Already damaged my new unit. Advice needed

TxLoser · 03-09-2017, 05:42 PM

So, in an effort to be cautious opening the slide and avoid hitting my mailbox, I was outside using the remote. Next thing I know, the slide is coming out cockeyed. I stop immediately. Go inside and find one the cabinets that's behind the closed slide had open. Can't see it with the slide closed. Of course it opens in the wrong direction and was torn off the wall.

I've bent back the hinges. The door itself is undamaged, but the screws tore the $@)& out of the particle board cabinet. How would you remount this. The original screw holes are too big now for the screws that were in the hinge. Ideas.... this is most damage I've done to an RV to date. Sickens me.

And of course we're scheduled to depart day after tomorrow.

JohnWedell · 03-09-2017, 05:57 PM

Not too bad. Fill everything with a tinted wood filler. As for the hinges I would use a nut and bolt. You can't make it disappear but you may get it to a point where you can live with it. I have had great luck with furniture grease pencils.

bansai · 03-09-2017, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxLoser

So, in an effort to be cautious opening the slide and avoid hitting my mailbox, I was outside using the remote. Next thing I know, the slide is coming out cockeyed. I stop immediately. Go inside and find one the cabinets that's behind the closed slide had open. Can't see it with the slide closed. Of course it opens in the wrong direction and was torn off the wall.

I've bent back the hinges. The door itself is undamaged, but the screws tore the $@)& out of the particle board cabinet. How would you remount this. The original screw holes are too big now for the screws that were in the hinge. Ideas.... this is most damage I've done to an RV to date. Sickens me.

You can probably hide that damage pretty well with some wood filler and one of those pens they sell for doing touch up's on cabinets. You can shim the screw holes with little pieces of wood chips and gorilla glue so when you put the screws back in, they are tight and hold.

Option B is obviously to replace that board with a brand new one. Depends on how much O.C.D you have

If you like your dealer, and they are top notch, I wouldn't have any concerns about taking it in to see what they advise as well. They might have some good ideas and maybe even a part number if you want to re-order that piece from Jayco.
Sorry to hear about the damage.

pconroy · 03-09-2017, 06:03 PM

It's like a new car - the first dent always hurts the most. I've often wondered if, when I buy something new like the RV or Car, if I just shouldn't grab the ball peen hammer and whack a fender.

Get "it" (the inevitable whack) over with, real fast...

Sorry you got the first "dent" so soon!

nunyadamn · 03-09-2017, 06:43 PM

Take it to the dealer - if they are any good, it will be covered under warranty as the locking part failed. It shouldn't have opened on it's own.

GarlicDude · 03-09-2017, 07:07 PM

Wooden match sticks and some Gorilla Glue should make it good again

Jopopsy · 03-09-2017, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarlicDude

Wooden match sticks and some Gorilla Glue should make it good again

I was going to say something similar.

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and get some Elmers wood glue. Make sure its the wood glue. Then get a bunch of toothpicks.

Break the toothpicks in half, dip the toothpicks in the glue and start plugging the holes. Wedge as many glue covered toothpicks as you can. Then wait for it to try.

Cut the protuding toothpicks flush to the cabinet, sand whatever is left. You can now drill a pilot hole where it needs to go and refasten your hinge. Touch up the scratches w/ a furniture marker.

Happy trails.

TxLoser · 03-09-2017, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nunyadamn

Take it to the dealer - if they are any good, it will be covered under warranty as the locking part failed. It shouldn't have opened on it's own.

Honestly, I think it was my fault. I had been measuring the cabinets at my storage unit and then closed it up. Probably didn't push it closed all the way. It only only needs to be slightly open to be caught by he slide. Bad design. Worse user error. Here a photo of how closely the handle lines up with the slide.

Thanks all for the suggestions. Found some new hinges at the store. The old ones were flattened out but not good enough. Those and a furniture pen and I was all set. I may still go after with the wood filler this week if there's some downtime on my trip.

Vicr · 03-09-2017, 08:25 PM

Toothpicks work well and are a harder wood than matchsticks. After the wood and glue sets up drill a pilot hole for the screws, coat them with furniture wax and screw in.
I guess I should have read all the replies first. Jopopsy has it with more detail.

BuddyRay · 03-09-2017, 09:01 PM

I've always used the toothpick trick - but I don't wait for the glue to dry, cut them off, etc.

I just stick a couple of glue dipped tooth picks into the hole, break them off even, put the screw in. The glue dries around the screw and it works great and takes a lot less time.

glsimms · 03-09-2017, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddyRay

I've always used the toothpick trick - but I don't wait for the glue to dry, cut them off, etc.

I just stick a couple of glue dipped tooth picks into the hole, break them off even, put the screw in. The glue dries around the screw and it works great and takes a lot less time.

I've done this too and it does work.

BCx213 · 03-09-2017, 11:06 PM

I use doweling, drill hole for the doweling, white wood glue, cut & glue doweling in place. Let dry and re-drill holes for the hinge.

oldmanAZ · 03-09-2017, 11:31 PM

Another vote for glue dipped tooth picks stuck into the hole. I haven't tried putting in the screw with the glue wet so can't vouch for that part.

klassic · 03-09-2017, 11:50 PM

Press in a golf tee. Cut it off.

jasum · 03-10-2017, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCx213

I use doweling, drill hole for the doweling, white wood glue, cut & glue doweling in place. Let dry and re-drill holes for the hinge.

EXACTLY what he said. That is the correct way to repair this.

**norty1** · 03-10-2017, 07:46 AM

Don't feel to bad, it's a newbie mistake that many make. Sometimes it can be repaired easily, others not so easy. That is one reason that I steadfastly resist the use of remotes for slides. I want me or my wife to be pushing a button and listening to the sounds of the slides coming in. After a short while you can tell, almost sense when something is not right.

TxLoser · 03-10-2017, 07:48 AM

You guys are fantastic. All the advice has been really helpful. The door feels secure now. The screws did dig in when re-inserted. Gave a couple good tugs it felt good, so I think the screws must've pulled nearly straight out till the very end when they scraped across the exterior. Packing up now, so it's good enough to depart with, but I think mid week when I have a couple hours down time, I'll go ahead and refill the holes, make a pilot and go from there for a permanent fix either with the dowel or match sticks. Dowel sounds best though.

jasum · 03-10-2017, 11:55 AM

The dowel works very well. Just be careful when drilling that you don't go all the way through the door.
Let the glue dry overnight before cutting dowel off. I have repaired a lot of doors and jambs this way. Also you can use a golf tee like klassic said. Those works great too. When you predrill for screws go a little smaller on the hole.

Cdash · 03-10-2017, 07:26 PM

I used the toothpick and glue trick when I ripped a cabinet door off the exact same way on my old fifth. Was still holding strong when we traded it in at 10 years old.

Your not the first one to have this happen.

Benzinglou · 02-09-2021, 04:30 PM

I did something very similar, however instead of it tearing off the cabinet door it cracked the outside of the slide about 6inches long and it pulled off the front trim from around the slide. I am trying to figure out how to get the trim off so that I can fix the metal strip underneath so it is flush again. Im so mad at myself.

You may also like: