Fold up door latches came out of roof need help!!!

[jwilliams82]

I HAVE A 1997 DUTCHMEN POP UP AND WHEN YOU GO TO FOLD IT DOWN YOU TAKE THE DOOR AND SWING IT UP TO THE ROOF AND TWO PLASTIC LATCHES HOLD IT SECURED TO THE ROOF, HOWEVER THE LAST TIME I FOLDED IT THE ONE REMAINING PLASTIC LATCH PULLED OUT OF THE ROOF. MY ROOF SEEMS TO HAVE PLYWOOD WITH A FIBERGLASS OR VINYL OVER THE TOP OF IT? IT IS NOT A RUBBER ROOF. I CAN TELL THAT THERE IS A SOFT SPOT BY WHERE THE LATCHES GO TO THE ROOF SO I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO DO A ROOF REPLACEMENT THIS FALL, BUT I JUST NEED TO GET THESE LATCHES BACK IN THERE TO GET THROUGH THIS SUMMER BUT IM NOT SURE HOW TO GET THEM IN THERE. ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS???? THANKS

[opnspaces]

Can you move the old screw a few inches and drill it into the roof again?

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[jwilliams82]

Yes mine does use those plastic latches that you have pictured there and I said the same thing to my wife that they are not very strong to be holding up the heavy door. My camper looks exactly like the one you have pictured. If there is an alternative to the plastic latches that you know of please let me know. We are supposed to be taking this on a camping trip in about a week and a half and I would like to have it fixed by then.

[jwilliams82]

Hey guys thanks for the quick responses. I had thought about drilling a hole all the way through and using washers like the first two had suggested but I really didn't want to chance doing that. Roy B. I think I will first try those molly anchor bolts like you suggested and if that don't work I guess I will be drilling. Do you know if they sell those anchor bolts at home depot or lowes? Once again everyone thanks for the suggestions.

[RoyB]

My roof has fiberglass on top then foam filled center and finally a thin 1/4-inch plyboard for the ceiling. My 2008 Starcraft 14RT Popup ceiling has three inches of foam in the center sections and maybe as little as two inches on both ends where the roof slopes down some...

I would go the route of using MOLLY ANCHOR BOLTs first from the ceiling side ... These spread out between the ceiling plyboard and the foam inside the roof... Once you install these anchors you can remove the screw and all stays in place on the ceiling...

We use these anchor bolts all the time on my other trailer that has hard walls to mount thing with...

Looks like this...


Pull down a ceiling light and see how much room you have between the ceiling and the roof. You may have to use a shorter screw in the anchor bolt.

No sense pulling a hole through the roof if you don't have too...

If this idea doesn't do good just to let you mount your thumb turn buttons maybe you can use the anchor bolts to hold up a small back board to the ceiling and then attach the turn buttons to that...


Putting round head bolts all the way through the roof would be my last option here. If i did have to resort to that I would use those four through the roof bolts to hold up a 1/2-inch back board on the ceiling side and mount my turn buttons to that... Once you paint up the back board it should blend right into your ceiling decor... In this case these back boards could be 1x4 wood strips where the turn buttons are required...

Not sure how your LATCHES are - A picture would be helpful.. Some of the earlier POPUP had straps installed to the ceiling to hold the door assy.

My door frame has small oblong holes in them to align up with four turn buttons like shown above... Plastic latches doesn't sound very strong to me to used for the heavy door assy...


You roof looks very similar to mine in some photos I was looking at on-line...


Just some my thoughts here...

Roy Ken

[schlep1967]

If you are going to have to replace that section anyway get some longer bolts. Find a piece of scrap deck board (treated or manufactured plastic) about a foot long. Lay it on top of the roof and drill up through it following the old bolt holes from inside. Before securing it run a bead of caulk around the holes for the bolts and then lay the board down and put the bolt through it. Basically the board will act as a large washer with no chance of pulling through the rotten roof.

[jerseyjim]

You can always drill a hole (same place, of course) all the way thru the roof and secure the latch(es) with a bolt and nut. Use LARGE washers and seal with lots of Dicor Lap Sealant (for instance) to stop any leaks.

g'luck!