Front engine hood release issues

[KayLarGo]

We have a 2005 Mtn Aire front gas version, and we like others I have talked to have a very hard time releasing the front hood latch from inside. I saw one post that put washers on the latch that helped. I seem to remember talking to someone at a rally that created a front release from the grille. Have any of you done this?

Thanks - Larry

[KayLarGo]

We have a 2005 Mtn Aire front gas version, and we like others I have talked to have a very hard time releasing the front hood latch from inside. I saw one post that put washers on the latch that helped. I seem to remember talking to someone at a rally that created a front release from the grille. Have any of you done this?

Thanks - Larry

[Floridakamper]

2006 Kountry Star -- same issue with the hood release T-handle. Will be interested in solutions.

[ronmc]

I had this problem,very hard to release.I opened the hood and applied lubricate or WD-40 to release mechanism works pretty good now.

[GaryKD]

I had this problem. Newmar techs installed a new and improved latch mechanism. It works very smoothly now. This was a fix under warranty.

[KayLarGo]

Today I went to the RV and worked on the hood some. I moved the 2 screws and clamps closest to the latch and moved them back some. The front screw went to the back and the rear a new hole. This took out some of the slack. I also lubed the latches and the cable up under that joins the two latch cables together. I also put some stick on (round) rubber one inch wide spaces on the hood hinges so when the hood is closing there is some tension. This all seemed to help. It also took the rattle out of the hood. My neighbors Mountain Aire just got a warranty latch and that seems to help but he says it still pulls hard. Thanks for the help everyone.

[oemtech]

I had the same problem. But, I never took it back as I fixed it myself. First you have to ID the problem. In my case the latch pins were positioned wrong. I had to take the pins out and change the mounting holes in the fiberglass. Once I got that correct it was a matter of adjusting the pins so that hood closed equally and not to tight. Now that is done add a touch of lithium grease to the pins and hood latch parts. I also added a rubber seal to the top part of the hood to keep water out when I had the OEM air intake. This makes the hood have a bit spring action. So, when I pull the handle it pops open.

OBTW - I used a couple of big old fender washers on both sides of the hood pins to support the fiberglass.

[tmitchell]

I have read on the forums of owner's breaking the cables trying to open the front hood, on DPs.
I don't know if it is the same condition on gas models. It is suppose to be a real bugger to work your way up under the hood, to release the latch if the cable breaks.
I used to have to pull harder then I liked to pop the hood open. I was always waiting for the cable to break or pull loose. Now I go outside and barely push in against the hood, while my wife pulls the release handle. This way the handle pulls back very easily, while releasing the hood.
Tom

[tom wilson]

the release was impossible to release sometime on my 1996 kountrystar dp so i put a release lever in the front louvers. very little pressure is needed to release the hood latch.
beats crawling under the front bumper to release the latch.