Good news, maybe bad news Flippac

[Harp]

The good news:

My loving wife has purchased me a new Tacoma for my birthday so the old pre runner is history (had a new buyer in 2 days). Time to get the Flippac off the old Taco and do some in depth inspection and cleaning.

Now comes the maybe bad news, I found this when I went to reseal the area where the lid meets the metal arms for the torsion bar. It looks like cracks in the metal. As you can see the other arm is nice and clean and a different color. So are the other 3. This one is dull and looks different from the rest. I have enjoyed this unit for just a year. I live on the east coast so taking it in for a quick replacement is not an option.

Can't tell if it is just on the surface or extends into the metal but seeing it on 2 surfaces disturbs me. I would hate to be out in the mountains and have this fail.
Any ideas other than change out the whole bar? Has anyone else had a issue like this.
Marty

 

[O2Bob]

Definitely a stress crack. You could have the cracks TIG welded but you need to find out from Flippac whats going on. The welds would be stronger than the metal. Maybe a small fish plate to reinforce the area. Check with your local shop. Someone who does mostly TIG work. Hope this helped....

 

[Harp]

Thanks for the reply, I worry that the cracks, look close there are three, come to close to the fiberglass shell to weld. Has anyone changed out the arm and how much is involved in doing so?

Marty

 

[Overland Hadley]

Bugger on the cracks, but congratulations on the new Tacoma.

(I do not know much about welding, so I am not any help)

 

[Harp]

That is the old Tacoma, Wait till you see the new!!!!!:wings:

 

[ntsqd]

Crack repair is not an art form, but it must be done correctly to succeed. There isn't a lot of space to work with there. Rarely is a raw weld stronger than the base metal, but easily it or the HAZ is more brittle.

If they still build them the way that Red87's was built the arm is held into a steel tube with bolts from the inner side of the tube (face towards the center of the shell). The tube is captured in the fibreglas and accessing the bolt heads may mean grinding away the fibreglas that is over the bolt heads. There are two types of arms used. One has splines for the torsion bar and one does not, it has a bushing to ride on the t-bar instead of the splines. You will need to relax the t-bar in order to remove it so that the plate can be removed. That means standing the lid part straight up and securing it there.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Any update? :Wow1:

(runs outside to inspect hinges...)

 

[boblynch]

Where in NC are you? I know a guy with extensive welding and camper repair experience located in central NC. Send me a PM if you want his contact info.

 

[Riz]

I think some JB WELD and some thin sheets of aluminum (beer can?) might do the trick.... At least for a temporary fix.

 

[Harp]

I think the whole arm is just a bad chunk of metal. it has a different color and texture than the others. I don't expect flippac or AT to do anything about it since I'm 1000 miles away. Just have to deal with it. I think I will order a new arm and have it on stand by and have it welded. I have seen the part order process with flippac take some time and I would hate to have it break and wait 6 weeks for a part.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Two words..... Duct Tape!!!

 

[Harp]

Maybe something like this!!!!!!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y97/kareninthewoods/ducttapecamper1.jpg

 

[Dave Bennett]

Who did you buy the FP from - FRP or AT?

 

[ETAV8R]

That just sucks! Only a year? Worries me already even though I'm on the west coast. I think I have pics of yours saved from when I was waiting for mine to arrive. You will love the new taco. What model, other than shortbed, did you get?
:smiley_drive:

 

[Harp]

Bought the flippac from AT. Had it shipped here Sept. of last year. As for the new truck I'll post pics when it arrives.