LIVING HINGE REPLACEMENT - A "HOW-TO" FOR BROKEN H

[FiremanPete]

Hi everybody....

Just finished replacing the living hinge on my bed ends and at my folding bed side panels.  Very simple.

As promised, I took digital photos and made a "how-to" page.  Here's the URL:

http://members.cox.net/peterswanson/livinghinge.htm

WORD OF WARNING:  Get a can of bee spray and make sure you check for wasp nests under the ends of the slide-out beds (in the corners especially!)  I had four wasp nests; one was in each corner.  Since you'll be pulling off the corner end caps, you'll want to spray the nests the night before to avoid getting stung!  For some reason, the wasps love those underneath corner spots for building a home!

For those of you wondering "what's living hinge???"...
It's the plastic hinge that allows the side ABS panels to fold down at the pull-out beds, and allows the bed ends to fold up when you set your camper up.  When these crack, it makes set-up difficult, and you run the risk of your bed ends "falling out" of your camper and smashing on the ground.

Feel free to take a look and find out how simple replacement is!

Good Luck!

P.S.  Webmaster.... feel free to link any of this if you add a section under "Content" along with ABS repair, AC installation, etc.  Lots of people looking to replace living hinge.  Thanks!

Pete[/url]

[jg]

Hi Pete-
What a GREAT article on replacing the living hinge! Excellent detail and
and much appreciated by anyone undertaking this repair.  I look forward to any future repairs and projects you take on and hope you continue to share them with everyone.

Thanks... Jon

[MyBoyBurt]

Great!  Thanks for taking the time to assist your fellow Apache
owners.  I have a box of living hinges that I had no idea how to go
about installing, now I'll be able to actually complete this task!

Michelle 1957
Leon      1956
Apache Mesa 1977

[kevinw]

I think your article should be loaded on the "How to" area in sections.
 

[Mithy1]

Boy, I wish I had checked here before we installed our new "living hinge".  We just did our over the past weekend.  The first side took us about 45 mins to figure out, the other took about 10 minutes to do.  We are so new to all of this camper stuff, it has been one shameful moment after another, but I feel like we are really learning things...The knowledge is almost worth the 400$ we paid for the camper.  We got ours from the folks up in Ontario, they are a real nice to work with, (I didn't even know what the name of the item was that I needed to fix it so I must have been their "doozy" customer of the day.

[Jules]

Thanks to firemanpete for his informative step-by-step instructions.  Our new camper is an adventure for us and this site and the people in this group are very informative and helpful.  We really appreciate it!!!

[FiremanPete]

Just wanted to move this posting back up for all new users to see.

Pete

[jg]

It would be very helpful for everyone and easier to find if the administrators would place this great information on road seals and living hinge replacement uder 'Content'.  Thanks Pete for moving the posting!
Jon

[stancilgirls]

Great information on replacing living hinges. I'm a 51 year old female and I'm attempting to do as many repairs to my 1975 Royal as I can myself. I have very little experience in this kind of thing, so it's a real adventure. This article was excellent. I'm about half way through replacing my living hinges and IT'S EASY!!!. Now if someone could do the same kind of thing on replacing road seals and bed end seals it would be great. I've got some leaks I'm having problems with. Love my Apache!!!

[san270]

Great article, just what the doctor ordered. Now I can replace my hinges
with your help, instead of trial and error.
     thanks san270

[tnaptguy]

congratulations on the awesome tutorial.....i forgot and thought i was reading a time/life "how-to" book series for a moment! oh yeah and congrats on the promotion!!!!!(deer)

[FiremanPete]

Hey, thanks Bret....

Always wanted to be a deer.....I guess.

[kingeo]

Trying to get the page with the pics and instructions of the Living Hindge Replacement and get and error message. Does anyone have an updated URL

George

[Maineboy]

Hello Fireman Pete,

I read your posting, and I think it's just what I need.  I tried to open the URL with the instructions and photos, but the site did not open.  I am a first-time owner of a 1973 Apache Mesa, and it's in good shape.  I did something stupid this morning, however.  I opened it all up to take measurements for new curtains, slip covers for the cushions, etc.  I just bought it 3 weeks ago.  As I was closing up the bed ends, one of them got out of my hands and "fell out".  I felt like a fool.  It snapped off the bed and fell to the ground.  The living hinges are broken.  I hope I haven't done too much damage to the camper.  I have a couple of questions:

1.  Where can I buy new living hinges?
2.  I couldn't open your URL.  If you, or anyone, can help list the steps to replacing the hinges, I'd really appreciate it.

I appreciate any help.  Thanks everyone!
Steve

[wannabe]

Steve, I have Petes pics saved on my computer. They are tiny, about 2K file size each. Theres about 20 pics. Lemmie know and Ill email them to you. kel