Community Forums

efstewart · 11-02-2013, 01:56 PM

About 10 days ago, the water heater door (12 gallon water heater), fell off of my motorhome, probably because I did not secure it with the latch.
I have no idea where it fell off. I bought a new one in Arizona (about $69). Now I have an ivory white square door surrounded by a nice Biscotti Brown paint job (2006 DSDP) Anyone have the same problem in the past, and if so how much did it cost you to match the little door to the rest of the coach?

I know that prices vary, but can anyone recommend a quality paint place either in Arizona, or where I live in Southern California that won't charge me an arm and a leg?

Mr_D · 11-02-2013, 02:15 PM

Probably only a couple hundred $$ to paint. The paint is running about $175 a qt according to the painter I had do our DSDP side after the awning broke. Then there's the clear coat also. Also. it takes almost as much clean up and prep for a small job as a large one.

terry735001 · 11-02-2013, 03:40 PM

do it your self .....single stage paint.... 75$ well look the right age and look you need

take you paint code to a sherwin williams that works with car paint only that type of sherwin williams well have it but

most RVs are painted this way

TechWriter · 11-02-2013, 03:40 PM

Mine fell off and we ran over it so it got properly smushed.

However, when I found what it would cost to repaint (mine had all 4 coach colors on it), we re-attached it.

Rocky Larson · 11-02-2013, 04:32 PM

Just to prevent that I installed a small screw next to the latch (drilled thru the latch support and door). Secured it to the latch support with small lock nut and where it sticks out the door about 1/4 inch I use a small lock washer and wing nut. Yes the latch still works and it takes a minute to get to the heater, but I know the door is secure.

az bound · 11-02-2013, 04:56 PM

Get the paint code and go to an automotive paint store. Most will match the color and fill a rattle can for small DIY projects.

jzick · 11-02-2013, 05:57 PM

Don't know if this applies to anyone else, but if you have service work done, some repair shops/dealers like to put the keys inside the water heater door. Three times we have picked up our coach after service and found the door improperly latched. We lost one door, and could have lost others. I found the proper paint and repaired it myself. Close enough.

efstewart · 11-02-2013, 06:22 PM

Great ideas, however, I could not paint it myself. The door needs two different colors, and one of the colors is a swirl that runs down the side of the coach and across the door. Too complicated for me to match. I am a do it yourselfer, but I am not much of a painter. My coach was painted with BASF, not Sherwin Williams. I like the idea about the set screw, I might try that one!

imgoin4it · 11-03-2013, 01:29 PM

I put a small stainless flat head screw right ar the top of the slot where the factory circle fastener latch comes through the door. Kind of a pain but far less than replacing the door

BFlinn181 · 11-03-2013, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efstewart

Great ideas, however, I could not paint it myself. The door needs two different colors, and one of the colors is a swirl that runs down the side of the coach and across the door. Too complicated for me to match. I am a do it yourselfer, but I am not much of a painter. My coach was painted with BASF, not Sherwin Williams. I like the idea about the set screw, I might try that one!

I think once you get an estimate for a professional paint job you might rethink not DIY. You'll have to buy two rattle cams matched up, a roll of painter's tape and some masking paper, but it'll be cheaper and not noticeable by anyone but you.

gruelens · 11-03-2013, 02:15 PM

Never even thought about losing a door until I read about it happening one year ago. I invested a lot of money in a fix for this. Went immediately to one of my peanut butter jars full of misc. nuts and bolts. Selected a plastic bolt that would not mar finish. Buggered up the threads on the bolt part half way down the bolt. This gave me something to finger tighten the nut against and lock it in place. I can now access water heater without any tools and hopefully keep my door along for the ride.
see pic

Mr_D · 11-03-2013, 02:25 PM

Guess I'm much "luckier" than some of you! In 50+ years of RV'ing I've never lost a door, hatch cover or anything except a vent cover from the canopy on my old Chevy P/U.

BFlinn181 · 11-03-2013, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gruelens

Never even thought about losing a door until I read about it happening one year ago. I invested a lot of money in a fix for this. Went immediately to one of my peanut butter jars full of misc. nuts and bolts. Selected a plastic bolt that would not mar finish. Buggered up the threads on the bolt part half way down the bolt. This gave me something to finger tighten the nut against and lock it in place. I can now access water heater without any tools and hopefully keep my door along for the ride.
see pic

Soon after I bought my MH the clip that holds the turn key broke and I had to replace it. Your nylon bolt/nut is nice, but it would go too if the whole thing broke like mine. Mine broke in the driveway so I didn't lose the door, just had to make a trip to a local RV parts store.