Ours has about had it. Found a firm that offers retro versions in many varieties. Called a "Brite Bar". Talked with the rep this a.m., will send her a pic and info to confirm size. Cheap just for the plastic handle. They will also custom engrave! Fleming Sales OEM | Premium RV Accessories and Parts For Your Model (http://www.flemingsalesoem.com)
Did you check with FOT. I got one this summer that was engraved and I think about $40.
Rich
I bought a replacement for mine from foretravel also says foretravel on it
FOT never returned my call. The price for a engraved handle only from Fleming is around $29.00.
The chrome holders are fine, I'd rather have a "official" insert from FT. Do you just remove the bottom to replace, or??
Called FT about a month ago and parts said they were all gone and no prospects for replenishing stock. Went with the company mentioned above in original post. Only thing had to do was re locate one screw. Looks like original.
Does it come on when touched, like mine is now, or is it on a switch only ? We were in Nac in Oct. and told they were out of stock.
Mine comes on from a interior switch with the top light.
MOT replaced mine in fall 2016...I think the light works with the porch light.....
Mine has a separate touch pad to the side of the lighted bar that you brush with your hand and the light comes on. Still does with the new light.
Just got a call from FOT, previous posters were right: not available no more! Hey Dani, how are you? ^.^d
...jet lagged....just in from FOT, FBP starts 2/12....the ol' girl (da coachita) is gettin' younger everyday... ^.^d
I have replaced three of the clear plastic handles on different coaches and found that the overall length had to be "adjusted" (cut) because of the location of the end holders. So, make sure you have the hacksaw or the ability to make the adjustment.
I bought mine at FOT and still had to cut the ends to make it fit.
Careful making the length adjustment. It is called trial and error, and I don't know of a hacksaw that puts the material back if you cut off too much.
I just have to add the question: Do all Foretravel coaches have the lighted handle? Check the bottom holder to see if there is a bulb in there. It most likely is burnt out.
Good idea to replace the bulb at the same time! Does the handle replace with just the bottom holder removed? My buddy with the Blue Bird replaced his without needing a hacksaw, so I'll cross my fingers.
I bought two sets of the Fleming parts a couple of years ago. Rod needed to be adjusted for the length.
Chrome not nearly the same quality as the original oem part.
Mike, let us know how it turns out.
Not sure what you mean, I'm just (I hope) replacing the lens and not the brackets.
My bulb is in the top holder. I can't believe that Foretravel does not have the acrylic replacement handle in stock anymore.
I used a Led bulb also. You could put a colored bulb in there to make it like really funky cool.
I replaced mine a year ago when FOT still had them. I took out the really weird bulb and holder from the top chrome piece, it wasn't too bright after finally finding the replacement bulb. So I was working with LEDs at the time, and took a 3-bulb piece and used double sided 3M tape to tape it into the curve on top. Hardwired the rest, and it's nice and bright.
....well stump, that's a nice little idea unless the colored bulb is red and you're a single woman like me... :o
You know a straight piece of 1" diameter solid acrylic rod is about $8 per foot at Amazon. If it is not heated up to bend and engraved to add stress points it might just last longer than the OEM ones if you could find them. Looks like my original owner replaced his (and now ours) with a straight one. It still works fine and it glows in the dark too when the light is on.
Now that the handle is my new project, I took a closer look at it as the sun changed angle. Appears both ends are sealed with caulk or something. Wonder if that's going to be a problem removing the old one? :-\
Mike that may just be some caulking to stop rain getting in the bottom chrome holder. Take the screws out and pull it apart.
JohnH
I think you are right, John. The bottom and top brackets are sealed, someone did a nice job, no slop. I'm going to pull the bottom bracket first and see if I can ease the lens out.
I ordered a new engraved handle from FT last month. My mechanic said it was too short. I told FT parts and they sent me another. It too is too short. Do I need to drill new holes and move a bracket?
I wonder if FT still has them and the counter jockey was too lazy to check when I called the other day. Fleming did not ask me the length, only the color of the etching. I assume they've got FT in their files, hope, hope. I'd hate to go to the trouble of moving the bracket, could be a problem with the light wiring, as well. They are not expensive, could be the Fleming version (I'll find out shortly) is a correct fit. ^.^d
What do these measure? Need to replace mine, it measures somewhere around 11"
This one looks like the Grand Villa Style...
Illuminated Assist Handles - RV Parts Nation (https://www.rvpartsnation.com/rv-hardware/rv-assist-handle/illuminated-assist-handles/?gclid=CjwKCAiA1uHSBRBUEiwAkBCtzVXpW4BKcPrpAUlfz5Hfltzdsn7F5rzSWwxt5U8VCWy_5GvwphsX2BoCRSUQAvD_BwE)
Acrylic Assist Bar 11 1/2" Handle - RV Parts Nation (https://www.rvpartsnation.com/rv-hardware/rv-assist-handle/acrylic-assist-bar-11-1-2-handle/)
Mine measures 9 3/4" from bottom of upper bracket to lower top. There's of course, extra for penetration on each end, but I don't know what that is yet.
The handle will go into the metal ends about 1" +_ on each end.
The Fleming literature shows the replacement handle is 12" long. Could be, as suggested, a little trimming is needed.
The 12V bulb in the top end of our handle has a 194 base. So I just removed that bulb, cleaned, polished, and waxed the end of the acrylic and the inside of the holder. I then put an LED "bulb" in the holder--after Shoe Gooing the socket in place. The LED "bulb" has 8 LEDs on the end so all light is directed at the end of the acrylic handle.
By the way, I beveled the end of the acrylic so there was a 30 degree surface to absorb the light. By filing and then sanding the angle I increased the exposure area to the light emitted by the LEDs.
Last nite I went out and tested my remodel project and found I had much more light visible along the acrylic and at the bottom end.
Boy howdy, did I order a new handle in time! The DW forgot it was cracked and it came loose. I added a couple of drill bits to stiffen it, wrapped it and it's tight if either of us forget.
Mike, you will most likely have to remove material on the new acrylic, on the top end/side away from the coach. The curve inside the casting will most likely prevent full insertion otherwise.
Then insert the acrylic as far in as possible. Then reach in and scribe the acrylic along the bottom of the curve--inside the hole.
Take the acrylic out and then sand--at an angle to the end of the acrylic--down to the scribe line. Get as smooth a finish as possible, then clear wax coat the end of the acrylic and the inside of the casting.
Keep making minor--MINOR--alterations to the acrylic until the screw holes on the castings line up with the holes in the coach wall. By keeping alterations minor you will likely end up with a nice tight fit that does not move when one uses the assist handle.
Thanks 'Hawk. My neighbor just replaced his in his Blue Bird (lash-up looks exact as mine) and said the one he got from Fleming is tapered on both ends, so we'll see if I need any sanding!.He did say a power screwdriver is helpfull, as those screws are tight!
Mike,
I had to sand mine a little. I paid $30 plus shipping for the replacement. Foretravel will tell you that it needs to be sanded when you purchase one.
John M.
I bought two and made the first one too short. Second time was tighter
Anyone come up with an LED bulb, with the LEDs oriented to light straight out and yet have the small round base with the two posts?
John44 and I went looking for one at Autozone and--no luck.
His old bulb was burnt out and I thought an LED would last longer.
I have 20+ of the 194 base LEDs with 8 LEDs facing straight out from the coach wall, but Dave's coach has the 55 base.
They modified the handle on both ends, so there was no cutting and sanding, though still a small chore getting it in. I left the top bracket on, but if the old handle is not broken in two already, take a hacksaw to it in the middle, the bottom fit into the bracket was tight and I had to use the big channel locks to get it out on the picnic table. It takes some muscle and wiggle to force the bottom in to align the screw holes, finally got it close enough to put the screws in and cinch it to the coach. There is a ground wire underneath the rubber gasket for the bottom screw to cinch down. Carefull with that gasket, I doubt if those are easy to find! All in all, an hour fooling around, it sits a little angled, but I'm not concerned, I'd have to move the brackets to align, NOT! I'll post some pics below, sorry for the fuzzy one!
Pics:
Looks great Mike, did you get it from Fleming? did they do the engraving?
Yes to both questions. A good company to work with. I like what they did with both ends of the handles. As others have said, without all the angle cutting, it would have been a bearcat to install! I like the black engraving, but they offer many colors, as well. Be patient, those are custom made.
I guess a couple more questions, did they make it curved like the original one?
Do all Foretravel coaches have lights in the handles or just some of them?
We replaced ours a couple of years ago with the complete kit as seen in the ebay site. It did require a bit of modifying as the reliefs were on the wrong side. It's LED and the chrome is good. We would have gone for just the handle at $30 but our chrome was a little pitted plus the LED are nice. The one we ordered was plain without the engraving.
12V LED Lighted RV Entry Grab Handle Chrome assist Rv Monaco | eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-LED-Lighted-RV-Entry-Grab-Handle-Chrome-assist-Rv-Monaco/122640586068?hash=item1c8df2d554:g:uA4AAOSwD39aUBVd&vxp=mtr)
Pierce
It was a exact dead ringer to the original curved handle. The light on ours is in the top, not that bright, but it's wired into the overhead exterior with a toggle switch just inside the door on the left, so brightness is not a big deal for us. No idea about all FTs having the light, but I'd think so, just different methods of turning it on/off. Fleming must know their coaches; I gave them the brand, year & model when ordering. The only question they asked was the color of the etching.