Torision Bar Protection?

[hangdog2]

Finnally gettiing a new torision bar for the Flip pac!
Was wondering what is everyones thought on trying to protect it from the elements.
I was thinking of some sort of spray rubber paint (Plastic Dip Spray) to protect the new bar.
Love to hear what you guys think!

 

[Overlanerd]

I got my Flippac in December and it came with a 3/4" aluminum tube that encased the torsion bar. The bar actually broke in April and FRP replaced it under warranty. They paid for some of my gas money to come down to Riverside from the Bay Area. The broken torsion bar poked a hole in the thin aluminum tubing when it snapped, but kept everything intact. It possibly saved my truck & camper from getting scratched/ dented by the snapped torsion bar. The tubing gives it a finished look as well.

I'll try to post pics tomorrow.

 

[austintaco]

Wow. Your torsion bar only lasted 4-5 months!? That scares me

 

[Overlanerd]

Wow. Your torsion bar only lasted 4-5 months!? That scares me

Yeah. Our 2nd was born in February, so we didn't get to camp until mid April:Wow1:. Popped it up a few dozen times for show and to take future cabinet measurements. I tried to pop it up at the campsite to no avail. With the help of a few friends, the camper was popped- up and we spent a few nights in it (highly unrecommended without a working torsion bar). Got it replaced the next weekend at FRP. They chocked it up to a potential fracture- maybe from being dropped in the factory. My google search resulted in no findings of torsion bars breaking this early. I'm confident that it will last a while. There's not enough evidence for me to believe that this is a common occurrence.

 

[Overlanerd]

BTW, it scared me too. I subsequently deployed the tent by myself (with the help of a 4.5' x 6' rolled-up bamboo mat that I keep in the truck) and know that I can sleep in the truck should the torsion bar break on a trip. Highly unrecommended, but possible.

Here are the pics:

 

[hangdog2]

I got my Flippac in December and it came with a 3/4" aluminum tube that encased the torsion bar. The bar actually broke in April and FRP replaced it under warranty. They paid for some of my gas money to come down to Riverside from the Bay Area. The broken torsion bar poked a hole in the thin aluminum tubing when it snapped, but kept everything intact. It possibly saved my truck & camper from getting scratched/ dented by the snapped torsion bar. The tubing gives it a finished look as well.

I'll try to post pics tomorrow.

Scoutsider, I was thinking the aluminum tube wasnt water tight and it also rattles a bit. So I was thinking of covering the torsion bar with the rubber paint. All except the splines that are engaged (I ve never seen one fail there. Chime in if you have.) But Im still not even sure if water is the cause of so much failure of these bars. I was really surprised to see how flimbsy these bars actually are once you have it out of the aluminum tube.....