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Topic: Nuts and Bolts (Read 10 times) previous topic - next topic
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Nuts and Bolts
Yahoo Message Number: 146156
Master LD mechanic Larry Wade has commented before in this forum about the need to tighten the chassis bolts (that fasten the coach to the frame) from time to time.  I long had put that on my list of those things that never seem to get done.  At a recent Caravan campout (Tucalota Springs), our rig was up on leveling blocks with a nice amount of crawl space resulting.  So I finally got out my ground cloth and some wrenches and crawled underneath.  Larry, also attending the Caravan, could not resist the primal mechanic's urge and quickly dove in under. Of course, my puny traveling kit of socket wrenches was inadequate, so he hopped over to his traveling garage and came back with the right stuff.  Five minutes later, we were done with all the chassis bolts and those for the non-powered entry stairs as well.

The reason for this lengthy discourse is the results.  Our rig ('06TK) has for some long time been plagued with the squeaks that one comes to accept as a vehicle ages.  Particularly bad has been our entry door, which was almost nonstop in its annoying racket.  The drive home from Tucalota was a transformation.  Quiet.  Everywhere.  But most astonishing and welcome was the silence from the entry door.  We couldn't believe it.  And our nuts 'n bolts were not all that loose.

Now, one rig's response to this bit of tightening isn't a guarantee that similar magic will work on another.  But it's certainly worth a try.  All that's needed is a 9/16 deep-socket wrench with a short extension piece.  A "regular" socket will be too short to fit over the longish bolts to reach the nut.  That was the problem with my cheapo travel set. You also could use an appropriate-size crescent or box hand wrench, but it's a little more awkward to get at the nuts.

Thanks, Larry, for the advice and the help.  The difference truly was dramatic.  -- Jon
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄
 
Re: Nuts and Bolts
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146161
Larry did this to my rig first time I had him do upgrades. Found some bolts that took 4 or 5 turns to get tight. All my weird squeaks were gone afterwards. I thought they were just normal as my other RV's all made noises when traveling. He knows the quirks in LD's.

Bob