Latch Tip: TM Closing Difficulties

Aww Shucks! You guys are totally correct about the procedure. I wrote that original post from memory of the procedure and I guess the resulting theory must also be wrong; so, all I am left with is a prayer of thanks that the hold down latch is currently working .

Just hope that whatever corrected my problem still continues to work.!

Sorry about the confusion and thanks for the correction.

The side latches should be snug enough so there is no bounce of the trailer shell when underway. Whether a latch opens or not during travel should not be a criterion for it being tight enough. I have always used lock pins or small padlocks on all my latches. It keeps the curious from messing with them and I don't have to worry about an open latch. I currently use a set of four keyed-alike locks with plastic covers to prevent scratching.

[Wavery]

Originally Posted by MisterP

The side latches should be snug enough so there is no bounce of the trailer shell when underway. Whether a latch opens or not during travel should not be a criterion for it being tight enough.

If the roof bounces (even slightly) the latch will will fall off of the roof latch on the first bump that I hit. That's when I know the latch is too loose. That's the only reason I commented on that. When that happens, I stop and tighten the latch down a few turns. Never have to mess with it again.

If one has to force that over-center latch, sooner or later, somethings gotta give. Those things apply a lot of torque.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by harveyrv

If the roof bounces (even slightly) the latch will will fall off of the roof latch on the first bump that I hit.

That's right. And it will fall off even if there is a lock through the hasp. If the shell bounces, and squeezes down even a quarter of an inch, the hook (on the latch) will fall off the lip (on the TM body). It can be kind of mystifying to pull into a campground, and find that the whole latch assembly has released and is hanging down, with the lock still through the hasp. The trick is to find an adjustment that is tight enough to prevent the shell from bouncing, but not so tight that it rips the latch out of the body.

Bill

[lederhos]

Jim - Back to the issue you were having. It may be that a hasp was caught between the outside shell and the trailer body. If the hasps are not all pointing away from the trailer when you go to close the shells, they have a tendency to get caught when closing the shell. This has occasionally made it impossible for me to latch the stirrup latch. When you re-opened the shells to check for obstructions you may have inadvertently repositioned the hasp solving your own predicament.

Eric

Originally Posted by lederhos

Jim - Back to the issue you were having. It may be that a hasp was caught between the outside shell and the trailer body. If the hasps are not all pointing away from the trailer when you go to close the shells, they have a tendency to get caught when closing the shell. This has occasionally made it impossible for me to latch the stirrup latch. When you re-opened the shells to check for obstructions you may have inadvertently repositioned the hasp solving your own predicament.

Eric

Eric - Thanks. I will certainly add that item to my close-up checklist as something to check before trying the stirrup latch.

Still looking forward to the next trip!

Originally Posted by lederhos

Jim - Back to the issue you were having. It may be that a hasp was caught between the outside shell and the trailer body. If the hasps are not all pointing away from the trailer when you go to close the shells, they have a tendency to get caught when closing the shell. This has occasionally made it impossible for me to latch the stirrup latch. When you re-opened the shells to check for obstructions you may have inadvertently repositioned the hasp solving your own predicament.

Eric

We've done that inadvertantly many times....

Regards,

Bob

[T and C]

Originally Posted by lederhos

Jim - Back to the issue you were having. It may be that a hasp was caught between the outside shell and the trailer body. If the hasps are not all pointing away from the trailer when you go to close the shells, they have a tendency to get caught when closing the shell. This has occasionally made it impossible for me to latch the stirrup latch. When you re-opened the shells to check for obstructions you may have inadvertently repositioned the hasp solving your own predicament.

Eric

This happened to me last week. We lowered the rear shell, latched the door side, went around and stepped into the stirrup on the driver's side. It wouldn't latch. When I checked for the reason, I found that the bolt/nut part of the latch was caught under the shell. We unlatched, lifted a little, removed the travel latch. Then everything worked fine.

Tom

Yes the problem Lederhos raises (the latch getting wedged in the frame) has happened to me - always when I am in a hurry. Is it correct that only the larger model TM's have the "center latch" that has been referred to here? as I only have 4-one on each corner on my 2720.
I too use a small padlock in the front two latches figuring the rear section can't come open unless the front section can.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by moaboy

Is it correct that only the larger model TM's have the "center latch" that has been referred to here? as I only have 4-one on each corner on my 2720.

No. The term "center latch" refers to the main latches, two on each side near the center, that hold the shells down. They have the black rubber sleeve on the handles. The corner latches are just a backup safety thing, kind of like the safety latch on the hood of your car. But the "center latches" / main latches do all the real work.

Bill