issues or just moving the blowout place from the corners to the sides LOL. I've got some time to think about stuff and the trailer certainly is holding up well and functioning great for us at the moment. I appreciate all the responses that everyone has provided.
John
Re: Additional Step

 

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The best step we've found for our camping trailer:
Camco Adjustable Height RV Step Stool (43676)

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