First caravan need help1

Thanks for your replies,
This information is handy. I have taken a photo of the latch in question I hope this will make things a little clearer. I'm not sure if there is a wooden frame behind the latch so i think the rivets will be the way I'll go and of coarse a dose of silicon.
Thanks again

I agree with Warstar, especially now we've seen your photo.
If the latch is presently screwed into timber, then a decent larger screw into a new plug will do the truck. If in fact the frame is aluminium tube, then the SS screw will work just fine also. But if you rivet the bracket just onto the skin, you'll have trouble with the bracket pulling away, then you roof might lift up in transit and then ..... By the way, the biggest trap with selaer is to use too much, and then you get a messy finish - just a thin film is best.
Hope it goes well, and welcome to the club!
Chris (SA)

tend to agree with above - forget the rivets. i would guess your camper is similar style/vintage to mine

go with the 'weldbond' glue i mentioned. you can get it at a hardware and when you use it, it looks similar to pva wood glues. grab a brochure from the hardware (or look up on internet) and you will see it has plenty of suitable applications for other repairs you will come across. it is available in very small bottles if thats the way you want to go.

if you have a piece of maple/meranti etc lying around, shave a slice of with a stanley knife or similar and whittle it down to shape of a cylinderical wedge. if you can leave one side a little flatter or put a groove into it as it will give the glue something extra to bond to. (if you only have the matches they will work with use of the weldbond glue as it will gain strength from that glue). then remove the latch of camper and fill hole with the weldbond glue and push the wedge in, tap lightly with hammer if necessary. just wipe off excess glue and leave until dry before trimming off the excess of the wedge that protrudes from hole. then predrill hole for a decent coarse screw (stainless steel) and then squeeze a small amount of silicone into the hole before fitting the screw into it to hold the latch (silicone will waterproof the hole you made similar to what you do when fitting a sail track or roof racks etc to a camper) . you could probably use the new screws in top of latch too if they feel loose.

and if you are still unsure if it is secure enough, then either use a thin bead of silicone around edge of latch or get hold of some 'selleys all fix' which is in a tube or cartridge at hardware too and run a thin bead behind latch edge, and when the latch is screwed onto wall it will bond and hold it as well as the screws. silicone will work ok but after using all-fix i have found out it to be very strong. forget the rivets as they will pull out with use of the latch.

while you are doing this repair, check the little timber blocks behind camper roof frame that support the top part that the latch clips onto. they can work loose and simply reglue and rescrew them on. just have the roof up at head height and look in behind roof frame by pushing the canvas away and you should see the little timber blocks. have fun ;))

The screws could go into the aluminium beam that runs around the top of the van. When you remove the clip you will have to explore through the holes to see what the screws are supposed to gripping in. If it is timber there is a good description of what to do up the thread. If it is metal behind the aluminium skin, then either a snug fitting pop rivet or a larger size screw. If it is a larger screw, drill the clip to be a clearance fit and if you can obtain on try getting a double or triple thread sheet metal screw (possibly from a specialist screw/bolt supplier or marine chandler.)

PeterD

Two thoughts, Dodger. That may make it hard to remove the screws later! Also, Selleys Knead It Steel is not recommended for bonding aluminium or timber, so it may not be the best putty for this purpose. Perhaps you have a different product in mind. I agree the Selleys knead it products are great stuff generally, though.
Chris (SA)

Well all I can say is that it worked and I never had to remove screws later. Plus as I said it was forced into the screw holes as a filler and not used as an adhesive. And from memory said on the packet could be screwed and or drilled.

thanks toolman.... that's not a nice thought... is there an answer for the worst case scenario other than buy a new van.

cheers..... that's a relief
I took the catch off today too see what the story was and poked around in the holes with a pin and found that the catch -was- screwed in to wood. it felt quite solid around 3 of the holes but in the top left hand corner (not in the area of the hole it self but toward the top corner of the van ) was a little soft.
The inside of the van is dry, no mould or mildew. There are some holes along the back of the van where the awning thingy (for want of a better word) was before it was moved to the top of the um... pop toppy bit...(i want too move that back ) they're sealed, but the one in the area of the catch is a bit suspect.
all the holes are firm but the screws ..(all different sizes and lengths )
weren't gripping so I think the fill and wedge should work. with the right screws.
thanks for the info