Water Heater Door
We have spent this week at Xtreme Graphics getting a few self inflicted wounds repaired. The primary reason for getting the repairs done now was the failure of the door for the water heater/water pump/Manibloc bay.
That bay door is hinged at the top rather than on pantograph hinges like several of the bays. The gas strut exerts a lot of pressure at a point a few inches down from the hinge at the top of the door. On our coach, the metal insert covering the water heater is very near the forward edge of the door. The part of the door where the gas strut attaches is relatively narrow because of the metal insert for the water heater. That edge of the door broke completely through at the point where the strut attaches.
I discussed with the folk at Xtreme reinforcing the forward edge of the door. I decided not to try any reinforcement, but plan to remove the forward strut. My currently plan is to leave the rear strut in place. There is much for contiguous fiberglass to carry the pressure there. If the door needs more support when I work in there, I will use some kind of crutch.
I share this experience as a caution for folk with a similar weak spot in an area where a gas strut attaches.
Topic: Water Heater Door