Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: John Morales on May 10, 2017, 09:52:44 pm

Title: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: John Morales on May 10, 2017, 09:52:44 pm
Can you buy just the plastic handle or do you have to buy the whole assembly.  Does anyone know where to order with the Foretravel name in the handle.

Thanks, John M.
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: craneman on May 10, 2017, 10:10:27 pm
Check with some of the rv salvage people, that same handle is on my '81
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: kb0zke on May 10, 2017, 10:12:51 pm
John, what is the problem? Are the black letters disappearing? Jo Ann looked carefully at ours and noticed that the letters are indented in the handle, so she was able to use a fine brush and paint the letters back. She did one coat just to see how it would work, and it looks good, so she will do another coat one of these days when it isn't raining or blowing 90 mph.
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: Old Knucklehead on May 10, 2017, 10:21:16 pm
I bought a nice, new one from FT this winter. Clear, without a crack. FT Parts. Good guys.
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: John Morales on May 10, 2017, 10:26:13 pm
The handle on our coach broke in half.  I put it together with epoxy, but it needs to be replaced.  You can see a lot of stress cracks in the Acrylic Rv Entry Door Grab Handle/Assist Bar.  It doesn't have to have the Foretravel name on it.

John M
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on May 10, 2017, 10:46:22 pm
I just installed a new one.  Nice chrome but I had to file the handle to get to fit. LEDs instead of bulb. See my old post.

Illuminated Assist Handles - RV Parts Nation (http://www.rvpartsnation.com/rv-hardware/rv-assist-handle/illuminated-assist-handles/)

Pierce
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: Texas Guy on May 11, 2017, 01:25:31 am
John,

We had a thread a year or two ago on this subject. I can't remember

the answer, sorry. Just remember it was on here.

Carter-
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: stump on May 11, 2017, 04:47:03 am
Foretravel sells replacement handle with the name on it. I bought one.
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: bofzwell on May 11, 2017, 09:05:33 am
Had the original owners' customized assist handle with their names engraved. Did quite a bit of research before ordering the LED lighted, custom engraved handle from Brite Bar Illuminated Handle - Fleming Sales OEM | Elkhart, IN (https://www.flemingsalesoem.com/product/brite-bar-53002-illuminated-straight-handle/)
  They don't charge per character and you have choice of lettering color, illumination color, and bar style. Fleming was the only supplier with the exact replacement size and style we need. They said allow two weeks for delivery, plus 5 extra days for the outsourced engraving. We got the unit in 5 days! It was a direct replacement. Had the whole job, including wiring it in, done in 20 minutes.
Now our kids won't be teasing us for being Ron and Linda  ; 0
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on May 11, 2017, 10:21:17 am
Choice of lettering opens up a whole new world.

WATCH YOUR STEP
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: Realmccoy on May 11, 2017, 01:18:26 pm
Just bought the plastic handle from FT. Required a small amount of modification on one end to fit all the way into hardware. Looks nice.
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: John Morales on May 11, 2017, 04:31:01 pm
I ordered the acrylic handle from Foretravel.  $30 plus shipping with a 10% motorcade discount.
Thanks everyone for the help.
John M
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: krush on May 12, 2017, 09:06:58 pm
We got the unit in 5 days! It was a direct replacement. Had the whole job, including wiring it in, done in 20 minutes.
Now our kids won't be teasing us for being Ron and Linda  ; 0

Which handle style was the exact fit replacement? They have 3 listed on the link: curved, straight, spiral.
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: John Morales on May 13, 2017, 05:47:00 am
I just called parts at Foretravel and told him the coach I have.  They know which one goes in our coach.  We have the S curve looking one.
John M
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: stump on May 13, 2017, 07:29:17 am
Just bought the plastic handle from FT. Required a small amount of modification on one end to fit all the way into hardware. Looks nice.
Yes I had to lightly stand the ends where they go into the chrome also. Wrap some tape around so you only sand the part that goes in  if you need to.
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: bofzwell on May 13, 2017, 11:15:02 am
On our 1986 Grand Villa, the style is curved. I did not know it was a lighted unit, as it had never worked in the time we've owned the coach. I removed the handle before ordering, and found the old incandescent fixture had corroded. The new unit has 3 screw holes for the upper bracket, rather than the OEM 2 hole bracket/sleeve . Simple enough to fill the lower hole with white epoxy, install upper screw and mark the two new lower holes for drilling pilots. Other than that, everything else fit exactly. No sanding. The wire connections were very simple and direct. The LEDs work perfectly and are controlled by the porch light switch. Complete with gaskets.

Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: Parati on May 13, 2017, 02:00:09 pm
Yesterday, I ordered the replacement plastic Grab Handle from Foretravel with 2 new rubber gaskets as mine were looking aged. The light still works well with an LED bulb in place. No corrosion problems and too is coated with dielectric grease to protect it further.
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: John Morales on May 13, 2017, 04:13:44 pm
John Smith,
What LED did you use?
John M
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: Jeff & Sandy on May 13, 2017, 08:11:13 pm
On our 1986 Grand Villa, the style is curved. I did not know it was a lighted unit, as it had never worked in the time we've owned the coach. I removed the handle before ordering, and found the old incandescent fixture had corroded. The new unit has 3 screw holes for the upper bracket, rather than the OEM 2 hole bracket/sleeve . Simple enough to fill the lower hole with white epoxy, install upper screw and mark the two new lower holes for drilling pilots. Other than that, everything else fit exactly. No sanding. The wire connections were very simple and direct. The LEDs work perfectly and are controlled by the porch light switch. Complete with gaskets.



It should also come on when you touch the lower bracket outside.  ;D
Title: Re: Lighted Entry Handle
Post by: stump on May 13, 2017, 09:06:01 pm
On our 1986 Grand Villa, the style is curved. I did not know it was a lighted unit, as it had never worked in the time we've owned the coach. I removed the handle before ordering, and found the old incandescent fixture had corroded. The new unit has 3 screw holes for the upper bracket, rather than the OEM 2 hole bracket/sleeve . Simple enough to fill the lower hole with white epoxy, install upper screw and mark the two new lower holes for drilling pilots. Other than that, everything else fit exactly. No sanding. The wire connections were very simple and direct. The LEDs work perfectly and are controlled by the porch light switch. Complete with gaskets.



Use your old chrome piece and use the new handle.