Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Topic: Replacing exterior entry assist handle (Read 2070 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #25 – January 12, 2018, 07:32:39 pm

What do these measure? Need to replace mine, it measures somewhere around 11"

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #26 – January 12, 2018, 08:17:07 pm

This one looks like the Grand Villa Style...

Illuminated Assist Handles - RV Parts Nation
Acrylic Assist Bar 11 1/2" Handle - RV Parts Nation

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #27 – January 13, 2018, 10:14:15 am

Quote from: NancyS – January 12, 2018, 07:32:39 pm

What do these measure? Need to replace mine, it measures somewhere around 11"

Mine measures 9 3/4" from bottom of upper bracket to lower top. There's of course, extra for penetration on each end, but I don't know what that is yet.

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #28 – January 13, 2018, 10:24:08 am

The handle will go into the metal ends about 1" +_ on each end.

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #29 – January 13, 2018, 10:34:38 am

The Fleming literature shows the replacement handle is 12" long. Could be, as suggested, a little trimming is needed.

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #30 – January 13, 2018, 12:37:47 pm

The 12V bulb in the top end of our handle has a 194 base. So I just removed that bulb, cleaned, polished, and waxed the end of the acrylic and the inside of the holder. I then put an LED "bulb" in the holder--after Shoe Gooing the socket in place. The LED "bulb" has 8 LEDs on the end so all light is directed at the end of the acrylic handle.
By the way, I beveled the end of the acrylic so there was a 30 degree surface to absorb the light. By filing and then sanding the angle I increased the exposure area to the light emitted by the LEDs.
Last nite I went out and tested my remodel project and found I had much more light visible along the acrylic and at the bottom end.

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #31 – January 13, 2018, 03:13:11 pm

Boy howdy, did I order a new handle in time! The DW forgot it was cracked and it came loose. I added a couple of drill bits to stiffen it, wrapped it and it's tight if either of us forget.

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #32 – January 13, 2018, 04:02:14 pm

Mike, you will most likely have to remove material on the new acrylic, on the top end/side away from the coach. The curve inside the casting will most likely prevent full insertion otherwise.
Then insert the acrylic as far in as possible. Then reach in and scribe the acrylic along the bottom of the curve--inside the hole.
Take the acrylic out and then sand--at an angle to the end of the acrylic--down to the scribe line. Get as smooth a finish as possible, then clear wax coat the end of the acrylic and the inside of the casting.

Keep making minor--MINOR--alterations to the acrylic until the screw holes on the castings line up with the holes in the coach wall. By keeping alterations minor you will likely end up with a nice tight fit that does not move when one uses the assist handle.

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #33 – January 13, 2018, 04:35:16 pm

Thanks 'Hawk. My neighbor just replaced his in his Blue Bird (lash-up looks exact as mine) and said the one he got from Fleming is tapered on both ends, so we'll see if I need any sanding!.He did say a power screwdriver is helpfull, as those screws are tight!

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #34 – January 14, 2018, 10:20:40 am

Mike,
I had to sand mine a little. I paid $30 plus shipping for the replacement. Foretravel will tell you that it needs to be sanded when you purchase one.
John M.

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #35 – January 14, 2018, 12:59:27 pm

I bought two and made the first one too short. Second time was tighter

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #36 – January 16, 2018, 06:34:27 am

Anyone come up with an LED bulb, with the LEDs oriented to light straight out and yet have the small round base with the two posts?
John44 and I went looking for one at Autozone and--no luck.
His old bulb was burnt out and I thought an LED would last longer.
I have 20+ of the 194 base LEDs with 8 LEDs facing straight out from the coach wall, but Dave's coach has the 55 base.

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #37 – January 25, 2018, 04:11:53 pm

Quote from: Sven and Kristi – January 11, 2018, 03:40:16 pm

let us know how it turns out.

They modified the handle on both ends, so there was no cutting and sanding, though still a small chore getting it in. I left the top bracket on, but if the old handle is not broken in two already, take a hacksaw to it in the middle, the bottom fit into the bracket was tight and I had to use the big channel locks to get it out on the picnic table. It takes some muscle and wiggle to force the bottom in to align the screw holes, finally got it close enough to put the screws in and cinch it to the coach. There is a ground wire underneath the rubber gasket for the bottom screw to cinch down. Carefull with that gasket, I doubt if those are easy to find! All in all, an hour fooling around, it sits a little angled, but I'm not concerned, I'd have to move the brackets to align, NOT! I'll post some pics below, sorry for the fuzzy one!

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #38 – January 25, 2018, 04:17:56 pm

Pics:

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #39 – January 25, 2018, 09:03:00 pm

Looks great Mike, did you get it from Fleming? did they do the engraving?

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #40 – January 26, 2018, 09:42:12 am

Quote from: Super8mm – January 25, 2018, 09:03:00 pm

Looks great Mike, did you get it from Fleming? did they do the engraving?

Yes to both questions. A good company to work with. I like what they did with both ends of the handles. As others have said, without all the angle cutting, it would have been a bearcat to install! I like the black engraving, but they offer many colors, as well. Be patient, those are custom made.

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #41 – January 26, 2018, 11:29:09 am

I guess a couple more questions, did they make it curved like the original one?

Do all Foretravel coaches have lights in the handles or just some of them?

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #42 – January 26, 2018, 11:43:03 am

We replaced ours a couple of years ago with the complete kit as seen in the ebay site. It did require a bit of modifying as the reliefs were on the wrong side. It's LED and the chrome is good. We would have gone for just the handle at $30 but our chrome was a little pitted plus the LED are nice. The one we ordered was plain without the engraving.

12V LED Lighted RV Entry Grab Handle Chrome assist Rv Monaco | eBay

Pierce

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #43 – January 26, 2018, 11:54:37 am

Quote from: Super8mm – January 26, 2018, 11:29:09 am

did they make it curved like the original one? Do all Foretravel coaches have lights in the handles or just some of them?

It was a exact dead ringer to the original curved handle. The light on ours is in the top, not that bright, but it's wired into the overhead exterior with a toggle switch just inside the door on the left, so brightness is not a big deal for us. No idea about all FTs having the light, but I'd think so, just different methods of turning it on/off. Fleming must know their coaches; I gave them the brand, year & model when ordering. The only question they asked was the color of the etching.

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Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #25 – January 12, 2018, 07:32:39 pm

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #26 – January 12, 2018, 08:17:07 pm

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #27 – January 13, 2018, 10:14:15 am

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #28 – January 13, 2018, 10:24:08 am

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #29 – January 13, 2018, 10:34:38 am

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #30 – January 13, 2018, 12:37:47 pm

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #31 – January 13, 2018, 03:13:11 pm

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #32 – January 13, 2018, 04:02:14 pm

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #33 – January 13, 2018, 04:35:16 pm

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #34 – January 14, 2018, 10:20:40 am

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #35 – January 14, 2018, 12:59:27 pm

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #36 – January 16, 2018, 06:34:27 am

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #37 – January 25, 2018, 04:11:53 pm

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #38 – January 25, 2018, 04:17:56 pm

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #39 – January 25, 2018, 09:03:00 pm

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #40 – January 26, 2018, 09:42:12 am

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #41 – January 26, 2018, 11:29:09 am

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #42 – January 26, 2018, 11:43:03 am

Re: Replacing exterior entry assist handle

Reply #43 – January 26, 2018, 11:54:37 am

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