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08-02-2017, 10:28 PM
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#41
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Santiago
Definitively no rivet through fiberglass roof but if it were my installation I would replace the three pop rivets attaching the L bracket to the solar panel frame. The cable fraying showed much stressing due to a variety of reasons already touched upon, including roof flexing. The three pop rivets in my view would be just as compromised as being aluminum they don't offer the same shear failure limit steel bolts offer or could likely have its head extrude out depending on nature of forces.
As I mentioned in another thread, Scamp roof rivets have been known to break due to flexing and yes the Scamp shell is rhino thick. I recall hole cutting shell to mount external electrical connector and I though I never get through it.
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Santiago,
That was my first reaction as I saw the three rivets (aluminum) on the top end of the bracket and fastened into the panel frame. I wanted a nut and bolt installed there .... then I started thinking about the nut and bolt not being made from aluminum like the frame. I then realized that the aluminum pop rivets were probably the best fasteners to be used in this application. Steel, stainless steel or mild steel fasteners would most likely cause corrosion of the frame ... increasing the effective size of the fastener hole until eventual failure.
Threaded fasteners of non aluminum alloys likely would have more shear strength than rivets ... however, I would 'electrically' insulate the frame and fastener by installing plastic washers between fastener head, nut and frame. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to install a plastic sheet (cut down bleach bottle)between panel frame and bracket ..... Really I think my trailer will likely outlast me and I'm planning to live until I'm at least 400 cause that is how long it will take me to make a dent in my bucket list.
Tom
__________________
Consciousness: That confusing time between naps
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08-03-2017, 08:15 AM
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#42
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,254
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Guidance
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
Let's try this again and try to keep responses on topic, thank you!
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Thanks Jim,
Update Garlic is drying, peppers are doing well in the heat. Zucks are coming along.
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08-03-2017, 08:30 AM
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#43
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,543
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave
Thanks Jim,
Update Garlic is drying, peppers are doing well in the heat. Zucks are coming along.
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Totally off topic. Ban this veggie pusher, I say!
Unless of course he shares his produce.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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08-03-2017, 08:54 AM
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#44
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowa Dave
Thanks Jim,
Update Garlic is drying, peppers are doing well in the heat. Zucks are coming along.
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Hi: Iowa Dave... The only redeeming quality of some veggies is they can be grilled along with a nice steak!!!
As for the latest extra fasteners for a solar panel... I carry them in the box where ever we go... so pass me when it's safe to do so!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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08-03-2017, 09:07 AM
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#45
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Midcoast, Maine
Trailer: 2016 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 435
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I often wonder when reading these type of threads (about the improper installation of something or another) how well built the massed-produced trailers are? I have no idea, just wondered if they are safe from the time they leave the factory until their end of life.
I thought about Casita and Scamp, and how they only make minor changes to their trailer, using the same design for years or decades, thinking that was a wise way to build their trailers, but then remembered I have read about them having issues themselves, despite that (although we never had any with our Casita other than rivets failing).
I personally believe that what appeals to a lot of people who buy Escapes is their ever-evolving "improvements" to the trailers, be it components or actual design. This could be a good thing or could be problematic, depending on the nature of the "improvement".
I can imagine Reace and Tammy must be compiling an extensive list of things that work or went wrong with various changes they have tried. The trick I would assume, is keeping enough of the design from iteration to iteration to not compromise the things that work. I haven't heard of them making the same mistake repeatedly?
That being said, I once again must credit what Jim Bennett told said in the unveiling of the new design thread when I was bumming that the 2017 style trailers were coming out just shortly after we were getting ours. He wisely said, "who knows? Some people might actually like the old style better". In our case, it appears that Escape had come up with a mature, problem free design by the time they quit making the classics. We have not been contacted about any issue, and so far, I have not read anything here that has panicked me.
That's just my thoughts.
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08-03-2017, 09:54 AM
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#46
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Corinth, Mississippi
Trailer: 2014 19' Escape - 2023 JGC-L Summit
Posts: 193
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
Let's try this again and try to keep responses on topic, thank you!
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Thanks to Parker for a heads-up about this. In our case, we've towed 28,800 miles without any problems with the factory solar panel installation. In September 2015, AMSolar installed two panels on the roof using their mounting system and I stopped at ETI to have them add the safety cables to the original panel shortly after that. 18,600 miles later, all the panel mounts are still secure and I've not seen any wear of the safety cables.
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08-03-2017, 11:24 AM
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#47
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,347
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
Totally off topic. Ban this veggie pusher, I say!
Unless of course he shares his produce.
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They mentioned Caribbean Poutine on the food network channel last night. The chef who prepared it won.
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08-03-2017, 11:40 AM
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#48
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,543
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dfandrews
They mentioned Caribbean Poutine on the food network channel last night. The chef who prepared it won.
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Sounds delish.......
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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08-03-2017, 01:51 PM
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#49
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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I really can't believe folks eat this. Right up there with Blue Buffalo Homestyle.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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08-03-2017, 02:08 PM
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#50
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Yes, the traditional poutine definitely looks better
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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08-03-2017, 02:09 PM
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#51
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Now back to the issue at hand, please.....
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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08-03-2017, 04:14 PM
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#52
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Thread has been closed.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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08-04-2017, 01:05 PM
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#53
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Pacific NW, Washington
Trailer: 1964 Globetrotter
Posts: 948
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Just a followup here regarding moderation and member posting expectations. Many posts were removed from this thread because they insulted another member and ultimately made the thread unreadable once that content was stripped out. So a reminder:
All members may post opinions, advice and questions as noted in the site rules. This may include discussions about broken parts, bad experiences, etc but may not include insults, direct attacks and rude posts directed at another member. Please review the site rules that you agreed to when you joined: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/mi...ork&page=rules
If you disagree with the opinion of another person, state your reason in a respectful way and then move on. Do not insult or taunt another member. Moderators may restrict accounts where there is a pattern of this behavior and while this rarely occurs, we will take what ever steps are needed to maintain informational and collegial discourse. This thread was derailed by posts that strayed from the topic at hand and targeted the opinions offered by a few. These posts have been removed but fair warning... this is unacceptable posting behavior and moving forward will be met with warnings and account restrictions if needed.
If you see a problem post please use the red triangle on that post to report it as a possible problem; let the site team handle it but do not respond in kind.
It takes little effort to be kind in person - posting on the internet should be no different.
Thanks for understanding.
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