if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Topic: if your cargo bay door won't close properly... (Read 1704 times) previous topic - next topic

if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

May 01, 2014, 11:42:05 am

...it could be the thick rubber gasket has fallen off the edge of the door and has been dragging down the highway under your coach for the past several hundred miles ...Doh!

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #1 – May 01, 2014, 12:32:42 pm

Scott, my coach suffers from that problem, too. One of these days I'll see what I can do about it. I'm thinking that the best solution would be to remove the old gasket, clean off any old glue that remains, and then install a new one.

I suppose I could take a piece of the old stuff with me when I go to get the D2 and see if they have any, but if anyone has a brand and part number handy that would perhaps save some time.

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #2 – May 01, 2014, 02:04:07 pm

Just use a glue on the rubber to keep it in place after you get a new one. But that's not the problem with the compartment doors. I have had two come open going down the road. One in New Mexico and the other on the Golden Gate Bridge. That was the worst as I had to keep away from the steel railing side as well as traffic on the other side. Lucky I noticed it in the mirror.

The pins on the body get out of adjustment where they are mounted and have to be aligned and mounting fasteners tightened. The only way to be absolutely sure the compartment door is not going to open is to pull on the bottom at the forward and rear most ends. I frequently have a door that is secure at one end but not the other and have to close it again. When one end does not close, it allows the rubber gasket to come loose in the wind and drop down on the road.

Pierce

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #3 – May 01, 2014, 02:38:15 pm

Warped doors don't help.

Roland

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #4 – May 01, 2014, 05:30:33 pm

Prior thread on door seal: Storage bay gasket sourcing?

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #5 – May 01, 2014, 07:17:06 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – May 01, 2014, 02:04:07 pm

The only way to be absolutely sure the compartment door is not going to open is to pull on the bottom at the forward and rear most ends. I frequently have a door that is secure at one end but not the other and have to close it again.

A long time ago, someone taught me the "Foretravel Hip Thrust". You walk to the front and rear of ALL compartments and stand with your leg touching the bottom of the panel. Then thrust your hip towards the coach and listen for the click. I do that funny dance every time I move the coach, to make sure they are all closed and latched.

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #6 – May 01, 2014, 08:52:39 pm

The gasket is really thick and if it's hanging down the door won't be able to close properly over it. I noticed the door wasn't closing properly and messed with it unsuccessfully but I didn't see the gasket hanging out the bottom and dragging on the road until I walked away from the coach. As I walked back I saw the gasket underneath and then the dim little light bulb lit up over my head! haha

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #7 – May 01, 2014, 09:04:11 pm

Quote

A long time ago, someone taught me the "Foretravel Hip Thrust".

I use that method too. Works with both bus and swing-up doors.
jor

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #8 – May 01, 2014, 10:52:42 pm

Someday when I have a lot of disposable income (never) I'll see if I can have Foretravel retrofit the new style cargo bay doors that slide up in place of my old style doors that swing up. That's one of the few things I like better about the newer coaches. I'm always parking just slightly too close to a tree or a post and I can't get the door open so I have to move and try to guess how far away I have to be. I only want the retrofit on the driver's side doors, and probably not the generator door cuz I hardly ever use my generator. The utility door is the one that I always have to make a conscious effort to park far enough away from trees and posts so I can get it open. It would be real nice to retrofit the big cargo bay door on the driver's side too... The only other things I like better about the newer coaches are also in the utility bay. I really like the shore power cord on a reel and the little faucet and soap dispenser in the utility bay. Minor things for sure, but they would be useful to me. I move a lot so connecting and disconnecting are things I do a lot.

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #9 – May 02, 2014, 12:37:26 am

I sure liked Bill Chaplin's bus style doors and gas tank filler door. My 4107 had huge bus doors (it was a bus). Yes,you do have to plan a bit parking with ours.

Pierce

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #10 – May 02, 2014, 07:56:16 am

Quote from: Brad & Christine Slaughter – May 01, 2014, 07:17:06 pm

A long time ago, someone taught me the "Foretravel Hip Thrust". You walk to the front and rear of ALL compartments and stand with your leg touching the bottom of the panel. Then thrust your hip towards the coach and listen for the click. I do that funny dance every time I move the coach, to make sure they are all closed and latched.

The previous owner showed me that procedure, and I'm really he did. The only problem was that I didn't know what it was called and now--thanks to you--I do!

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #11 – May 02, 2014, 11:16:36 am

I have observed people with slides using a stick cut to the length that the slide sticks out walking along the side of their coach checking if there is enough clearance to open the slide. Wouldn't the same principle work with compartment doors? Open a compartment door, measure distance from outside of next compartment to end of the door that is open and you have the correct length.

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #12 – May 02, 2014, 12:28:52 pm

I've seen Bill chaplain's bus style doors also and the fuel filler door and was very impressed. An excellent modification to his coach and I would love to have them on mine. Maybe a DIY project to save a couple of coach bucks!

Jerry aka Murph

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #13 – May 02, 2014, 01:30:30 pm

Quote from: coastprt – May 02, 2014, 12:28:52 pm

I've seen Bill chaplain's bus style doors also and the fuel filler door and was very impressed. An excellent modification to his coach and I would love to have them on mine. Maybe a DIY project to save a couple of coach bucks!

Jerry aka Murph

Some years ago, I asked FOT what the bus-style conversion would cost. I believe they told me $750 a door...but it is probably a lot more now.

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #14 – May 02, 2014, 01:40:13 pm

A while back I had trouble getting one of my bay doors to close. Set up my camera in video mode and took video of the door/lock interface as I closed the bay (video from inside). Allowed me to see what the problem was and make adjustments.

George

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #15 – May 02, 2014, 01:44:32 pm

Quote from: Brad & Christine Slaughter – May 02, 2014, 01:30:30 pm

Some years ago, I asked FOT what the bus-style conversion would cost. I believe they told me $750 a door...but it is probably a lot more now.

Double that now, IF you can find the brackets. I was told Foretravel does not make them anymore.
But maybe SOB's do

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #16 – May 02, 2014, 06:59:06 pm

I think I can move my coach a little further away from the tree about a zillion times for that price! haha

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #17 – May 03, 2014, 01:32:56 am

Maybe my third outing in the Foretravel, while driving the interstate, a car pulls alongside and mimics that a bay door is open. I pull off, and sure enough, one of the bay doors under the slide looks like a diving plane on a submarine. Ever since that day, my walk around before hitting the road includes planting my foot on the ground with my shin touching the bottom edge of each door, and rotating my knee and hip inwards. Fairly often I hear the distinctive click. And here I thought this was something I invented.

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #18 – May 03, 2014, 01:59:30 am

"Foretravel Hip Thrust" ?

I thot it was called the Foretravel Shuffle

best, paul

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #19 – May 03, 2014, 09:34:45 am

I thought the term was " The Foretravel Shuffle ". Its a habit with me and the main bay door on the left always clicks when I do it.
Gary B

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #20 – May 03, 2014, 11:03:38 am

The more heavy stuff that falls out the door the better your fuel efficiency and hill climbing performance will be!

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #21 – May 03, 2014, 11:09:27 am

Gary, Jack Patterson, the famous salesman at Foretravel of Tennessee, described the shin against the bay door as "the Foretravel Shuffle" as you point out. It is standard on my departure routine.

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #22 – May 03, 2014, 11:30:55 am

Yes the shuffle is the routine, my bigger issue is the door behind the: drive axle curb side battery access door, it gets full of road dirt and will not latch correctly. I remove it, clean & lube, works good for a while then do it again. Need to make up a cover to keep the grit out of it. Maybe someone has an idea ?
Dave M

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #23 – May 03, 2014, 11:37:26 am

Horace, Was Jack the world famous chef that always cooked for the rallies at Kodak ? Seems like the name is familiar but I can't place him. There was also a girl salesman ( person ) there but her name does not come to mind. She and her husband ( was this Jack ) later managed the Smoky Bear CG near Gatlinburg and were great hosts. Lots of camping trips in the area where Tennessee RV was either the host or donated door prizes and cooked for us. Hard to beat folks like this. That CG was built in a hurry for the Worlds Fair in Knoxville and the construction showed the haste.
Gary B

Re: if your cargo bay door won't close properly...

Reply #24 – May 03, 2014, 12:18:06 pm

Quote from: Dave M – May 03, 2014, 11:30:55 am

Yes the shuffle is the routine, my bigger issue is the door behind the: drive axle curb side battery access door, it gets full of road dirt and will not latch correctly. I remove it, clean & lube, works good for a while then do it again. Need to make up a cover to keep the grit out of it. Maybe someone has an idea ?
Dave M

In session with Triana yesterday, he suggested silicone lubricant for any of the latches in the engine compartment. The silicone lubricants attract less dirt than the oily lubricants.

Many of our bay doors have the pantograph hinges. To close them at the top I give a firm push with one or two hands and listen for the latch to engage. To secure the bottom latches, I also perform the "Foretravel shuffle" and shove them closed with the lower leg backed up by a foot firmly on the ground. The latches make a distinctive sound when they engage properly. A bit of lubricant on them helps the work better.

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