Kitchen Cabinet Latches

[jl2000]

My 2019 Bay Star’s kitchen and pantry cabinet latches are difficult to open. I get it that you don’t want them to open going down the road, but they can’t be opened unless you use two hands. Any ideas?

[TheRod]

Be happy they don't open too easily and exercise.

Originally Posted by jl2000

My 2019 Bay Star’s kitchen and pantry cabinet latches are difficult to open. I get it that you don’t want them to open going down the road, but they can’t be opened unless you use two hands. Any ideas?

[BPoland]

Originally Posted by jl2000

My 2019 Bay Star’s kitchen and pantry cabinet latches are difficult to open. I get it that you don’t want them to open going down the road, but they can’t be opened unless you use two hands. Any ideas?

There really isn't a way to make them easier, unless you replace the latches. I have replaced a few of mine (sourced from Newmar Parts). They are pretty cheap to replace, and they all seem to open with the same amount of pressure.

[10 fan]

Mine got easier the more they were used. So much so I had to add a second one (thanks Neal C. for the idea) so they don't open when driving.

[Just George]

Our solution is to close & latch the drawers / cabinets when on the move but leave them slightly open i.e. unlatched once we are set up at our camp location.

On our coach the bedroom mattress is in close proximity to the wardrobe drawers when the slides are in i.e. in travel mode, so we could remove the latches from those drawers since there is no way they could open during travel.

[alank]

What style of latches do you have?

[jl2000]

Originally Posted by Someday Came

Our solution is to close & latch the drawers / cabinets when on the move but leave them slightly open i.e. unlatched once we are set up at our camp location.

On our coach the bedroom mattress is in close proximity to the wardrobe drawers when the slides are in i.e. in travel mode, so we could remove the latches from those drawers since there is no way they could open during travel.

Those are good ideas, thanks!
John

[jl2000]

Originally Posted by alank

What style of latches do you have?

It's those double roller door catches. Those doors aren't going to open going down the road.

[alank]

Originally Posted by jl2000

It's those double roller door catches. Those doors aren't going to open going down the road.

Cheap! Cheap! Cheap! Your coach builder is buying the same cheap catches as my coach builder is. I asked for 56 new catches to replace mine, but if they are the same ones, don't bother. Didn't get any. Will ask again in May when I go to the factory.

If you have a good look at the catch, you'll probably notice that the plastic rollers are smaller than the framework is. This lets the framework on the end of the roller hit the clip on the door instead of the roller. Mine worked fine until the finish on the metal wore off and the clipping process ended up being bare metal to bare metal. Then they really started sticking and coming open with a grinding sound. Oiling them helped. Now when one starts sticking bad, I use a Dermel grinder to grind the framework down on the end of the roller so the framework is smaller than the roller. Then it works, or go to a big box store and buy some new ones that have a proper size roller.

[bucks2]

My Beaver has this type of latch (https://www.ebay.com/i/332344862632?...hoCv-QQAvD_BwE) which come in either a 5 lb pull or 10 lb pull. On light drawers I use the 5 pound and on heavier ones the 10. On the pots and pans drawer it has 2 10 pound latches. It's nice to have choices.