@WileyDavis,
What about when the panels are left open while it’s raining? The rivets cause gaps which allow water to get behind the hinge and then drip into your truck? I think this is a functional issue. Email your customers that are waiting for their camper and ask them if they would like a hinge that allows water to get behind it or not? It would have been courteous of GFC to at least tell me about this. They know about it. Their recommendation is to put some type of rope or strap to limit your doors from opening that way watersheds away.
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@Kwood We still recommend using a limiting strap when keeping the panels open in the rain. The adhesive isn’t designed or applied in a way that will guarantee sealing when the panel is inverted.
Well it was not recommended to me. I would be surprised to hear how many people that currently have a GFC or are waiting for one have been recommended this. It was told to me after my hinges started to leak and I freaked out not knowing what was going on.
I think some of you guys expect way too much from a camper specifically designed to be as light and useful as possible without compromising strength.
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Okay so if I want a camper that is specifically designed to be light and useful as possible I have to put up with water leaking out the hinge when it rains? Sorry I’ll just shut up now
How do you recommend doing this? I haven’t looked at the side panels but on the rear panel there is nothing to hook a strap to (I mean nothing elegant). Are people drilling holes in some of the metal “framing” on the panel in order to tie some cord?
I agree with you. Is it reasonable to run some clear silicone sealant caulk along this edge?
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Actually I put some clear sealant in the gaps recently and it works. That’s why I don’t understand why GFC doesn’t do something like this it seems simple. Perhaps I shouldn’t be bitching about it then but I think it’s a defect. Check this picture I took from @ace7196 build thread. There are small holes on the lip of each panel you can connect rope. I have done this as well. I just want to inform other owners of this just in case they want to open their panels while it’s raining.
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I thought about emailing GFC to ask about waiting for an adhesive panel rather than a riveted design, but decide against it. My thought is that if this hinge problem comes back in a year or so after more extensive use, the riveted panels will be way easier to replace than panels glued to a broken hinge. I love that GFC designs around serviceabilty and think that sticking with the rivets might be better from that perspective. I’m going to have mine for many years and could see a hinge failing from normal use or something stupid I do. I’d want to be able to replace the hinge rather than have a cleaner look on the assembly.
@WileyDavis any thoughts on this?
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I was thinking about using a similar rope idea except I would like to hook it around each end of the strut. One for each end of the panel. That way it would actually stop the force of the damper instead of having the constant strut pressure pushing up against the panel. If they work out I would probably just leave them attached.
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Some of you act extremely petty. Bless your heart, you have to deal with a little bit of water leaking through the hinge. The panels weren’t designed to completely block out water when they are left open. Sure, they offer some protection from the elements when left open. But they were never intended to seal out the elements 100% when left open. Instead, they should be viewed as having dual functionality whose main purpose is to open, close, and secure your gear. So you are griping about something that isn’t GFC’s fault. Your argument is the equivalent of complaining that one’s car door doesn’t completely block water from getting into the cab of the vehicle when the door is left open. A car door’s main purpose is not to block out the elements when left open, rather its purpose is to block out elements when left close. The logic is similar to the camper panels except the panels offer more dual functionality than a car door.
If GFC wants to change the hinge design to make it completely waterproof, then that’s one thing. I don’t think the little bit of water that leaks through the hinge while the panel is open will effect the long term durability of the hinge. One could make the argument, the water intrusion makes it easier on the hinge to allow some water to dispense itself rather than the water having no where to go. I don’t know. But to get upset that the panels allow some water to leak through is petty because that wasn’t the panels main design. If you are concerned about water intrusion, then buy a 270 degree awning to run around the camper. But just so you know, water will probably still intrude in some areas because nothing is fully 100% waterproof.
@WileyDavis so do we have the option to select the rivet-less design? My camper is going into production in a week or so. I like the cleaner look of the rivet-less design.
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Sorry for being extremely petty. I really had no idea that I couldn’t leave my panels open and stay 100% dry. I will crawl into my wet camper now and think about what you said.
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So …
We’re all looking forward to seeing Mike, right?
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When it’s pouring out and you open the panels the rain pours off the corner end of the panel and a lot goes into the bed of truck.
I admit that it’s a bit annoying. But, I also never expected that that no H2O will come into the bed of the truck if I leave the panels open in a downpour.
It would be nice to figure out a way to minimize the intrusion. I’m thinking a canopy off the back would help a lot. That’s my plan - as soon as I move the brake light to the panel. I have an early GFC and the brake light is on the extrusion.
I would love a 270 awning but they seem pretty flimsy - except the Kinsmen and I can’t justify 1750 for an awning!
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So I’ll bite.
Why not close the panels when it’s raining?
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My plan was to use rubber edge molding epoxied to a triangle shaped piece of waterproof material to bridge the gap between the side and back panels. Basically open the panels and slide each side of the molding onto the back and sides panels to make a continuous covered area around the truck with the panels opened.
Can I make a suggestion that we move our discussion about general hinge operation to a different thread? If I were GFC, it would drive me crazy that this thread is the most popular on the forum (given its title). Doesn’t look good for potential customers. If the hinge issue is fixed, hopefully this thread will wither and die. If not, we should post here.
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You all should know, that we have done a much better job of explaining the camper as best as possible to everyone getting them installed. We have all here for the most part been an “installer” of the product and sometimes explaining use of the camper during that time was a lot like playing telephone. We now have a set number of personnel installing the campers so the right information is being passed on tot he customer and I am working on a user manual as well as some technical write ups on maintenance and why and how we do a lot of the things we do that will better help this as well.
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So, any news? It’s been over 2 weeks since I’ve heard anything. First PITA tour headed out to SoCal? When? When’s PNW?
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