Mod to Bumper

[TomC]

I want to make sure I don’t lose a bumper cap and possibly a sewage hose. I drilled a hole in my bumper and installed a 5/16” pin. I plan to drill a couple of small holes on the other side and secure with sheet metal screws.

[creativepart]

Here's a hint on photos you upload to the Forum. If you take the photo with the phone vertical like you did in this photo, when you upload it it will be sideways like it shows in your post.

If you hold the phone horizontal (landscape) with the home button to the right and the volume controls down the photo will be in the correct orientation when you upload it to the forum.

[Eagle5]

Hi Tom,
That is a great idea. Those caps do tend to get lost.
Thanks, Eagle5

[akeagle]

Originally Posted by TomC

I want to make sure I don’t lose a bumper cap and possibly a sewage hose. I drilled a hole in my bumper and installed a 5/16” pin. I plan to drill a couple of small holes on the other side and secure with sheet metal screws.

Excellent solution! I haven't lost a cap yet, but I've found them loosened considerably and ready to drop.

[MicroMinnie]

Nice mod!

One does wonder how much flexing is going on in the frame, for that to twist the caps loose gotta be significant, I found a couple of spare caps at campgrounds, so good for now 😎

[Goodspike]

Wouldn't just a pin in the top be sufficient?

[Trout One]

Black gaff tape works pretty well, too. Never leave home without a roll.

[backtrack15]

Originally Posted by TomC

I want to make sure I don’t lose a bumper cap and possibly a sewage hose. I drilled a hole in my bumper and installed a 5/16” pin.

I like this. Where did you purchase the pin and what size is required (e.g., 5-inch)? Thank you.

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by Trout One

Black gaff tape works pretty well, too. Never leave home without a roll.

Yep. Three years and about 20,000 miles. Gorilla Tape.

[TomC]

Originally Posted by backtrack15

I like this. Where did you purchase the pin and what size is required (e.g., 5-inch)? Thank you.

I don’t remember where I purchased. I searched on line looking for a 1/4” pin and could not find one long enough. Finally settled for a 5/16”pin. It is a pin used to weights in weight lifting machines. It did not have a hole drilled thru the end . I had to drill the pin. It was fairly easy to drill with a drill press once I got it started. The pin I used was a 6” pin. I believe any thing longer than 4.5” should work. I will go back and look at my credit card bills and see if I can locate where I ordered the pin from. If all else fails I ordered 2 think I would put one one each end. However I decided to use sheet metal screws in the opposite end.

[backtrack15]

Originally Posted by TomC

I don’t remember where I purchased. I searched on line looking for a 1/4” pin and could not find one long enough. Finally settled for a 5/16”pin. It is a pin used to weights in weight lifting machines. ...

Thank you for the information. I saw the ones for weight machines online. I should be all set based on this response.

[TomC]

Originally Posted by backtrack15

Thank you for the information. I saw the ones for weight machines online. I should be all set based on this response.

I ordered it from “fullcirclepadding.com”. I was wrong it is a 5”pin. The part number is FE716 and the cost is $6.24. Hope this helps.

[akeagle]

I just made this mod to my Minnie Winnie, but I went about it in a slightly different manner. I bought a couple plastic knobs with 1/4 - 20 brass thread inserts from Ace Hardware, and a 12" piece of 1/4 - 20 all-thread from Home Depot. I cut 2 pieces of the all-thread 4 5/8" long and screwed the cut ends into the knobs using blue thread lock to ensure they don't vibrate apart.

Next I marked the bumper top and bottom 3/8" from the ends on the centerline and drilled a 1/4" hole on the top of the bumper and a slightly smaller hole (with a #7 drill bit) directly below the first hole. Then I tapped 1/4 - 20 threads in the lower hole.

Lastly I inserted the caps and marked their flanges for drilling 5/16" holes in those flanges for the all-thread to pass through. Once that was all done, I inserted the all-thread knob assemblies and snugged them down slightly and viola, I now have secured bumper caps!

Not trying to say my method is better, just different.