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Topic: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320 (Read 1513 times) previous topic - next topic

Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

John Here U R, this will give you an idea, when I get home and get the toad away, I can take better pix.
There is a full length stainless piano hinge on upper end, with gas struts.  Bottom sits on the original rubber bumpers and then he added brackets so a pair of 1/4 X 20 cap screws thread into a new fixed bracket, very professional, or good enough for me.
Dave M

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #1
Nice!
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #2
I like it. Did you have the lights done too or were they like that? The 2 lower ones are they back ups?
John
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #3
The rear LED lights were done last year when the paint job was done, all lights are LED except head lights, the fog lights, dock lights and license plate lights.
On the rear, there are three, top running & stop red, next down amber turn, bottom bright white backup. Headlights have been converted from the Ford to the new smaller brighter you see on most updated units.

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #4
Rance at Xtreme Graphics in Nacogdoches also did our rear engine door access the same as Dave's coach.  We like it very much and there is no longer a chance for the heavy door to fall on our back when we are working in engine compartment.  Xtreme also offers a vertical split rear engine door with vertical side hinges that i don't like very much.

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #5
Barry, A funny for you, Rance had to go to your pictures to get the gas strut part number, as he forgot the weight rating. 
Also, I think the only difference in our rear door mod is on mine he formed a nice grab handle with a drain hole below the license tag area.  I think on your door, he used a handle, I could be off track on that. 
I also prefer the hinge a cross the top, not the two side doors.
Classic Rance job, like few others could have it turn out so correct.

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #6
Dave,

We also have the same finger space with drain hole below the license tag area. This is Rance's latest enhancement to his rear door mod.

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #7
... We like it very much and there is no longer a chance for the heavy door to fall on our back when we are working in engine compartment.  ...
Why is this safer than the original arrangement? In both arrangements, it looks like doors are supported by gas struts when the door is open. Our door has always seemed to be stable in the fully open position.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #8
J.D.  Good question, I think the big part is the upper door is so much lighter as there has been a tremendous amount of structure/weight removed from the assy. Yes, anything CAN happen at ANY time, I think the keep your head aware of what is around you is good.  Also with the gas struts, wen you open the upper, you notice the effect of the struts. If this is too difficult, I recommend sticking with the original setup.  For me and others it is a no brainer.

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #9
If those gas struts get a bit weak or the door gets a tad out of adjustment, a gust of wind or starting the coach can cause it to come slamming down AT SPEED.
It WILL hurt you. That door and hardware is over a hundred pounds. BTDT. Got the bruises.
I never work long in there without a 2X2 brace. Going to the newer design takes a serious chunk of 'overhang weight' off the back end.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #10
Dave H, Yes, but there is not nearly 100 lbs in the current  configuration, I do not know exact weight but there is a lot of metal left on the floor after the modification. Of course anything can and will happen, I often think about the poor fool that destroyed his anvil with a feather  ;D

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #11
You do loose the ladder and being full timers we need all the space in the bays we can.  Telescoping ladder does handle that small problem.  Also, makes for a very nice clean look.  Another great innovation from Rance
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #12
After we had Xtreme modifiy our rear engine door, we still had the upper half of our rear motorhome ladder, which we recently rebuilt and found most of the inside supports fully rusted out.

We have always carried a Lowe's regular 8' aluminum "A" ladder inside our bay for all around maintenance and cleanning.  We also have used our 8' ladder when climbing to the roof to keep our weight off the half of the rear motorhome ladder, so now that the lower half of the motorhome ladder has been removed, we don't miss it very much.

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #13
Slightly off topic, but a warning, when I got home from my last trip I discovered that my louvers were down to being held by one screw.
1996 U270
Build #4846

Re: Pix of New Rear Cover Change 01 320

Reply #14
Here is a picture of my coach with the twin door conversion from Extreme.

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