Entry door opens during travel

[Bill]

I don’t recall hearing about this problem. Am I the only one?

Since we got our first TM, the door latch occasionally rotates as we drive, and the entry door swings open. Other drivers honk and point, but the real fear is that the swinging door will hit something - like a bicyclist or a construction worker! I have repeatedly tightened the screw, or put on a wad of tape to hold it, but it isn’t long before it swings open again. I finally decided to replace the latch with something more reliable. The pictures tell the story.

This is a gate latch that I picked up at Lowes. It will stay closed on the road, but cannot accidentally close while we are inside the camper.
1. Door with the original latch
2. Original latch closeup
3. The new gate latch
4. The parts - spacers lift the new latch to clear the edge of the door frame
5. Campground configuration
6. Travel configuration

Bill

[klpauba]

My plastic thingy broke and I only have half of it left. It still does the job but replacing it with the latch you show would make it better. Thanks for sharing.

[Shane826]

My latch is also broken in half but has never failed me. Bill your latch looks much more reliable. My fear has always been some smartass coming along and latching the door shut while we are inside the camper.

[ShrimpBurrito]

I too had the same problem with the OEM "latch", and so I just replaced it with a large (maybe ~3" long) piece of nylon bar stock about 1/8" thick. I've posted a photo of it here somewhere. It's been like that for maybe 7-8 years, and I've not since had any problems. The OEM latch barely had enough reach in my opinion, and also sometimes had a tendency to move.

But I love your latch! If I ever have a problem again, I'll probably do the same thing.

Dave

[tentcamper]

My 2003 2720 would do it once in awhile. The plastic latch would rotate while I was traveling, and open when stopping. I assume as the door would fibrate up and down it would rotate the latch. I got in the habit of tightening the plastic turn latch when ever it turned easily. I keep it so tight so it was hard to turn. After keeping it tight I never had an issue.

Trailmanor made a modification to correct it somewhere between 2003 and 2009. I found on my 2009 3023 that on door trim where the plastic latch rotates over to latch for travel, they made a modification. TM had put a small lumps about the size of a 1/2 BB on each side where the latch over laps the door about 1/8 of an inch away from he latch. It looks like the lump has a shaft that go's through the trim through a 1/16" hole. I'm missing one, but it looks like it plastic.

See attached photos

[ShrimpBurrito]

Here's a picture of what I did:
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...t=16404&page=2

See posts 7 & 11.

Dave

[TrailManorMan]

I actually accidently was trapped inside by that OEM latch, crawled thru the front bunk, over the propane to unlock myself!
I like your solution

[oldstick]

Some great ideas above.

I haven't had any latch rotation problems with our 2003, but I am amazed about that. Every time I close that thing, I am thinking it is a problem waiting to happen.

Our previous 1991 Coleman pop-up had the typical side door that swings down to make the entrance step. With a very sturdy rotating metal handle, key lock, metal latching rods, etc. Looking at it, you would think no way that will come open by itself, but every time I forgot to lock it with the key it would rotate within 20 miles down the road and people would be honking at us.

[wbmiller3]

This happened to me back in 2006 (http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ght=door+latch)

I lengthened the latch arm by pushing a length of stiff plastic tubing over it. It's worked all these many years since.

[Bill]

Well, now, that's a nice quick and easy solution. I should have talked to you first ...

Bill