|
07-11-2013, 06:14 PM
|
#1
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 58
|
Better Door Latch
We have a 325 SRX. Wondering if anyone knows of a better latch available to hold the main door open when using the screen door. (90 degree angled plastic)We have had two of these and they wont hold up. Thanks in advance
|
|
|
07-11-2013, 07:12 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 1,270
|
Old racer,
They make an entry door latch in stainless... that might work
Example: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...t-6-inch/49599
Terri, the Chevy co-pilot
__________________
'06 Chevy 2500HD 6.6L Duramax/Allison 4x4 CC SB
2010 Laredo 265RL {SOLD}
Reese 15K Pro-series (manual slide)
|
|
|
07-11-2013, 08:08 PM
|
#3
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
|
Old Racer,
Something you may want to consider before you start putting a stronger door latch on your RV..... the weakest link is what breaks under stress. Right now, the weakest link is the plastic door latch. If you replace it with a stainless latch, the weakest link may well become the RV sidewall or the door. Either way, when someone pulls too hard you'll be repairing much more damage than a plastic latch.
I'd think seriously about the overall mechanism and how it operates before I started "solving problems by making bigger ones"
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
|
|
|
07-12-2013, 02:08 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: forked river nj
Posts: 314
|
The plastic latch really sucks- I have the same problem. In the slightest breeze the door unhooks.
I have also thought of a heaver latch- but because the door does not go flat, but is on a 45 degree angle, the wind really catches it. Also because the door is at a 45 degree angle everyone tries to close the door-
__________________
2011 F250- gas- 4 star tuner- k&n intake
2011 Cougar 325srx
2015 KTM 350 exc-r
KTM 300 xc-sold
ktm 450 exc-r
|
|
|
07-12-2013, 09:47 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Watervliet, Michigan
Posts: 213
|
My current unit has a gas piston that holds the door open. My old unit used this style door holder.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...ch-white/49613
They have different lengths and some with metal. With this style if someone pulls on the door, it just unhooks instead of breaking.
__________________
Brett, DW Theresa, DD Brenna
2013 Fuzion 342 Monster
2009 Harley FLHX
2 Wieners Maddie and Mollie
|
|
|
07-12-2013, 03:46 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Ottawa Valley
Posts: 329
|
I looked at retrofitting to the gas piston and it would work however you would have to cut approx 1/2-3/4" off the bottom of the insided screen door to make it workable.
I may do this and make a sweep to take up the missing length to keep bugs out and still allow room for the rod to travel.
My DIL just broke our latch which is why I was looking. There OpenRange uses the gas piston on a 90deg door opening.
__________________
2011 325SRX , Mor-Ryde Pinbox
2004 Ram 3500DRW 6spd,4x4,QC.LB ,340L aux tank
1999 Concours
2014 FJR
2014 Jetta TDI
|
|
|
07-13-2013, 05:43 AM
|
#7
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
|
The new Cougar X Lite fifth wheel models with the entry door next to the awning are also using the 90* gas piston to hold the door open. Our new Cougar has this on it. When looking at the display models, it seemed to function pretty well, but I don't have any experience with how reliable the system would be. I am sure the mounts for the piston will get a lot of stress as people try to open the door past 90*. How much stress the door sill and the bottom of the door will take before they start bending or before the attachment hardware will loosen remains to be seen.
Ideally, I'd think the best way to operate the door would be to have designed the trailer so the awning rail wouldn't limit the door swing. But, I also thought the old way was better when they started putting electric awnings on RV's and when they started putting separate holding tanks under them as well..... Once the "bugs" get worked out of the system, I'm sure it will be as reliable as the full swing door with it's latch screwed to the side of the RV.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
|
|
|
07-13-2013, 11:54 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Watervliet, Michigan
Posts: 213
|
Little Joe,
That is the way mine is designed. It has a sweep on the bottom of the screen door.
JRTJH,
The 90* design is on my Fuzion also. My outside TV mounts behind the door. So far I have not had any problems with mine.
__________________
Brett, DW Theresa, DD Brenna
2013 Fuzion 342 Monster
2009 Harley FLHX
2 Wieners Maddie and Mollie
|
|
|
07-14-2013, 05:28 AM
|
#9
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ctpd814
Little Joe,
That is the way mine is designed. It has a sweep on the bottom of the screen door.
JRTJH,
The 90* design is on my Fuzion also. My outside TV mounts behind the door. So far I have not had any problems with mine.
|
ctpd814,
That's good to know. My DW looks at colors, counter space, storage space, and where to store the bread so we can get to it with the slide in. I look more at reliability, new features and how they may fail, what tools I'll need to add to my toolbox, what's going to break next.... Here's hoping the new door system is a "better mousetrap"
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
|
|
|
07-15-2013, 05:37 PM
|
#10
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 58
|
Thanks for all of your replies.
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|