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Topic: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320 (Read 1401 times) previous topic - next topic

slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

The slide out tray at the console right of the drivers seat slides in and out freely unless locked fully in.  It looks like there was some mechanism to provide stops at about 3 locations, but all I see is holes in the bottom of the sliding portion of the drawer and in the base of the cabinet.  Does anybody know what the mechanism was?  Thanks
Gordon Cole
2002 U320 36'

Re: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

Reply #1 –
Hi Gordon,
My 2002 U320 has steel slides by Journeyman.
Cargo Trays for RV and Cargo Trailers -- Journeyman Trays
Quote
The slide out tray at the console right of the drivers seat slides in and out freely unless locked fully in. It looks like there was some mechanism to provide stops at about 3 locations, but all I see is holes in the bottom of the sliding portion of the drawer and in the base of the cabinet. Does anybody know what the mechanism was?

Thanks
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

Reply #2 –
Quote from: gordon cole –
The slide out tray at the console right of the drivers seat slides in and out freely unless locked fully in.  It looks like there was some mechanism to provide stops at about 3 locations, but all I see is holes in the bottom of the sliding portion of the drawer and in the base of the cabinet.  Does anybody know what the mechanism was?  Thanks

Here are a couple of quick photos of the underside of the center console drawer in our '03.

Michelle

Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

Reply #3 –
Dang ... I love this forum!
Gordon your question reminded me that I had the same thought about our console drawer. It seemed to stop part way out, but wouldn't hold. I decided to take a closer look at it.
On ours, the arm that extends from the front black actuator has a notch in it. This notch fits over a striker plate of sorts (ours was bent and now it's not). This notch now holds the drawer open about 6 inches. There is only one notch
Michelle, I think I see the same notch in your photos; does it hold the drawer open ok?
Dick
Dick, '03 U320 40' Tag, 2 slides, Coach #6075
Full Timers
2009 Honda CR-V

Re: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

Reply #4 –
Thanks Dick.  I will take a look at mine and see if it has the notch in the arm.  I know there is no strike plate so it is possible the previous owner tried to use another method.  I currently am using a stick shoved up into the holes in the wood suports for the slide to hold it partially open, but it is not a good solution.  If the notches are there, I can fabricate a strike.  Thanks again.  Your photos really help.
Gordon Cole
2002 U320 36'

Re: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Dick S –

On ours, the arm that extends from the front black actuator has a notch in it. This notch fits over a striker plate of sorts (ours was bent and now it's not). This notch now holds the drawer open about 6 inches. There is only one notch
Michelle, I think I see the same notch in your photos; does it hold the drawer open ok?

Dick,

I think Steve adjusted it a few months ago when he had the dash disassembled (when he was working on the netbook installation for the Silverleaf.)  He also cut a second notch so we have 2 positions on our drawer now.

It does hold the drawer just fine - in fact, you really have to squeeze hard to get the front notch to clear so you can slide the drawer (the arm is angled slightly; the rear notch holds, but is easier to release).

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

Reply #6 –
Thanks to your kind input and photos, I was able to fabricate and install a strike mechanism that works great.
Gordon Cole
2002 U320 36'

Re: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

Reply #7 –
Me, too!!  Our strike plate was also bent, but now we have the original 2 positions. Not a great mechanism, but it almost does the job, I guess.
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

Reply #8 –
I was having an issue with this drawer not staying closed.  After adjusting the arm and strikers a few times with no lasting luck, and given that I've never used it at the intermediate or fully open position, decided to just fix it so it would just pull open and push to stay closed like a regular drawer.

Used a Southco Grabber Latch, along with a set of Teflon washers where the old front striker was located and with a little mounting plate on the drawer itself.

It works perfect now.  I think the Southco latch was the 5 pound one.

I did marvel at that bit of engineering with that bar and striker plates though, pretty cool design.  I wish I could have made it work.
Jennifer
2003 36' U295 (# 6070)
Thousand Oaks, CA

Re: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

Reply #9 –
Quote
Used a Southco Grabber Latch

I did the same thing but used a brass "pinch type" latch that won't lock in the closed position while not being mated to its other half.
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Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee
 

Re: slide out tray in front console in 2002 U320

Reply #10 –
FWIW here's how I just fixed mine;

I removed the piece of aluminum flat bar and the black rubber end piece.  Using two crescent wrenches I straightened the bar out where it was twisted 90 degrees.  Then I re-twisted it much closer to the end of the bar, and that allowed me to cut another slot in the now vertical part of the bar at the precise location needed to hold the drawer closed.  In other words the original twist was exactly where the slot needed to be, so I moved the twist.  Then I shortened the rubber piece and re-installed it and screwed the whole assembly back into place.

The whole job took about 30 minutes and the hardest part was determining where the new slot should be cut.  I did that by loosely attaching a small zip-tie around the bar and closing the drawer so the zip-tie was moved by the striker to the new location.........exactly like you would do to a shock absorber to measure shock travel.