Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-27-2013, 05:41 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
4MacFam's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 163
New SMB! How does your aluminess rack brackets fit penthouse

Of the few pics I've seen the brackets from the aluminess rack should fit smooth/flush with the sides of the penthouse. Mine isn't even close. Everyone has a 1/4 - 1/2 gap at the bottom and the bracket rests on the corner (crush point) of the penthouse. I'm concerned that overtime and rough trails that this will damage the penthouse roof.
We're on a little trip (first) right from SMB-North and will return there before heading home.

I can't see that this is a properly mounted rack.

Now the problem of how to fix it. New rack? If so more bolt holes in penthouse as I'm sure they won't line up. Plus I have a six hour drive one way.
One solution might be to drive out to aluminess and have them bend the brackets, but I'm guessing this would still cause a uneven load distribution of bracket to penthouse top/side. And possibly have the brackets continue to bend under load.

What to do? I also went around and checked the bolts and some just wiggle in place so they're doing nothing right now.

I also have a "bulge" in the penthouse about 6" long that sticks out over the drip rail about 1/4", but I might just be overly anal about the fit.

Comments and suggestions from all you bright forum people would be appreciated. (Even the dim witted ones might help)


Steve in Madison WI
2013 E350 EB, V10 6.8ltr
Toyo 285/70 17

__________________
Steven McKenzie
Madison, WI
2013 E350 EB-44, V10 6.8ltr
Toyo LT285/70 R17
4MacFam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 05:43 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
4MacFam's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 163
New SMB! How does your aluminess rack brackets fit on your p

Here's some pics



Here's the bulge. Drivers side 18" before back



Steve in Madison WI
2013 E350 EB, V10 6.8ltr
Toyo 285/70 17
Attached Thumbnails
ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21372333306.954092.jpg   ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21372333320.452802.jpg   ImageUploadedByTapatalk 21372333380.286091.jpg  
__________________
Steven McKenzie
Madison, WI
2013 E350 EB-44, V10 6.8ltr
Toyo LT285/70 R17
4MacFam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 05:47 AM   #3
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Re: New SMB! How does your aluminess rack brackets fit on yo

That is not right at all. I've never seen an Aluminess rack fit like that. Bending the tabs might work, but with that much discrepancy between the tabs and the PH roof, the tabs might not be long enough after getting bent.

Was this a new rack and install?


Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 08:21 AM   #4
Site Team
 
Gooseberry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Covina
Posts: 1,317
Garage
Re: New SMB! How does your aluminess rack brackets fit penth

Thats so not right and needs to go back for a full rework.

The SMB shop that did that work needs to have the employee fired and the QC guy hung from the rafters.
__________________
Kelly, Claudine, Sophie dog, Bell the redheaded step child and Gooseberry RIP.

Most the time the Copilot is Now Sophie dog the noise maker.

2000 7.3 PS Quigley/RB30 with a 6 window poptop.
Gooseberry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 08:30 AM   #5
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Re: New SMB! How does your aluminess rack brackets fit penth

Quote:
Originally Posted by 4MacFam
...I also have a "bulge" in the penthouse about 6" long that sticks out over the drip rail about 1/4", but I might just be overly anal about the fit.
That PH bulge looks odd as well. That, along with the rack issue makes me wonder if the PH top isn't installed improperly. I can't imagine the PH top being made wrong (they come from a mold, right?), but one section shouldn't fit differently than other sections.

BTW, I completey agree with Goose that the installer should be fired, and the the QC person should have their eyesight checked. How could anyone let that install leave the factory is beyond me.


Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 10:23 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
audisnapr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 253
Re: New SMB! How does your aluminess rack brackets fit penth

Having built my own I can tell you the PHT is not the same width at the front and back. Is it possible the rack needs to be rotated 180*?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
__________________
4amRacing
audisnapr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 10:41 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
ANZAC's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,005
Re: New SMB! How does your aluminess rack brackets fit penth

That looks wrong. I would talk to Aluminess. Agree the installers should never have let it go out like that.
__________________
Sportsmobile-less.

"A job worth doing is worth doing at least twice."
ANZAC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 11:01 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
carringb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 5,300
Re: New SMB! How does your aluminess rack brackets fit penth

Looks like they send out a rack for a Chevy van (they have a narrower penthouse) and the legs were simply bent out to fit the Ford roof.
__________________
2000 E450 dually V10 wagon
carringb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 12:11 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Gnarvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Washougal, Wa
Posts: 1,047
Re: New SMB! How does your aluminess rack brackets fit penth

Send the pictures to Aluminess and get their opinion via a phone call with the experts. Send pictures to SMB-north and then get them on the phone and schedule the replacement/repair. That is not acceptable. Don't let then bend stuff to get it to fit. Make them replace the rack with the correct one and be very vigilant on how they repair the holes on the top to install the new rack. If the holes don't match up I'd be talking to them about a replacement top.

That is a piss poor job that will lead to long term grief if you don't get them to fix it properly
__________________
John

Gnarvan 1992 E350 Clubwagon
Advanced 4WD Systems Conversion

Sotar Legend 12.5' X 22" Cataraft
2003 BMW R1150GS-Adventure
2013 BMW R1200GS-Adventure
Gnarvan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 12:29 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
carringb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 5,300
Re: New SMB! How does your aluminess rack brackets fit penth

PS - seeing where the bulge is, it looks like it is a result of the edge being pried out by screws used to mount that rack. If the correct rack were installed, it would not pull the edges out at all, and that's exactly what is happening with the small rack. You will probably see the area below the other legs area, since they are all pulling outward on the edge, and fiberglass is a plastic so it will effectually deform with constant load.
__________________
2000 E450 dually V10 wagon
carringb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:48 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.