Bed night table

lonerider98 · 03-09-2022, 01:31 PM

I woke up one morning and the molding on the night stand was falling off. It's a 2022 Cougar 364bhl. It looks like the particle board has swelled at the front where the molding goes.I see no where that water was involved. It wasn't wet. Any ideas what could cause this and is there a way to fix this?

Canonman · 03-09-2022, 02:03 PM

It's probably cold where you are so the trailer is probably closed up. Moisture can be trapped inside that could cause the side piece to swell a little.
I'd try turning on the furnace only and get things warm and dry. Then, some glue and small nails or staples should do the trick to reattach the molding. Others may have ideas as well but that's my thought.

lonerider98 · 03-09-2022, 02:28 PM

It's not cold down here in Texas to where we are. And in the evenings that get a little chilly we use our heat. keep it at 65 or so at night. And we are in it. It's not in storage. Thanks for the idea!

jasin1 · 03-09-2022, 02:42 PM

Possibly the material at the factory was stored in a humid environment? Quickly assembled and off to a dealers lot.

Or you could have a leak in the basement causing high humidity….not enough to leak on the ground but could cause wood swelling

jsb5717 · 03-09-2022, 03:52 PM

Not sure what's causing it but I would get a warranty claim started.

**sourdough** · 03-09-2022, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonerider98

It's not cold down here in Texas to where we are. And in the evenings that get a little chilly we use our heat. keep it at 65 or so at night. And we are in it. It's not in storage. Thanks for the idea!

Where are you in TX? You may be in a high humidity area. I don't worry about that in my neck of the woods but down S it is a problem.

First get the warranty claim in. Don't know what they can/will do but get it documented. 2nd get a dehumidifier - I run one 24hrs a day 7 days a week. I suspect that is from water absorption into those bare ends of that pressed wood - it is a very good sponge. Find out what, if anything, warranty will do. If nothing put things back together nicely then cover the ends of the open pressed wood with a sealer like polyurethane to seal the "sponge".

lonerider98 · 03-09-2022, 05:30 PM

We use a dehumidifier also. I bought the unit in Arizona so no humidity there. I'm in Brownsville TX. right now just the last two days have been a little humid. Noticed it a few days ago. Yea I sent a email to Keystone they told me to take it to a dealer, But I'm from Michigan and can't do nothing till I get back in about 2 months. Not sure if I should stop by a keystone dealer and atleast have them put it on record or wait till I get back home!

**sourdough** · 03-09-2022, 05:39 PM

File the claim with your selling dealer and then do the same with Keystone. Don't let time slide if you are going to try to file a warranty claim.

**JRTJH** · 03-09-2022, 05:41 PM

I'd recommend taking some photos of the damage, email them to your dealer and see what he recommends you do. Keystone won't usually even "agree there's a problem" without a dealership input.

Honestly, if it's something as simple as just a bit of contact cement and a piece of masking tape to hold it in place until the contact cement dries, I'd take the photos, email them to the dealer and depending on what he suggests, I'd fix it the next time you'll be in one place for a couple of days.

Chances are very good that's the same repair as your dealer would do, a "5 minute fix" but if you do it yourself, you'll avoid the 6 weeks of the trailer sitting at the dealership waiting for Keystone to respond, for the dealer to schedule the repair bay for half a day and find someone to haul it from the back lot to the workshop, muddy up your trailer with their dirty boots, scratch the tabletop with a tool that fell and leave glue residue all over the wall next to the table.....

Cut to the chase, but coordinate with the dealership, so you're covered if something goes wrong and the rest of the table "takes a dive" before you get back to Michigan.....

lonerider98 · 03-09-2022, 05:46 PM

Well the selling dealer is in Nevada and I'm completely heading away from them. I guess that's the problem of buying out of state. I am going to contact them and see what they can do as far as filing a claim.

**JRTJH** · 03-09-2022, 06:00 PM

Yep, an "orphan trailer from an abandoned parent dealership, both living in separate states, under separate social service programs and rules"....

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.....

Keystone has a DIY program for "owner repairs" but the Customer Service department in Goshen either hasn't heard about it or they've slept since the last briefing on the program.... <said completley "tongue in cheek">

Take a look at this link, it'll explain the DIY program... But, keep the selling dealership informed and follow their advice....

https://www.keystonerv.com/diy-program

Just a "heads up"... When you get back to Michigan, don't expect that every dealership you walk into is going to be "all smiles and open arms" waiting to help you with your problems... Some will be hesitant, but help you if they don't have their customers waiting and some will simply tell you they don't want your business and to take it back to the dealer that sold it to you.... So, just be prepared for a cold shoulder.... Keystone does not require any dealer to service units they didn't sell and there are some "volume internet dealerships" that don't even have a service department. They are strictly a "sales facility with no service available"....

lonerider98 · 03-09-2022, 06:26 PM

Yes I know about the diy program but when I contacted them about it they said this does not fall under the program. Needs to go to the dealer to figure out what caused it.

rhagfo · 03-10-2022, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonerider98

I woke up one morning and the molding on the night stand was falling off. It's a 2022 Cougar 364bhl. It looks like the particle board has swelled at the front where the molding goes.I see no where that water was involved. It wasn't wet. Any ideas what could cause this and is there a way to fix this?

My question is did it swell or is the particleboard split? That trim is refereed to as DOT (Drive On Trim), and if the slot for it to go into is too narrow, or the particleboard is defective it can split.

lonerider98 · 03-10-2022, 06:32 AM

Could of split because it was not damp when I noticed it. I'm just afraid they will try to blame it on me somehow. I'm thinking it was tight and during travel it split but how to prove that? waiting on the dealership where I purchased it to get back with me since I'm 500+ miles away heading slowly back home to Mi.

**flybouy** · 03-10-2022, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhagfo

My question is did it swell or is the particleboard split? That trim is refereed to as DOT (Drive On Trim), and if the slot for it to go into is too narrow, or the particleboard is defective it can split.

That's what it luuks like to me as well. Typically water intrusion from whatever cause wouldn't create such an even expansion. Only way to tell is to pull that trim piece off. We could come up with a myrid of theories but I'd definitely would contact Keystone incase the cause is more nefarious than just "excess hammer hits" on the assembly line.

rlh1957 · 03-17-2022, 01:40 PM

On my rig I would fix it myself.
That molding is probably only stapled with 3/4” narrow crown staples and no glue.
Use a putty knife or molding tool to remove it, take out the staples, use a small bead of construction adhesive. You can use a pin or brad nailer if your brad nailer doesn’t shoot staples. Only needs a few to tack it in place for the glue to set.
You can hand nail some small finish nails into the staple holes.

It’s not worth my time to wait for an appointment date, hitch up, drive (?) miles to dealer and drop it off for (?) unknown amount of time till complete. Rarely do you pull up and get immediate service.

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