sliding mirror door locks

[nutts]

Am i the only one out there that has about broke the end of my fingers off trying to unlock the sliding mirrors (doors)in the trailer?
now that you all have had time to laugh at me, heres the rest of the story. one of the locks snapped off, and that hurt worse than just unlocking the doors.
can any one send me in the right direction for after market locks that are user friendly? or is silver tape the answer.

happy trailering, jim

[lawrenceb42106]

Jim

So far we have not broken any. When we are set up in a campground we reverse the door so you don't have to mess with the latches. You could also cut you some dowel rods the lay in the track to keep them closed while traveling.

[steves]

You can also use Velcro tape on the edge of the door and the door frame to keep them close. Once we are setup in a campground, we then reverse the doors so we don't have to contend with opening locked or secured doors.

[OntMont]

There is lots of history to this topic. Try a search. Replacements are readily available, but there are other ingenious solutions out there. Certainly switch the doors so that they don't latch while parked is a good start. The Cambridge has locking latches that might be adaptable to the Montana.

[FourBeeZee]

We had the same problem on our summer trip through South Carolina this past summer. Having come across this type of problem before I immediately found a Lowes hardware and for about $2.50 purchased an adjustable spring loaded tension curtain rod. I can't remember the exact size but just measure the distance from the frame of the closet to the mirror when closed and purchase the rod that fits it.

We have travelled many miles since then and it holds the mirror firmly in place. We placed the rod in the center of the opening so the mirror could not move in the track.

[On The Road Again]

I agree with those stupid door latches for the sliding mirror doors as I have broken one also, however, it was just as easy to cut a wooden dowel the right length and that works fine for me when travelling.
Marshall

[bob n pam]

I hate those stupid latches!!!!! Really. I broke 3, scrapped my arm and finally took them all off and use a spring tension rod when traveling. Did I say I hate those stupid latches!!

Pam

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Not sure what we are doing right but in 2 years of fulltiming we have not had a single problem with these latches.

[BillyRay]

they are a pain, but so far we just live with them.

[sreigle]

We still have the original latches on ours after 39 months of ownership and 31 months of fulltiming. The key for us was buying some spares early on, just in case.

The other day I did rip my hand a bit on the sharp edges. Today I bought a file I'll use to round the corners. That's something they should have designed into the latch release tab in the first place.

As others mentioned, we reverse the doors when parked so the latches are used only while traveling.

[campbud]

Ok now I borke one and my hubby did too! Now we are going to find another fix!

[WildBigBill]

Sue hates them, so it is my job to open and close them. When one breaks or she yells to much, we will probably go with the currtain rods.

[M00N1]

we too have broken the latches. When we are parked for any lenght of time, I take them right off and put them behind the tv in a baggie and put them on only for travelling.

[sreigle]

When we park we just move the right door to the left and the left to the right so we don't have to deal with the latches.

However, the corners of those latches are sharp. Today I bought a good-sized file and intend to round the corners on those things.

39 months including 31 of fulltiming and we've not broken one yet. I guess since they're only used when prepping to go on the road helps.

Since we've not broken even one I have to wonder if those that break quickly are misaligned. Just a thought.

[Dave Anderson]

After breaking 2 and replacing them and breaking another, I finally hit on something that has worked. DONT SCREW THE LATCH IN AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE, LEAVE A LITTLE PLAY IN IT , BUT TIGHT ENOUGH TO CATCH. This has worked for a nunber of1000's of miles now,and easier on the fingers--------Dave

[Glenn and Lorraine]

As I said earlier we have not broken any in the 2 years we have had our Monty BUT while I was at Tri-Am RV Center last week I did pick up a pair. You just never know.

[sreigle]

quote:Originally posted by Dave Anderson

After breaking 2 and replacing them and breaking another, I finally hit on something that has worked. DONT SCREW THE LATCH IN AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE, LEAVE A LITTLE PLAY IN IT , BUT TIGHT ENOUGH TO CATCH. This has worked for a nunber of1000's of miles now,and easier on the fingers--------Dave

Dave, that makes it sound like they are, in fact, misaligned, and the movement allowed by leaving them loose allows them to shift into alignment when the door hits them. Ours are tight and have not broken in over 35,000 miles. I really have to wonder if those having breakage problems have latches misaligned when installed by the factory.

[Treecounter]

WE also had those mickey mouse latches brake. We were heading South at the time so we put a stick on the floor to keep the door from moving. It didn't work, had a little gap and the slight moving pulled the frame off the mirror. They are just wedged on the glass. Took forever to get it back together. Of coarse those latches are sold in pares like light bulbs, levels and other small parts you need once in a life time. Still have the other one but not the Montana.

[Montana_4765]

As someone said eariler, check out the latches in the Cambridge. It is different and makes a lot more sense. Don't know why they didn't incorporate the design into the Montana.