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11-19-2017, 08:10 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,819
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Southco door pull-release catches - any alternatives?
My coach uses the Southco "pull-release" door catches in several places. On the sliding double door for the bedroom closet, there are two catches (top and bottom) on each slider door. These catches are always breaking the plastic "J-Hook".
Is there anything available that is a little stronger? Maybe something made out of metal.
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11-19-2017, 09:05 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Posts: 1,392
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I had the same problem, went through a handful of strikers in the first year. I ended up making 4 strikers out of aluminum and haven't had a problem since and that was 4 years ago.
__________________
2012 Monaco Knight 36 PFT
Towing either a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland or a car in a 20' enclosed car trailer.
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11-19-2017, 09:22 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Where I happen to land
Posts: 2,529
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I ended up with bolt locks on the bottom to keep them closed.
__________________
John and Debi
2008 Beaver Contessa, 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee,
28 years retired Fire Captain Tales of the Muttley Crew
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11-19-2017, 09:24 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Angola State Prison - Murder
Posts: 4,230
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I just looked at mine. I only have one catch at the middle of each door. As hard as the doors move, I probably don’t even need those. Curious if yours are breaking being opened or closed.
I have the Southcos all over my coach and only one has broken, due to getting out of alignment and slamming it shut. I’m not aware of anything like these that are stronger or made of metal.
__________________
John & Clare Lyon
2007 43.5' Monaco Dynasty Palace III (All Electric)
Towd: 2011 Chevy Equinox
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11-19-2017, 12:46 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis_K
I had the same problem, went through a handful of strikers in the first year. I ended up making 4 strikers out of aluminum and haven't had a problem since and that was 4 years ago.
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Those aluminum J-Hooks are great. Make a few more and you can start a side business. I'll be your first customer.
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11-19-2017, 03:28 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Nor'easters Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Monadnock Region of New Hampshire
Posts: 1,519
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I used magnets scavenged from old hard disk drives to hold some doors closed on the Winnebago, and will probably do the same with some on the Ambassador too.
The Winnebago was a complete success too, took about 10 minutes per door to fit the magnets.
__________________
My name is Peter, and I'm never going to grow up.
- Winnebago Era 2010 Class B
- Holiday Rambler 2006 Ambassador 40-DFD Class A
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11-19-2017, 09:53 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 44
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Check amazon , there are dual ball latches in varying sizes that are adjustable for hold after mounting, you adust with flat screwdriver. The opposing balls in the female accept the male pine tree shape. Great adjustability for your needs. Dave
__________________
04 Monaco Dynasty Regal, 400isl, Allison 3000,
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11-20-2017, 02:40 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Abbotsford B.C.
Posts: 473
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On mine the springs in the female part were waaaay too strong.
What I did was to pop out the internal part in the female latch and cut off
a couple of wraps of the spring and pop it back in. Much less stress on the latch and it opens and closes much easier.
You can pop them open without removing them, take out the spring, cut it and replace.
Worked for me.......YMMV.
Thanks, Iver.
__________________
Previous Ride = 2000 Monaco Signature
New Ride = 2019 Pleasure Way Lexor FL.
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11-20-2017, 04:03 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,819
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I ordered a couple of the 3LB and 5LB pull latches off Amazon. I'm not sure how much "holding power" I need. I think the current ones are 10LB pull each which, IMO, require to much effort to open the closet sliders/doors. If these break or are too weak I'll look into the ball-catch style next.
Thanks for the ideas.
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11-20-2017, 04:32 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,679
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I had a problem with the 3 Lb Southco catch on the dash storage drawer on the rough roads of new York and Canada. Tried the 5 lb version but the drawer would still pop open. Finally used a pair of 10 lb Southco catches and the drawer stays closed but it does need a little more pull to open.
So there at 3 lb, 5 lb, and 10 lb Southco catches on Amazon. With the choice of holding power, alignment might be your problem, especially if there are two.
__________________
Dale & Mark Bruss
13 Years Full-Timing Now with a 2016 Bounder 33C
40' Travel Supreme winter residence
Lots of RV Information at www.dmbruss.com
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11-20-2017, 05:59 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,819
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Yes, Amazon has them.
They are expensive ($5 to $6 each, depending on how many you buy). It's the J-hook part that is breaking though.
I have a bunch of 10LB catches and had to order some j-hooks. But I thought it may be the 10LB catch that is the reason for the breakage. it takes a good yank to get the doors moving. I'll double check alignment when I install the new parts.
BTW, nwrvsupply.com is the only place I've found that sells the J-hook separately ($2 each). They sell the "large" J-hook. My closet sliders use a smaller j-hook, but it looks like the large will work too, so I'm switching to those. Actually, that switch may solve the problem.
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