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Topic: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280 (Read 634 times) previous topic - next topic

Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

On both the foretravels we've owned, we have trouble with the panel in front of the passengers seat falling towards passengers seat when we hit a bump.
Has anyone come up with a solution for this?

Thanks. susan
Susan and Bob
1995 U320CSE
40'
Cummins M11
Coach build #4730
Previous Foretravel's 1996 U280, 1995 U300

Motorcade # 17974

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #1 –
We have a U280 and I don't know what panel you are talking about.  Can you be a little more precise in your description?

Do you mean the panel where the heater return air grill is mounted?

Or the carpeted area below the black dash and glove box area?
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #2 –
It's right in front of your knees when you're sitting in the passenger seat. There are all kinds of electrical connections behind it. The hoses for the engine heat and air also connect to it.
Susan and Bob
1995 U320CSE
40'
Cummins M11
Coach build #4730
Previous Foretravel's 1996 U280, 1995 U300

Motorcade # 17974

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #4 –
Ours falls back occasionally.  Make sure all the little "catches" that hold it are working and screwed in tightly.  We recently did a quick trip to AZ and CA and the panel didn't move.  One of the few trips in 7 years that it didn't.
Dave and Kelli
1997 U295 40' Build #5188 CSGI
1995 U240 36' Build #4621 SBID-SOLD
2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Rocky1down –
It's right in front of your knees when you're sitting in the passenger seat. There are all kinds of electrical connections behind it. The hoses for the engine heat and air also connect to it.
OK, that clears up my question.  Your '95 GV must have the same dash area as the later bus style coaches.  Completely different than our '93 GV.

Since I can't help you with this question, I'll fade back into the crowd.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
OK, that clears up my question.  Your '95 GV must have the same dash area as the later bus style coaches.  Completely different than our '93 GV.

Since I can't help you with this question, I'll fade back into the crowd.
Yes......... Chuck the 95 is different than yours. I'm not sure of the difference between the unicoach panel and our 95 GV but I believe it is similar and maybe a little shorter because of the elevated Driver and passenger seating.

It clips in place with two brass clips at the bottom, I push ours in and up at the top and then push in at the bottom until I hear the "clicks" of the bottom clips. To be honest I would have to go examine the panel to describe it more accurately because it has never given us a problem or "fell out" while driving.

AND.... yes we have driven on those infamous California Highways............Mississippi is a close second IMO



Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #7 –
On our 95 300 I had to raise the bottom latches to get a good fit. I think that dash moves a bit over the years.
jor

93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #8 –
Right now we have a piece of wood, a patio block and a small piece of hose propping it up.
I think our major problem is we live in OH and the roads arare horrible here.
Susan and Bob
1995 U320CSE
40'
Cummins M11
Coach build #4730
Previous Foretravel's 1996 U280, 1995 U300

Motorcade # 17974

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #9 –
Show a pic of the latches with the panel off, maybe something is not right. Our panel is hard to get off and never falls off and here in Cal. we deal with roads that knock off awnings and a/c's.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #10 –
Susan/Bob,

If you have the latches that "jor" posted in the pic.  you may just need to adjust the spring tension on yours to keep them from popping loose.  If you look at one end or the other of the latch you will see a flat headed plug that you can tighten up. This plug adjust the spring tension that is applying pressure to the ball that holds the latch in place.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #11 –
Quote
If you have the latches that "jor" posted in the pic.  you may just need to adjust the spring tension on yours

You can also buy new latches on the interweb (latches). I've replaced a number of mine that have weakened over the years.
jor
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #12 –
The springs and balls don't wear, but the brass part of the latch wears with use.  Adjusting the spring can compensate for this, but only up to a point.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #13 –
Had a different problem with some of those same type latches on our coach, where they were used on some of the interior cabinet doors.  The small adjustment screw at some point in time apparently backed itself completely out, allowing the spring and ball to fall out.  I actually located some of the missing pieces laying in the bottom of the cabinets.  Had to replace several latches with new from Amazon.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"
 

Re: Panel in front of passenger seat on U300 and U280

Reply #14 –
Had same problem.  Panel warps slightly over time.  Make sure the little balls on the catch are going all the way into the other part of the catch.  There is a screw at the side of the balls to tighten them to increase their holding power.  Just a matter of adjustment.

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159