Has GFC ever considered switching over to a metal hinge?
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We have tested other hinges but a metal hinge of any kind will not yield even close tot he same amount of element resistance.
Post a picture! Let’s see this in the flesh.
Funny timing, but no worries. I think we are all happy. I don’t want to speak for everyone though!
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Even with the metal hinge gasketed like on aluminum commercial toppers?
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I will look into a more technical answer for you on why we did not use metal hinges and get back to. I understand my answer was sort of vague.
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You need a continuous hinge for water shedding and the available metal continuous hinges are too thin and do not hold up to heavy vibration. Anything larger and more robust is not continuous and would likely allow elements into the camper. The plastic continuous hinge we use is meant for heavy industrial applications which makes it a much better solution. The material is appropriate but our installation in some of the earlier campers is what cause the failures (IE the old seal allowing the installation of the hinge to be incorrect)
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from another thread
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Looks much cleaner like this!
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it would also eliminate water running behind the hinge (and dripping on your head) when the door panel is open during a rain event, assuming it is a continuous bead of adhesive across the entire length of the hinge/panel. Curious to see how it holds up with excessive heat/cold cycles. Would also want to consider how hard it would be to remove the hinge from the panel in the event a hinge needs replaced? may not be a big deal.
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Whoa that looks so different, hope the testing goes well with it!
I am very curious as well. That adhesive is impossible to remove.
I’m really getting tired of not using the doors. After you’re used to being able to access the entire bed of the truck - going back to not being able to open the doors is painful…
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Are people having issues with other trucks besides Tacomas?
I notified them one month ago tomorrow.
I’m expecting that when my side hinges are replaced I will get the new front hinge and the bar with latch pins. I have had zero problems with my front/pivot hinge. I looked inside it a couple months ago and it looked fine - I still sprayed it with boeshield (or fluidfilm I don’t remember which).
My locking pin bar was replaced pronto when the pins froze up. I hadn’t opened it up in a couple of months during nasty season up here and they were immobile. The replacement was the old style but now I keep it lubed up and move the pins every couple of weeks whether I use the tent or not.
I would also guess that GFC should do a spray of the interior of the frame tubes anytime they get a camper back. That would be good preventative maintenance - and good PR.
I’m wondering what they’ll charge to get the new tent. I don’t have any problem with the 1st gen materials. But, it would be nice to have a side door - and be able to close things up more easily. After camping in it a few times I definitely see the advantage of being able to enter/exit from the side without dicking around with moving the square and opening the tailgate.
I still love this thing. I bought it because I don’t need a full time enclosed camper. But, I use it as a truck daily. That’s what makes not being able to open one side (and gingerly opening the other 2 such a PITA.
I purchased the upgrade from v1 to v2 just to get the side door access and it has been a game changer. I just got back from 6 days on the road with a full bed of climbing gear. It was awesome to go in through the side door.
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Who else is waiting for new hinges?
Do you mean waiting for temporary replacements?
When two hinges failed on mine, gfc got replacements out to me in a week or so. I don’t know if anyone with a current failed hinge is waiting for a replacement today.
Do you mean waiting for new hinges and resealing for a permanent fix?
There are ~100 of us minus however many have already been retrofit. Of the ~100 with the potentially defective design and build, gfc has already repaired some. I don’t know if they have posted how many this number is. There are a large number of us with currently working hinges, original or replacement, that need resealing and new hinges for a permanent fix.
Still waiting on some kind of announcement or warning to customers. By gfc’s own admission they put ~100 potentially defective and dangerous units into the field. Not all will fail, but >10% of the original 60 did according to 1st hand reports on tw. Hopefully no new failures occur and all that were going to fail already did, but I wouldn’t bet on that.
Count me as waiting.
I was in communication with Mike, asking about my rust-puking front tube, and was told they could replace it in the field - and that I was “slotted in the schedule” for next time he was in town. At this point I think I’ll just hold off until he figures out how to do the hinges and sealant in the same visit (since the front tube is going to require significant disassembly anyways).
My side hinges look fine I guess, but the rear is getting stretched out and scary looking due to the welds just like BorregoTaco’s. I’m off to Baja for 3 weeks over the holidays and will be packing the fat roll of gorilla tape 
Hopefully you don’t have any issues with the camper. Bring ratchet straps too. Baja for 3 weeks sounds like a blast.
My front tube is puking rust water all over my cab and doors now too. I might be inclined to fix it sooner rather than later. I think it could do permanent damage to the paint if it hasn’t already.
My side hinges looked fine, until one didn’t.