slam latch oops !

[cdlaine]

So... this weekends camp trip to local State Park... on the final
turn in to the Park I see (in the rear view) my main pass thru
storage door is flappin' in the breeze. The door is a "slam latch"
with key lock. Both steps had been done and verified. Fortunately,
I did not lose any valuables. But could have easily occurred. Could
not see where any contents had banged against the door. Suspect just
some type of 5ver flex response...don't really know. Take home lesson...
if any particular item is too valuable to donate to the highway/byway probably
want to secure it in the rig. Just keep the flotsam and jetsam underneath.

Ironic part.... just last week I noticed a TT on the road with storage doors waving at me....
I giggled... now, not so funny. I talked with a few folks in the Park...they all have experienced
similar or know someone that has. Promise not to giggle next time. 😮

Ever happen to you (yet) ???

Charles

[rattleNsmoke]

I had the plastic round 'porthole' where you slide the landing gear manual crank handle, flap in the breeze at 60 mph after I forgot to latch it shut.
Fortunately no harm-no foul.

[cdlaine]

Good stuff team... Personally, I prefer the "equipment/build/construction" error
blame over operator error blame... but that's just me. hehehehe ! :W I would have
been major P.O.'ed had I lost my tools !

In the finest tradition... I blamed my co-pilot for not catching
the door flap.... I earned canned beans for dinner.

Charles

[geotex1]

Happened to me (sort of). Hauling my sister's shiny new unit home from getting stranded at a CG (TV met with a deer second night of camping). Traveling a stretch of road notorious for it's potholed and bumpy bend (been this way for a decade), all 3 "slam latch" compartment doors on the street side popped open! In the mirror I saw the cargo drawer sticking out of the one like a tongue poking fun at me! Fortunately, the manual crank handles for the slides and stabilizers didn't jump out of that drawer, and they really hadn't moved into it otherwise yet! Upon inspection, I noted that the latches barely had 3/32" of catch because the baggage doors were quite small in their frames. Apprised my sister of this and it was addressed during a return for warranty work. The dealer claimed that the manufacturer of the baggage doors changed hinge supplier, and the new hinges were thinner so the gap along the bottom edge widened. All 6 of the baggage doors were changed out, which required graphics to be done too, and I noticed not only do the new doors have a tighter gap, but there's actually a fabricated catch plate now for the slam latch's latch.

Come to think if it, that bend is where I decided that the first mod of every travel trailer I will ever own with folding steps will be a restraining strap on those step to keep them folded! With my first TT, my steps bounced FULLY open (3-step set) and there is no shoulder, just 18" from the white line to the guide rail... Got lucky!

[rsbabson]

I had an entrance door come open while on the interstate. " Note to self" Lock anything and everything when towing.

[janstey58]

I have had this before, and simply had a loose latch catch on the inside of the door that simply needed a turn of a screwdriver.

[enblethen]

"Slam" Latch is a misnomer.
You should not let the compartment doors bang closed. You should lift the latch handle and close them, then release latch.
Some rigs still have metal latches, but a lot are the plastic ones.
Even the metal ones give out if they have not been removed, cleaned, lubed and put back in. This should be done every couple of years.
Here is catalog cut of the trigger latch.
Trigger latch