Wire Guides Broken

[Kamper Dave]

Wire Guides Broken but repaired:
PROBLEM: On the way home from the RV dealerships annual inspection; we were shocked to see the wires and guide hanging from beneath the slide. We suspect this is a common problem with these thin plastic guides because of the stress they are under especially in cold weather. The guide broke under the slide where it is twisted and screwed to the metal frame.
REPAIR: We trimmed the broken guide square and bolted a 3.5” hinge to the trimmed end. We then cut a new 1/8 x 3.5” x 18” piece from a sheet of gray plastic and used the 3.5” metal hinge to join it to the broken guide. We screwed the new gray plastic to the RV frame where the original was fastened with self drilling hex screws. Now the stress point is hinged.
PHOTOS: 1st photo is of the gray plastic on the right fastened to an out-rigger. 2nd photo is the guide on the left now hinged to the new grey plastic.

[socoguy]

Looks like you came up with quite an innovative repair Dave I will be filing that one.

[Tim D]

Originally Posted by socoguy

Looks like you came up with quite an innovative repair Dave I will be filing that one.

Yep...nice job.

[Kamper Dave]

Thank You!

[Tonemeister]

Wouldn't the metal hinge rust, then later bind, being under the trailer exposed to the weather? How long has it been since you did the repair.....and how's it holding up? Just call me curious.


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[Kamper Dave]

Originally Posted by Tonemeister

Wouldn't the metal hinge rust, then later bind, being under the trailer exposed to the weather? How long has it been since you did the repair.....and how's it holding up? Just call me curious.


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I didn't think that plastic would take the strain and I am to cheap to purchase stainless steel. These hinges are zinc plated and now painted and ought to hold up fine as long as we stay off salted roadways. Besides the other end is only galvanized or zinc plated and it is still bright after 5 years of travel. I also pull a lot of maintenance on this rig and will most likely lub them once a year.
We just did this work last week. The folks at the RV shop suggested it was a common problem and they just pop rivet a hinge on to the guide.

[jesse_h]

Nice fix. This is something I have to do before we head out this spring. Unfortunately I didn't catch mine until I had already closed the slide and smashed the wires really good!

[jdg369]

I have the same problem on my 250RB Sunset Trail. Dealer replaced the original one that broke in 8 months. The second one broke the second time the slide was pulled in. Not a cold weather only problem. I live in Florida and it was summer time when the second one broke. Dealer is checking to see if Crossroads has any suggestions.

[Lloyd]

Mine broke also. I used a strip of light weight belting and pop riveted it onto the plastic wire guide.

[DavisK]

Originally Posted by Kamper Dave

I didn't think that plastic would take the strain and I am to cheap to purchase stainless steel. These hinges are zinc plated and now painted and ought to hold up fine as long as we stay off salted roadways. Besides the other end is only galvanized or zinc plated and it is still bright after 5 years of travel. I also pull a lot of maintenance on this rig and will most likely lub them once a year.
We just did this work last week. The folks at the RV shop suggested it was a common problem and they just pop rivet a hinge on to the guide.

I did the same sort of repair to mine. I used a small brass hinge because I was concerned of the exposure.

[BAAM]

Mine broke also. I used zip ties to stitch the two pieces together.

[Kenny White]

Looks as though we would be well advised to do the preventive measure by making a dedicated cut and splicing the hinges before letting the coach decide. Is the weakness in the same area for each of you? I have a Rushmore Lincoln and pull my slideouts in between my trips (once or twice a week).

[BAAM]

I think so.