Any Damage From Driving on Rough Roads?

[Buddy]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

And, I just run a bungee from existing cabinet handle to another existing cabinet handle.

I did that as well, but it was not enough. Door is secured with duck tape, the bungee and kept empty when traveling from now on. I did not think that I hit much of a bump and thought everything was pretty secure, but I was very wrong. Nothing that could not be fixed though, bent hinge that I was able to straighten, cracked plastic on the bottom of the door that was fixed with epoxy, etc.

[gbaglo]

Speaking of securing items, I bought a couple of those spring-loaded rods that are supposed to keep stuff inside a cupboard. I tried them as sold and they failed to keep cans in the cupboard (a shallow cupboard with wheel well behind ). Then I attached small adhesive buttons to the side walls of the cupboard and cut an X in the plastic covers at the ends of the rods so that the buttons made the rods even more secure. That failed too.
I'm thinking I need to do something that can't be removed by compressing a spring, something that requires a screwdriver or a hammer.

[Jubal]

I installed a pair of these shower rod holders with 3M tape high in the shower and on both sides of the cabinet under the sink . An extendable and locking shower rod is used in the bath to hang wet items. While traveling the rod is installed in the under sink cabinet to keep items from falling out if the doors open or moving enough to open the doors.
Slide-Co 16815 Closet Pole Sockets, 1-3/8-Inch, Plastic - - Amazon.com

[GerriJ]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Speaking of securing items, I bought a couple of those spring-loaded rods that are supposed to keep stuff inside a cupboard. I tried them as sold and they failed to keep cans in the cupboard (a shallow cupboard with wheel well behind ). Then I attached small adhesive buttons to the side walls of the cupboard and cut an X in the plastic covers at the ends of the rods so that the buttons made the rods even more secure. That failed too.
I'm thinking I need to do something that can't be removed by compressing a spring, something that requires a screwdriver or a hammer.

Tried them too, albiet without modification, and the results were the same.

[float5]

For double doors under kitchen or bed during travel, Gear Ties, which are like coat hangars encased in rubber, can be wrapped through the two handles. At sports stores.

[MyronL]

Pix #1: Old way.
Pix #2: New way...

[cpaharley2008]

and you have a spare belt just in case for your pants....

[Sandra L]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Pix #1: Old way.
Pix #2: New way...

Would a belt like that work with Glenn's vertical bungee idea?

[Dave&Jane]

Our trailer held up well during last week's trip into Utah's west desert, my old "stomping grounds", where we followed the old Pony Express route. We encountered only about 4 vehicles each day in this remote country. It was 250 miles between gas station with 140 miles of gravel road, some of which was quite rough.

In spite of all the vibration, damage was limited to a screw falling out of a drawer slide and flying gravel eroded another layer of foam insulation off the bottom. Our new fridge door strap (post 99) worked well. I also learned to drive more slowly over the roughest parts.

-Dave

[Daubsy]

We were just on the Smithsonian Butte Back Country Byway near Zion. Very rough and steep road. By far the worse I've encountered yet. Our dinette table must have wobbled back and forth so much that it cracked both pedestal bases. Oh well, my first modification will be a hydraulic pedestal!

[float5]

Never heard of this happening. We thought those bases were metal. That must have been some road!

[tractors1]

The bases are cast aluminum.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Floating Cloud

Never heard of this happening. We thought those bases were metal. That must have been some road!

Well, there's metal and there's metal. The bases are flimsy and the fit for the post is really sloppy. That increases the ability of the table to flop back and forth and eventually crack the weak bases.

I saw how flimsy they were in their demo unit and asked them not to even bother installing them. I made my own much stronger table base.

Installing a hydraulic pedestal will be a huge improvement.

Ron

[gbaglo]

I don't think "flimsy" is appropriate. They are light weight, which is appropriate for the application.
If you are going to travel on a very rough road, you can either remove the post ( or posts ) or make sure that they are secured in the holes to prevent wobble.
I set my front table in place on the post, and then used the back end of my hatchet to drive the post tight ( put a copy of Trailer Life on the table to protect it ).
Traveling with my buddy in his 19 and he took a turn out of the mall at speed ( a passenger's opinion - me ). And when we got to our destination, the sliding table had been dissembled and had been chucked into the corner of the trailer.
The "flimsy" bases were intact.
Taking the table down for travel on rough roads is just another check-list item.

[float5]

I know Tammy used to tell people to put the table down for travel. We had ours up and not secured for a long time so presumably the table was sliding back and forth. We then started securing it. In three years of always having it up for travel over many thousands of miles, nothing happened to the bases.

We actually have sent up our own table legs and bases because we will likely remove the table and wanted other bases for when the table is not there. That may be all of the time, as we expect to store it under the bed or maybe at home, unless we decide we need it. Our problem with theirs is the shape, not the bases themselves.

[MyronL]

Here's a slightly cheaper solution...

[cpaharley2008]

I'm surprised that is all that broke I'm not sure why we are trying to break things by traveling off road, and I'm not sure any trailer would survive without items becoming broken. Perhaps your tow vehicle is also suffering some damage?

[Daubsy]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I'm surprised that is all that broke I'm not sure why we are trying to break things by traveling off road, and I'm not sure any trailer would survive without items becoming broken. Perhaps your tow vehicle is also suffering some damage?

The TV is fine. Had I known the road was that rough, I wouldn't have done it. Had I known to put the table down, I would have done it. I try to prepare and do my research, but some things just get overlooked or I have to learn by doing. Unfortunately, this was one of those moments.

On the plus side we had a beautiful, free camping spot with a view of the entrance to Zion! Well, I guess I did pay for it in some way. [emoji57]

[cpaharley2008]

Nice shot, let us know the damage...

[Daubsy]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Nice shot, let us know the damage...

The only damage was done to the pedestal bases. We have been careful about securing everything else but, until now, neglecting the table.
You can see that the inside of both bases cracked and completely separated around the rim.