Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: r.schwab on December 02, 2011, 11:24:37 am

Title: Screen door closure latch
Post by: r.schwab on December 02, 2011, 11:24:37 am
Have you replaced this chrome latch on a 2004 U270. If so, do you have a source other than FT of Tex.
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: Carol Savournin on December 02, 2011, 03:47:21 pm
Which Chrome latch?  Need a photo, please.
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: amos.harrison on December 03, 2011, 09:28:33 pm
That latch is so simple.  How did you break it?  Why would you not just buy it from FT?
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: Dick & Sue on December 04, 2011, 12:10:33 pm
Contact PTL Engineering, 3333 John Conley Drive, Lapeer, Mi., 48446, 810-664-2310
They manufacture doors the for Foretravel and other RV company's.
All they needed from us was the Model, Year, Length, and door size. Apparently there were 2 different doors sizes for our build time frame.
VERY reasonable to work with even tho we called during the official Michigan holiday....  DEER HUNTING Opening day.

dick
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: Carol Savournin on December 04, 2011, 03:33:00 pm
If it is just the silver 2 handle turning latch, they are available from FOT as a complete set ... for $60 something dollars!  I just replaced ours.  Now, the MORE aggravating part is the little square block with the "rubber" piece in it that captures the screen door handle to attach the two doors together.  The rubber can be rotated, but eventually tears and stretches.  That can ONLY be bought as a complete unit ... block, screws and rubber ... and the price is over $80.  I think not!!  I was "gifted" a scrap of the tough, woven, rubber-backed material that FOT is using on the entry step areas of the new coaches, and using the old piece of rubber as a template, made my own dandy designer unit for the existing block.  $80???  Really???  phbbbt.
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: Michelle on December 04, 2011, 03:54:26 pm
Now, the MORE aggravating part is the little square block with the "rubber" piece in it that captures the screen door handle to attach the two doors together.  The rubber can be rotated, but eventually tears and stretches.  That can ONLY be bought as a complete unit ... block, screws and rubber ... and the price is over $80.  I think not!!  I was "gifted" a scrap of the tough, woven, rubber-backed material that FOT is using on the entry step areas of the new coaches, and using the old piece of rubber as a template, made my own dandy designer unit for the existing block.  $80???  Really???  phbbbt.

Unbelievable, isn't it  >:D  We'd installed ours then discovered the price (too late to return and just find some rubber to cut).

So how many designer units have you fabricated?  Would you trade for a moisture-barrier, sealed bag of "artisan desiccant"?

Michelle
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: Carol Savournin on December 05, 2011, 11:04:30 am
Now, the MORE aggravating part is the little square block with the "rubber" piece in it that captures the screen door handle to attach the two doors together.  The rubber can be rotated, but eventually tears and stretches.  That can ONLY be bought as a complete unit ... block, screws and rubber ... and the price is over $80.  I think not!!  I was "gifted" a scrap of the tough, woven, rubber-backed material that FOT is using on the entry step areas of the new coaches, and using the old piece of rubber as a template, made my own dandy designer unit for the existing block.  $80???  Really???  phbbbt.

Unbelievable, isn't it  >:D  We'd installed ours then discovered the price (too late to return and just find some rubber to cut).

So how many designer units have you fabricated?  Would you trade for a moisture-barrier, sealed bag of "artisan desiccant"?

Michelle

I would, indeed!  I will whip one up and mail it to you!  I will even try and post some photos, although the making is a no brainer once you find some suitable material.    XO
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: Mark... on December 05, 2011, 02:04:04 pm
I replaced the torn square block of rubber with a piece of hard plastic.  Went to the hardware store and found  some type of ABS vent connection that had a flat section that could be cut out and was the same size/thickness as the rubber.  It cost about a $1.  Got out the handy dremel tool and used the rubber piece as a template to cut to size and drill the 3 screw holes.  The coach is not local so no pic but it was really easy once I found the right piece of plastic.
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: r.schwab on January 10, 2012, 03:55:06 pm
Thanks for all your comments ... bought just the chrome handle from PTL $7.00 + 5.00 shipping rather than the 60 to 80 for a complete setup. Now as for the rubber square $5.00 each from Nach. FOT.
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: Dick S on January 11, 2012, 11:08:41 am
I just spoke with Jason at PTL earlier this month and he is sending me a couple of those rubber flaps free. Might be worth a call to talk to him.
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: Dick S on January 11, 2012, 02:52:36 pm
The new rubber flap is fiber re-enforced, kind of like a tire sidewall. My old one had no fiber threads so maybe this one will hold up better.
Title: Re: Screen door closure latch
Post by: Horace B. Cupp on January 11, 2012, 07:18:08 pm
Well. well. a wide variety of solutions for what obviously is a very common problem (typical Foretravel owner ingenuity). I replaced the rubber flap on the screen door handle retainer with a piece of leather from Michael's, cut it using the worn out rubber as a template, then dyed it with shoe stain, drilled the screw holes and "voila"!