Washing The Villa for an upcoming trip to west Georgia, just noticed these handles below the windshield, above the front access doors. Anyone know what purpose these serve? They don't seem to have anything to do with the access doors - they don't hold the doors open or anything.
This is very interesting. If you look on my signature image, the handles are on the flip up covers. I wonder if they had a new tech working that day... ;)
Jack, looks to me like handles to help steady your self when standing on top of the bumper to clean window etc
MHO
Hans
IIRC... While they can (and are) used to steady oneself when washing the windshields they also more importantly secure the dash to the front of the coach. The handles are just a clever way of inserting screws thru the front of the coach without being an eyesore.
see ya
ken
I don't stand on the bumper, because I don't want to scratch up the gelcoat. HOWEVER, the handles
have saved my "posterior" a couple times when the stepladder I was standing on shifted and threatened to fall over. Reaching to the top of those windows to clean them is a hazardous operation any way you do it - I'm glad to have something sturdy to hang on to!
Matter of fact, if you have Foretravel replace your windshields, they will add these handles as a matter of course.
jor
Nuther matter of fact. Before FOT did my full body paint my coach didn't have them. Afterward it did. :)
see ya
ken
It is what they put on to prevent delamination on the front of the coach. They hold the substructure together from the weight of the windshield.
My 93 U300 doesn't have the handles. I have the original windshields but would like to have the handles anyway. I wonder if they were included as standard equipment before the 92 wide body models? It seems like they must also aid in strengthening the dash and giving more support to the windshield gaskets. Maybe help with flexing in the front cap and the windshields moving around?
Jerry
Exactly why they put them on.
What John said... :)
see ya
ken
Y'all are a font of knowledge! Thank you!
They are made by Perko. Mine are screwed into 3/4" plywood pieces on the back side - I don't see any connection to the dashboard deck.
This looks like them: Amazon.com : Perko Handle Chrome 5-3/4In 2/C : Boating Equipment : Sports &... (http://www.amazon.com/Perko-Handle-Chrome-5-3-4In/dp/B005FCI7VW/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1439154046&sr=8-15&keywords=perko+handles)
After reading JohnFitz's comment, I had to go out and check our coach - found exactly what he said. The screws holding the handles come through the fiberglass well below the level of the dashboard deck. There was originally a small square piece of plywood backing on each of the screws, but it is completely gone from one of them. On the other three, I can turn the piece of wood with my fingers, so it is obviously not adding any strength to the handle mounting. I plan to replace the wood pieces with a large fender washer, and hold it on with some epoxy and a heavy duty speed nut. That at least will provide a little support to the fiberglass area around the screw holes.
Perhaps they are to keep the doors below from flying back and hitting the new paint and acts as a stop. Just a thought. ???
Our 91 GV has the handles and we have the stainless steel bumpers, so I use them alot to wash windows and stand on the bumper. Best way to wash the window is on a good sturdy ladder which I carry strapped to the rear roof access ladder. Have a great day ---- Fritz
So the 88 had the handels.. not the 94
Do I need to install them? Chuck what are you going to do?
John, if that is directed at me... What am I going to do about what?
Yep.. are you replacing what's there.. wood blocks? That spin..
I plan to replace the wood pieces with a large fender washer, and hold it on with some epoxy and a heavy duty speed nut. That at least will provide a little support to the fiberglass area around the screw holes.
I put two large caribiniers on a piece of rope long enough to go around my backside and hook on the handle on each side (one side at a time) when I stand on the bumper to wash the windshields. Make a nice safety harness when snapped onto the handles. Lets me go hands free and safer all around.