About that couch 'drawer' thing . .

[WaltBennett]

The fact that the drawer under our couch won't stay shut while traveling has been more of an irritation than anything else, but the slides are probably going to fail sometime soon with my having to keep messing with the thing. Since we've got the landing gear issue (previous post), a new couch is not an option. Has anyone just removed the drawer and mounted the fabric covered piece with some hinges at the top?

[WeBeFulltime]

We have the opposite "problem" with ours. We have to be firm with it to get it open. Looks like we have the best of the 2 options.

[Yamaha_Mama]

We got a long strap with a buckle for travel. When we're settled, we tuck the strap between the cushions on the back, and the bottom part of the strap is tucked under the couch. When it's time to 'hit the road' we just buckle it up. It worked like a charm for several years.

[swanny]

Awesome 2014 and we can't get a drawer to stay shut, open and in my case with the other Montana we had it fall apart.

kevin

[jpkelpe]

Try putting one of those red or yellow wheel chocks in front of the drawer. Worked good for us.

[nowinter]

I tried everything to keep our drawer closed while traveling. Wheel chock, pillows, etc. Finally I mounted a "D" ring to the bottom of the drawer and strapped it to the frame of the couch. A pain in the rear but it is the only thing that worked.

[richfaa]

Helen tells me ours in the 3402 Big sky dos not stay closed in travel. She places a rolled up carpet in front of it. I do not mess with it as at a RV show I pulled one out and it came apart in my hands. It is a handy storage space.

[oldelmer1]

quote:Originally posted by jpkelpe

Try putting one of those red or yellow wheel chocks in front of the drawer. Worked good for us.

Exactly what we do too.

[thekennys]

a follow up on drawer is that I over filled mine and the bottom broke out
we removed bottom and back and added braces on front and sides
now we got plastic trays that slide under , great storage
mikey

[1retired06]

We went to Lowes and purchased much better quality slides which did the trick. Our originals simply broke, with BB bearings all over the floor. Did have to do some drilling as holes did not match up.

[Fire5er]

Thanks 1retired06 that sounds like what I will have to do...change out the old slide with a better quality one.

[Chasnracin]

I just kick a yellow wheel chock under ours when we hit the road and throw it in the drawer when we park. It does the trick and cheaper than trying to replace the couch.

[WaltBennett]

Finally got around to taking the drawer out and removing the old slides. Found that there really is a latch for the drawer (that obviously doesn't work) and that the slides on the bed frame aren't as lightweight (cheap!) as I thought they'd be. Looking at the drawer, I realized why these things fail - the drawer slide is only mounted to the ABS plastic bin, with no reinforcement to the thin & flexible plastic. Think of how stiff a drawer is compared to a plastic bin. All this thing needs is a piece of plywood or 1" x 2" backing up the slide and they wouldn't bend and self-destruct. I'm going to have to replace the old ones, but I'm adding a stiffener for certain.

[The Oldguard]

When we get home the whole thing is going to the dump this thing is not even good enough for the homeless let alone in a rig that cost three times as much as our first house.

[WaltBennett]

Well, I don't love the thing, but I also want to use the space. Took some scrap 1/2" plywood and cut two pieces to fit on the inside of the 'bin' where the screws come through for the slides. Had to buy new slides as the old ones were too twisted and re-twisted to salvage. Got the heaviest duty ones Lowe's had 16" ones for $16 something (minus my 10%!). Don't know why, but I've found that every different slide maker puts the holes in a slightly different place. That was the only 'issue' with replacing them - just hope the whole couch doesn't fall apart from my making holes bigger! Anyway, it closes and opens much, much better now. Stupid latch still doesn't work, so we'll start using a chock.