Door latch broken again!

[Oh-one]

We have a 07 Imperial that has a verticle opening bin door at the utility bay. The chrome plated latch handle has broken twice because it is made of pot metal and must lift the doors weight. Has anyone else had this problem ? If so how did you fix it? Thanks

[Twomed]

Replaced two...stressed before I got it. Two hands to open, do not lift weight with the handle. AND...I do not let anyone else open the doors. Love the bus type doors, but the handles are absolute junk!! Look on Ebay, I found them for about $50. Monaco wanted almost $200!

[moisheh]

When I open the utility bay door I open the latch ans when it is open enough I put 2 hands on the bottom of the door and lift. When closing I do not slam the door but rather I hold the latch open and then close. Terrible to have to treat a door lock like it is made of crystal!!

[Oh-one]

Thanks for your replies,but when this happened the first time the dealer fixed it. I need to get the door open. How did you get your door open? I can unlatch the door with a open end wrench,but I can not overcome the cylinders holding the door closer. I looked for a new door handle but was unable to find one on ebay. I will call the dealer on monday,but I need to move the MH now to drive there.

[Rex]

Your coach should have TriMark handles available here:

TriMark Replacement Chrome Baggage Door Handle [100080-BAG3] - $149.84 : Mega RV Parts, The #1 Source for RV, Motorhome, and Travel Trailer Parts.

Part # 19583-06 is Chrome

Go here to download a PDF of the specs. It will show you how the lock and handle work so you can figure out how to get it open when it is broken.

http://www.trimarkcorp.com/en/media/...-0475_Rev5.pdf

[Oh-one]

Thank you, I have the model for a replacement latch. However I cannot get the bay door open even though I can unlatch the door. The door opens vertically and has two phneumatic cylinders that hold the door up and also hold it down. I have tried and so far cannot get the door to lift up.

[Twomed]

I had to crawl through remove the plastic cover on the back of the lock and then pull down on the linkage. That releases the bottom latch so you can lift the door (outside person while you are doing this). I have installed a wire linkage from the lock down to the lower edge of the doors that I can grab withlong needle nose to release for future broken latches. Especialy utility bays where you have no way of getting behind the lockset.

Guys this is not a matter of if, but rather when. Murphy says it will not be an opportune time!!

[Rex]

Oh-One, sounds like the lock is not releasing even though you think it is. Try reaching in through the sewer outlet hole in the bottom of the bay and see if you can remove it lock that way. Should only have four screws holding it in place. This may not work but could be worth a try as the problem is with your service bay door.

[Oh-one]

I finally got the door open!!!! I reached up through the power cable porthole and removed the latch that was hidden on the bottom of the door. The latch was in the center of the bottom of the door where it cannot be seen. Now I can open the door . We leave tomorrow!!! Thanks for the help. Sam