Sliding Closet Doors in 2013 3402 RL

[Dmcgrew]

I keep having problems with the closet doors falling off while traveleing. These are the 4 piece sliding doors with mirrors. I have replaced the hardware several times and continue to have them fall off the tracks occationally.

Today the door fell off and broke the frame. I should be able to fix it but wondering if anyone has found a way to repair or replace them so that the problem is corrected. Any ideas?

Any information would be helpful!!

[jcurtis934]

Don't have the problem, but try searching archieved topics for "closet doors" and see what comes up. John

[jfaberna]

I have a 2014 3402RL and I lost my closet doors on my first trip down I-95. Luckily, they didn't break. Hook showed me how to make sure the slide mechanism was locked into the floor rail and the wheel on the top was fitted correctly. We added a screw to keep the wheels on the rail and don't slide out. But the big thing is, you can't close the doors when you travel. I bought 2 flat bungee cords and some hooks. I mounted the hooks out of the way so I could bind the doors open when we travel. Not a single problem since we stated doing that.

[PackerFan]

The main problem is the 2013 models, we have one too, DO NOT have the floor rail and that is why they keep falling off during travel.

We always try to stuff pillows or blankets between the bed and the doors so they don't swing. I like the idea of the bungees and hooks with them tied open. May have to try that one out.

[jlb27537]

My doors broke the flat wood strip coming home from the dealer. Fixed that one. Next trip the other side broke the flat wood strip.

Said screw it. Bungied them open and now after 12k miles not a issue. They never move from the full open position. I never have a problem with my doors.

Remember, you can not fix built broke.

Jim

[Recumbent]

One of our doors fell off during the Pre-Delivery-Inspection, I still remember the look on the employees face when he looked around at me after catching the doors in his arms, the plastic guides that are the problem were popping open, the low-end cheap quality plastic part was removed and a metal guide installed, we also bungie the doors open while traveling, no more problems.

[Rondo]

We have a 2013 model and it only has a single track for the doors on the closet which means that only one door is in the track. I've purchased a bottom track from the dealer that has two tracks and each door has it's own track for each side then. The doors don't swing then while going down the road. Solves the problem.

[hickory]

We had a door open when traveling, only because we forgot to latch it closed and it broke one of the cheap plastic hangers. We solved that by adding "check closet latch" to our check list. In addition, we put a small towel or washcloth between the back panel and frame to avoid any ratteling when traveling. 10,000 miles later and no further issues.

[Dmcgrew]

I have two tracks on the floor with the plastic guides on the doors, I have replaced the plastic hardware on the top rails with the heavier metal ones and now still have had the problem. I really like the idea of bungeeing them open when traveling and will do this after repairing the door again!!
Thanks for all of your help and ideas thought I was the only idiot having the problem!

[Jimmer]

I had the same problem on our first trip. Repaired the pieces that broke. We always make sure the doors are latched and we stuff the swimmies (used in swimming pools to float on and also you see them on the bedroom slide so you don't bang your head) They work great and we also use them on both pocket doors that are between the kitchen and bedroom. We also use the swimmies on our kitchen chairs. They are sometimes called noodles or floaties.

[jimc]

I've had this problem "fixed" twice at the dealer - still fall off. So, when traveling we open the doors and put 2 pillows between one set and the hamper and the laundry basket between the others. I didn't like the bungee fix.

[rohrmann]

I am so glad we purchased a 2012 3402, instead of waiting for the 2013. I also wish there was a better fix for all of you with this problem. Too bad you can't convert to the two door setup.

[tbhd2]

If you take a twist tie like from a loaf of bread and wrap it around the plastic latch so it won't open then they can't fall off. As long as that plastic latch stays closed the doors cannot fall off. The second track on the floor helps to keep the doors from damaging themselves

[Dmcgrew]

The latch on my doors is metal and very secure. They still fell off while traveleing. Only solution I see is tying them back with bungee or just remove the darn doors

[PackerFan]

Anyone have a picture on how they rigged the bungie cord to hold the doors open?

[Recumbent]

No picture, but hooked one end in clothes-bar hole nearest wall then cup the other end around the open closet door at the top, got to have the right size bungee to make adequate tension or tie a knot in cord to make it the correct length. We use the bungees that have coating on hooks. It has worked well for us.

[jfaberna]

quote:Originally posted by PackerFan

Anyone have a picture on how they rigged the bungie cord to hold the doors open?

No pics, but let me describe what I did in detail. After fixing top and bottom track and rails, I bought 3 screw-in hooks in brass. On the left side I put a hook 2' off the floor into the wood inside the closet. I screwed it into the wood door piece against the wall. That way the sliding door will not hit it. I matched that hook on the outside of the closet. Basically, the fixed part of the door frame. I used small hooks so they are not objectionable. On the right side I put the inside closet hook in a similar place to the left side, but on the outside, I just hooked the bungee cord under the draw at the floor. On our 3402RL, there is a cutout crescent piece at the floor level. I used bungee cords that had plastic hooks and flat cord material.

[JandC]

quote:Originally posted by PackerFan

Anyone have a picture on how they rigged the bungie cord to hold the doors open?

I don't have pics either Scott, but my bungie fix involved doing it so nothing was visible from outside the closet. I fastened 4 hooks inside (2 on each wall evenly spaced). My short bungies then hooks on those with the other end hooking on the open door. You have to find short bungies with wider curved ends but having two pulling back on each door works great. It keeps both doors pulled back and open while traveling and I have never had an issue since doing this.

[richfaa]

Strange we have a 2013 3402 build date of May 2012 an we do have tracks on the floor and have never had that problem. That may indicate that no tracks on the floor IS the problem.

[jhudson]

quote:Originally posted by richfaa

Strange we have a 2013 3402 build date of May 2012 an we do have tracks on the floor and have never had that problem. That may indicate that no tracks on the floor IS the problem.

Same with me. Build date April 2013 and has the lower track. Now that being said, my first trip bringing the trailer home when we bought it, doors were off the tracks on top with the plastic clips being broken too. Some of the trim was broken and a dent in the closet wall from the door. What the heck I thought, what is going on?

What I did, first wasn't going back to dealer even though I just bought it. Second fix the broken trim pieces, easy for me as I teach woodworking. Third rehung the doors. Fouth, zip tie the broken top brackets to keep them closed. Fifth noticed that the lower door mounts that go into the lower track were not installed correctly allowing part of the doors to swing. This swinging causes the top mounting to break and allow the doors to fall. Installed the lower mounts correctly and adjusted spacing of top mounts for correct spacing top to bottom and making sure doors are in the opening square and now all is good.

Starting my third season and only using the middle catch to keep the doors in a closed position, the doors have not fallen out. Not even a hint that they are going to fall off. I would not want to forget to lock them in the closed position though.

I believe that the problem with these closet doors started at the factory with incorrect installation. Had they been done correctly, there should be no need to rig things to keep them open so they do not fall.

I also believe that the doors were broken upon arriving to the dealer. During my repairs I noticed some work that was done to the doors like the molding in some spots being restapled. Even the dealer did not know how to install the doors correctly. If they looked to see why they are coming in the first place and not just rehanging them they could have solved the issue.