Changing out steel screws in aluminum rails |
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3219 |
Topic: Changing out steel screws in aluminum rails Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 4:19am |
Spent a good portion of a day changing out most of the steel screws in the aluminum rails on our 177. Changed 174 screws with a #10 stainless screw that was 1" in length. Also purchased a bag of 1.5" screws as I have read previous posts where owners found this length used here and there on their pods; in my case all were 1". Interesting in that the worst one were found on the underside rail near the tires, many had totally rusted out - only the head came off - new holes had to be drilled for the replacement s.s. screws. What totally surprised me, as our 177 has been used for 10 seasons, is that the screws along the top as well as most in the slide out area appeared to be brand new in appearance, they were still shiny in the thread area. I did not replace those (30 in the slide out and 12 along the top on both sides) as I figured if they haven't even begun to show any rusting after 10 years they probably won't after another 10. Also replaced the 1" vinyl trim (white) as that was showing signs of wear and cracking. A 100 foot roll took care of that.
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288 |
Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 12:27pm |
It does not surprise me that the ones on the bottom were in bad condition. All the road crud and, if you towed in winter, salt gets tossed up there. On top, they are relatively protected by the vinyl strip, so I am also not surprised that they were in good shape.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Ben Herman
Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2018 Location: Gr Junction, CO Online Status: Offline Posts: 355 |
Posted: 25 Mar 2021 at 11:41am |
This is one of those times that its helpful to live in a very dry climate (Western CO, basically high desert). Nothing here rusts, and hardly anything made of wood rots. Of course when you get to be my age (old) you start to resemble petrified wood....
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3219 |
Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 8:32am |
I hope not, petrified wood is very heavy!
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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