|
|
10-24-2020, 11:11 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Halls
Posts: 219
|
Strut For Basement Door
The big basement door on my 5'er has two struts on it. The small one on the other side doesn't have one. It has the plastic latch you hook on it once it's up. It's broke now because I get used to just pulling the big one shut and have done the same to this one forgetting the plastic thing has it. Did it for the second time today and pulled it apart. 😀 What size strut would I need for this one and would one do it or does it need two? Door measures 29 wide by 18 tall.
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 11:13 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Halls
Posts: 219
|
Don't know why pics are sideways
__________________
Tracy and Donna
2016 Ram 2500, 6.4, 6.5 bed
2013 Keystone Laredo 329RE
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 11:26 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
|
The plastic latch you keep breaking is also available in stainless/chrome that I don't think you'd break.
That would be easier to find & much easier to install than trying to find the proper strut & mount it securely to that styrofoam door.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 11:32 AM
|
#4
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,341
|
I think the same thing.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 01:14 PM
|
#5
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
|
I agree, the steel strut will not break as easily... That might become a problem... If you think of the plastic strut as the "weakest link" it sort of acts like a fuse in a circuit and opens/breaks before other, harder to repair or replace parts of the latch are damaged....
In other words, if you replace that strut with a steel one, you may find that next time, you pull the screws out of the styrofoam door and that will be much harder to repair....
Here's one link to the plastic strut. They are available in 3.5" or 6" lengths: https://www.amazon.com/Miady-T-Style...NsaWNrPXRydWU=
Here's one type of steel latch: https://www.amazon.com/Miady-T-Style...NsaWNrPXRydWU=
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 01:17 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wickenburg
Posts: 3,314
|
Have you considered using one (or two or three) of the magnetic keepers Keystone installs on small hatch doors? That would solve the brain-bubbles issue, since if you simply yank the door down without thinking, that's the way they're designed to work anyway.
__________________
2019 Cougar 26RBSWE
2019 Ford F-250
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 01:52 PM
|
#7
|
Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,751
|
As has been pointed out a stronger answer may not be the best option. Have you thought about printing a label with something like "Release latch first" on the backside of the hatch?
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 02:08 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wickenburg
Posts: 3,314
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
As has been pointed out a stronger answer may not be the best option. Have you thought about printing a label with something like "Release latch first" on the backside of the hatch?
|
As a guy who has a label saying "**STAIRS UP!!**" on his auto-leveler control panel, I must confess they're a spotty solution.
__________________
2019 Cougar 26RBSWE
2019 Ford F-250
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 02:35 PM
|
#9
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
|
I've got a "ribbon flap" that hangs over our slide switch that says, "Check cupboard door before extending slide"... On the aft end of our slide, there's a pantry that's "completely invisible" unless you go back there, lean around the slide to check. I've crushed a pantry door once and DW has also, so now, you've got to lift the ribbon to get a finger on the switch... So far it's worked
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 04:18 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Halls
Posts: 219
|
Maybe I should put a note over there reminding myself to undo the plastic latch, lol. But I've got to fix it with something cause holding it up with my head to get something out don't feel that great
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 04:28 PM
|
#11
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,341
|
I like the magnet idea.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 04:57 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,909
|
The reason he can't use a magnet catch is that there is a slide above the door that prevents it from opening all the way against the side of the trailer. He might be able to rig up a magnet on the door and a steel plate on the end of one of the plastic struts that could hold the door open and then detach when he pulls the door down.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402 Montana
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC
|
|
|
10-24-2020, 07:08 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wickenburg
Posts: 3,314
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbecky
The reason he can't use a magnet catch is that there is a slide above the door that prevents it from opening all the way against the side of the trailer.
|
Ugh. I wish the broken piece was still available in the picture so I could see how long they had to make it to make this work.
Of course, all you would have to do is buy a replacement plastic latch, but then retrofit the ends for the magnets instead of the notch, and you would still get the same benefits.
I wonder what kind of a prize the designer got for including a hatch that you couldn't open with the slide out.
|
|
|
10-25-2020, 07:42 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Halls
Posts: 219
|
I forced it back in but it won't stay. Yes there is a slide above it that keeps it from going up all the way.
|
|
|
10-25-2020, 07:43 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Halls
Posts: 219
|
I got to figure out how to rotate pics.
__________________
Tracy and Donna
2016 Ram 2500, 6.4, 6.5 bed
2013 Keystone Laredo 329RE
|
|
|
10-25-2020, 08:53 AM
|
#16
|
Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,751
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nankipoo
I got to figure out how to rotate pics.
|
This site will only display a picture in landscape. If you take a picture in portrait (I.e. holding your phone vertically) then it will rotate the picture to a landscape orientation .
Two methods to address this. One is to rotate your phone and take pictures in a landscape orientation. Second is to open your portrait oriented picture in a programmer app that will let you edit the picture. In that app or program open the picture, rotate the picture, and savenit. You may need to "add" bars on each side of the pic to get it to display in landscape depending on the editing software.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
|
|
|
10-25-2020, 01:32 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wickenburg
Posts: 3,314
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nankipoo
I forced it back in but it won't stay. Yes there is a slide above it that keeps it from going up all the way.
|
OK, consider buying two pairs of magnet latches. Mount one on the corner of the slideout, and mount the other on the sidewall above the door. Mount matching magnets on the door panel. Now the door will hold whether the slide is open or closed.
__________________
2019 Cougar 26RBSWE
2019 Ford F-250
|
|
|
10-25-2020, 07:26 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Halls
Posts: 219
|
After checking, I don't see anywhere to mount a magnet on the slide that would be safe when the slide goes in. When raised the door doesn't reach the outside corner. Mounting one would be simple for use when the slide is in.
__________________
Tracy and Donna
2016 Ram 2500, 6.4, 6.5 bed
2013 Keystone Laredo 329RE
|
|
|
10-26-2020, 02:48 AM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wickenburg
Posts: 3,314
|
Then my final suggestion would be to buy another latch of the same type you have broken previously, and instead of installing the door side latch, install a magnet, and install a magnet at the end of the bulkhead latch hook with epoxy and/or screws. That way it will operate exactly the same as the stock latch, but you can pull it down without breaking it.
__________________
2019 Cougar 26RBSWE
2019 Ford F-250
|
|
|
11-05-2020, 06:14 PM
|
#20
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: San Jose
Posts: 11
|
Hatchlift
I have installed Hatchlift solutions for this. They work great. The website will tell you what kit to get based on your hatch dimensions. https://www.hatchlift.com/hatchlift-kit
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|