Drawers opening during travel on new camper

[Timmer]

Hello

We have a new Reflection. 2 of our drawers open during travel. One is in the back bunk room and one is in the front bedroom. The rest of the drawers hold fine. The catches on these drawers are in the center front. I don't know what you call them but here is how I would describe them. On the drawer side it's a diamond shaped piece of metal. On the frame side it's two rollers with springs. The diamond shaped metal is supposed to slide between the caches and be pinched. It's a bit dark at the moment to get a good look at the configuration but it seems to me that the spring roller is mounted too deep. Any thoughts on how to correct this?

I will look harder in the light tomorrow but assuming they don't adjust, I was thinking I would take them out and move them an inch over and remount them. If you have better ideas I'd appreciate it!

Thanks!

[WhittleBurner]

Sounds like you have the right idea on moving the catch so it catches. Sometimes the little diamond part needs slight tweaking as well.

[boyscout]

We have a new Reflection. 2 of our drawers open during travel. One is in the back bunk room and one is in the front bedroom. The rest of the drawers hold fine.

You might find that adjusting the rollers will help. However we're on our second GD trailer and have had (a few) drawers and (many) cupboards open during travel. My fiddling with the pinch-rollers wasn't successful. I tried a couple of magnetic latches that Newmar uses on its coaches, but my wife felt that they held too strongly.

Our departure routine now includes putting foot-long strips of 2" masking tape on most cupboards and some drawers that might open, taping from the handle down and under the cupboards and taping from the handle around the side of the drawer cabinets. Takes less than two minutes to do before departure and less than half that to remove it when we arrive. We haven't had an unpleasant surprise since we started doing this.

[Houndbb]

Hello

We have a new Reflection. 2 of our drawers open during travel. One is in the back bunk room and one is in the front bedroom. The rest of the drawers hold fine. The catches on these drawers are in the center front. I don't know what you call them but here is how I would describe them. On the drawer side it's a diamond shaped piece of metal. On the frame side it's two rollers with springs. The diamond shaped metal is supposed to slide between the caches and be pinched. It's a bit dark at the moment to get a good look at the configuration but it seems to me that the spring roller is mounted too deep. Any thoughts on how to correct this?

I will look harder in the light tomorrow but assuming they don't adjust, I was thinking I would take them out and move them an inch over and remount them. If you have better ideas I'd appreciate it!

Thanks!

Timmer, You can try to make a minor adjustment on the latches. Simply loosen the screws (they are upside down, on either side of the small, metal rectangle that the rollers are mounted in). If you look at one in a more visible location, you’ll see that the holes the screws go through on the metal are elongated, allowing you to slide the whole unit forward a bit. I have to admit, though, these latches are a PIA, and you have to have a great deal of hand strength in order to use the shorter screwdrivers required in the tight locations. Someone else on here shared that the latches work best when located closer to the door handles.
N

[Timmer]

Thanks all. First thing this morning I saw that our medicine cabinet had the same latch. Indeed it does look like I can move the component out to further so it catches better.

[Houndbb]

Thanks all. First thing this morning I saw that our medicine cabinet had the same latch. Indeed it does look like I can move the component out to further so it catches better.

The frustrating thing is aligning and guessing how far forward (or back) to set the rollers. Then, to test the fit, you must commit (fully tighten the screws)! Our trailer was missing these latches on all the drawers, so I had to buy and install them. If you decide to relocate them, put the roller on first, then push the unattached pointed part in the rollers. If you slather some contrasting substance on the flat metal back of the pointed part, (I used white toothpaste) and close the door/drawer, you’ll have a visual, showing where to mount the point so it’s aligned.
N

[andrewssteve]

If you decide to relocate them, put the roller on first, then push the unattached pointed part in the rollers. If you slather some contrasting substance on the flat metal back of the pointed part, (I used white toothpaste) and close the door/drawer, you’ll have a visual, showing where to mount the point so it’s aligned.
N

Looking for other procedures/techniques for aligning drawer latch halves? I've been replacing my OEM drawer and cabinet latches with the black plastic snap latches that Winnebago uses in their motorhomes, but I'm frustrated with getting good alignment.

What I've been doing is installing the cabinet half of the latch, then snapping the drawer half of the latch in place, then caulking the drawer half, closing the drawer, opening it, and examining the caulk imprint left on the drawer. If I'm lucky, there'll be two dimples left by the latch screw holes. I think this is the same as @Houndbb suggests.

Improvements welcomed.

-Steve

[chillybob]

After the storage door next to the fold-away popped open and I never noticed until the trim on the slide was pried off, I installed a door magnet to help keep it closed. The pinch latch can be adjusted but it's not a very good latch.

[ShadyCamper]

Another option to the tape idea is to place a yard stick or a bungee cord through the drawer handles. That way the all have to open for one to open very far.


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[Wolfyukon]

We also use baby safety latches to secure the cabinets when traveling. Walmart cheap and are reusable, simple to use and remove. Admittedly they do not work for single handles but most of the cabinets that are next to each other, just slide the baby lock through two handles and secure.