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Old 03-06-2021, 07:44 AM   #1
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Missing/loose nuts along the body (pics)

Hello!

We have a 2018 Jayco Hummingbird 17RB. We bought it used (see below). There are washer and nuts along the length of the trailer on either side. 3 nuts, 2 all the way at the rear end on either side and one all the way on the front curb side were missing. Bought new washers and nuts from the store but I can't tighten them.

The bolt keeps spinning and I do not know how to access the bolt head to keep it from spinning. How do I go about tightening these nuts?
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Old 03-06-2021, 08:06 AM   #2
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They are probably carriage bolts so you need to try pull the bolt down with a vise-grip or pliers before trying to tighten the nut.
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Old 03-06-2021, 08:15 AM   #3
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They are probably carriage bolts so you need to try pull the bolt down with a vise-grip or pliers before trying to tighten the nut.
Thought about it. Two challenges with that approach

1) Some bolts are not long enough, with the washer and nut in place, there is not enough length (sometimes none at all) to pull with pliers
2) I am worried about destroying the thread when pulling with pliers to hold the bolt in place.
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Old 03-06-2021, 09:03 AM   #4
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Maybe try locating inside. More than likely in spaces you don't see. Cut back any material and hold with small vice grips or pry while tightening nut.
If all that's possible use either a lock washer or blue lock tight.
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Old 03-06-2021, 09:38 AM   #5
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Thought about it. Two challenges with that approach

1) Some bolts are not long enough, with the washer and nut in place, there is not enough length (sometimes none at all) to pull with pliers
2) I am worried about destroying the thread when pulling with pliers to hold the bolt in place.
Pull and turn with the nut in place..
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Old 03-06-2021, 10:16 AM   #6
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What about trying a thinner nut
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Old 03-06-2021, 10:38 AM   #7
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First of all: WD40 or similar product. soak it for a few days.
Them vise-grip on the nut and with a leaver-bar pull the vice-grip down so the carriage bolt head bites better in the wood. Re-tighten the nut with a Torque wrench (is quick)
This worked for me on the job and my own RV's in the past.
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Old 03-06-2021, 10:57 AM   #8
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I have had these come loose on my trailers but they always would tighten up with a socket wrench, never had one spin.
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Old 03-06-2021, 12:33 PM   #9
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I have had these come loose on my trailers but they always would tighten up with a socket wrench, never had one spin.
X2. And once tightened, put nylocks on them to avoid them loosening again. And I still check them before every trip (belt and suspenders approach).
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Old 03-06-2021, 07:56 PM   #10
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I have had these come loose on my trailers but they always would tighten up with a socket wrench, never had one spin.
X3
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Old 03-06-2021, 08:55 PM   #11
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I have had them come loose as well and I have had 1 or 2 that spun. I was able to get the nut to bite on 1 or 2 threads, then locked vice grips on the nut vertically allowing me to pull downward and spin the vice grips until the bolt bit and didn't spin anymore. Then I was able to use a ratchet.

I also added loctite to all of the bolts to lessen the chances of them loosening...
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Old 03-07-2021, 12:13 PM   #12
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2) I am worried about destroying the thread when pulling with pliers to hold the bolt in place.
Those bolts hold your trailer to the frame, unless you plan to replace the frame there is no reason to ever have to remove the nuts. I would coat the threads above the nut with red LocTite and then tighten them securely. The LocTite will insure that they never loosen again.
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Old 03-07-2021, 07:51 PM   #13
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They are probably carriage bolts so you need to try pull the bolt down with a vise-grip or pliers before trying to tighten the nut.
Yikes! I would try using a flat screwdriver between the washer and the nut while tightening that nut. Might try using some penetrating oil first.
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Old 03-07-2021, 11:01 PM   #14
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Thank you

Thank you all for the ideas! This is extremely helpful.
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Old 03-07-2021, 11:28 PM   #15
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I check them in the spring, before the first outing. Just a quick twist with a deep socket to see if any have loosened up. I might find two or three that take a half turn with "wrist torque". I don't get very physical since they attach through wood.
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Old 03-08-2021, 01:00 AM   #16
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The bolts are as previously mentioned, round head carriage bolts. They are often pounded through the floor with a hammer and/or the nuts are tightened with an impact gun at the factory until the bolts with the nuts simply free spin. Often the bolt threads get chewed up in the hammer process and the installers just don't bother with the nuts. The same is true of the bolts that hold the metal stairs to the TT. I know this because I struggled for a full day removing/re-installing a 3 step folding stair to replace a steeper 2 tread stair. I had to cut the floor linoleum in tiny places and remove the 4 stripped carriage bolts and replace with new bolts. When I say stripped, I mean that the carriage bolts just spin in their rounded out holes in the flooring.
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Old 03-10-2021, 02:50 PM   #17
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Box Nuts

Tightening the Box to frame nuts is common ....... Just snug them up not to tight and recheck once a year
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Old 03-10-2021, 02:54 PM   #18
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Hello!

We have a 2018 Jayco Hummingbird 17RB. We bought it used (see below). There are washer and nuts along the length of the trailer on either side. 3 nuts, 2 all the way at the rear end on either side and one all the way on the front curb side were missing. Bought new washers and nuts from the store but I can't tighten them.

The bolt keeps spinning and I do not know how to access the bolt head to keep it from spinning. How do I go about tightening these nuts?
Why hasn't anyone mentioned the broken bracket in the last pic?
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Old 03-10-2021, 04:39 PM   #19
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Why hasn't anyone mentioned the broken bracket in the last pic?
Good catch, I suspect no one took a close look at the pictures like you did. Certainly concerning to say the least. ~CA
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Old 03-10-2021, 04:58 PM   #20
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Good catch, I suspect no one took a close look at the pictures like you did. Certainly concerning to say the least. ~CA
Lol, I saw the broken bracket in the thumbnail view of the pic.
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