Slide Seal Staples

[ckreef]

They use Staples to attach your slide Seal to the the trailer. Today I gently pulled back the seal bulb on my slide out and to my dismay found a few Staples that weren't right. There were a couple Staples on each side that were sticking out trying to poke a hole in my seal bulb. That will not do.

I used a screwdriver and hammer to bend them back down. Not a proper fix but at least they won't be poking a hole in my slide Seal bulb.

[Country Campers]

They use Staples to attach your slide Seal to the the trailer. Today I gently pulled back the seal bulb on my slide out and to my dismay found a few Staples that weren't right. There were a couple Staples on each side that were sticking out trying to poke a hole in my seal bulb. That will not do.

I used a screwdriver and hammer to bend them back down. Not a proper fix but at least they won't be poking a hole in my slide Seal bulb.

Another unfortunate discovery. Maybe , just maybe , some day these items might stop turning up.

Brian

[ckreef]

Another unfortunate discovery. Maybe , just maybe , some day these items might stop turning up.

Brian

I'm hoping one of the GD people will see this post and send word back to the factory - if the Staple curves back out, don't just move on for sake of production, do something about it for sake of quality.

[Cate&Rob]

GDRV-Megan
Hi Megan,

Could you relay this issue to the assembly plant(s)? Not only the concern noted by Charles and Susan of the staple poking into the seal, but it would seem to me that the seal is going to be loose from the wall if the staples look like the pictures attached to post 1.

Thanks
Rob

[steve&renee]

I think the issue is deeper. GD assembly (probably RV assembly) uses way too much stapling to fasten components. Staples don't hold components together in an RV. Things are falling apart in our rigs: Valances, headliners, my kitchen island.

-Steve

[Cate&Rob]

I think the issue is deeper. GD assembly (probably RV assembly) uses way too much stapling to fasten components. Staples don't hold components together in an RV. Things are falling apart in our rigs: Valances, headliners, my kitchen island.

-Steve

Hi Steve,

I don't think you will find an argument from any owner on this point . We have reupholstered our dinette chairs (over 100 original staples in each chair) and replaced all interior carpeting (more original staples than I could count). If anyone wants to see some of these stories, enter "staples" into the search tool in the upper right corner.

Agreed that staples don't hold as well as a threaded fastener . . . particularly when the material underneath is disintegrated with many staples into the same location. But, staples are fast and that is what building RVs is all about. I particularly like (well . . . "like" isn't the right word) the attached picture from one of those earlier threads.

Rob

[TucsonJim]

Hi Steve,

I don't think you will find an argument from any owner on this point . We have reupholstered our dinette chairs (over 100 original staples in each chair) and replaced all interior carpeting (more original staples than I could count). If anyone wants to see some of these stories, enter "staples" into the search tool in the upper right corner.

Agreed that staples don't hold as well as a threaded fastener . . . particularly when the material underneath is disintegrated with many staples into the same location. But, staples are fast and that is what building RVs is all about. I particularly like (well . . . "like" isn't the right word) the attached picture from one of those earlier threads.

Rob

Hey, that's a photo from my rig. When I removed all those staples and replaced them with screws, I dropped 852.317 pounds from my loaded weight... ;-)

[JBill9694]

The attached photo is from the front end of the inside, top bulb seal on our curbside slide. In this case it looks like the staple hit the aluminum framing around the slide opening and turned sideways. Stayed in place for almost two years of full time use. This staple and the one at the other end were replaced with self-tapping screws. I also replaced the staple holding the front, inside, vertical bulb seal for the same slide as the staple had pulled loose.

[GDRV-Megan]

They use Staples to attach your slide Seal to the the trailer. Today I gently pulled back the seal bulb on my slide out and to my dismay found a few Staples that weren't right. There were a couple Staples on each side that were sticking out trying to poke a hole in my seal bulb. That will not do.

I used a screwdriver and hammer to bend them back down. Not a proper fix but at least they won't be poking a hole in my slide Seal bulb.

Thanks for the feedback, I have passed this along to our product managers.



EDIT: Here is the feedback from our product managers:

This is a 2 piece slide system.
- the rubber is thicker and more pliable than what we used before.
- you do not have to remove the slide to change your seals.
- this is a much better seal system for install, quality, service, longevity.

The staples in the picture is not a good install.

[ckreef]

Ian this case it looks like the staple hit the aluminum framing around the slide opening and turned sideways. Stayed in place for almost two years of full time use.

I too figured the staple hit aluminum and shot back up. The seal is still firmly attached so I thought I would keep an eye on it and if it loosens then do what you did.

I think the lesson here is everyone should check their seals as a precaution.

[Country Campers]

I too figured the staple hit aluminum and shot back up. The seal is still firmly attached so I thought I would keep an eye on it and if it loosens then do what you did.

I think the lesson here is everyone should check their seals as a precaution.

I would think a small round headed screw , # 6 maybe , would do to replace the staples if it came to that. The head would be small enough to not interfere with the seal.

Brian