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01-19-2025, 06:57 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Hudson Oaks
Posts: 7
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Basement Door Alignment
2018 Newamr Dutch Star 4369
Can anyone tell me where to find a video on aligning basement doors. Mine seems to keep going out of alignment and I have to slam the WeWe out of it to get it to close.
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01-19-2025, 07:51 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Brenham, Texas
Posts: 2,579
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWaters
2018 Newamr Dutch Star 4369
Can anyone tell me where to find a video on aligning basement doors. Mine seems to keep going out of alignment and I have to slam the WeWe out of it to get it to close.
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The first thing I did when I got my coach was to make sure all basement doors would shut with ease. For me, I did not realign the doors, but instead adjusted the latches.
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Eddie and Jomaye, Retired
2018 Newmar Ventana 4369, 2021 Jeep Wrangler,
2024 Haulmark 20’ enclosed car hauler
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01-20-2025, 06:41 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 521
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There is a bit of a learning curve to adjusting them.
Here's a post from DS Don on a tool he made.
https://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/bay...ol-601373.html
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2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Spartan)
2017 Jeep Rubicon
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01-20-2025, 09:03 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Indio, CA in Winter Season
Posts: 846
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWaters
2018 Newamr Dutch Star 4369
Can anyone tell me where to find a video on aligning basement doors. Mine seems to keep going out of alignment and I have to slam the WeWe out of it to get it to close.
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If the cargo doors appear aligned but having to slam shut, adjust the UBolts. They typically slip inward and down. You'll see why when you loosen one of them. They are on slotted holes.
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Tony Righellis
2022 London Aire 4551 (Spartan)
Full Timer Since March 2022
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01-20-2025, 06:36 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: Carlisle, PA
Posts: 66
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I agree with everyone else, if there is similar gaps between the doors, adjust the catch and or move the latches.
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01-20-2025, 10:23 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Metamora, MI
Posts: 5,557
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recommended to never slam but press firmly. Slam is what gets things out of alignment.
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2002 Newmar Mountain Aire Limited 4370 w/ Spartan K2 and Cummins 500hp
ASE Master Certified (a long.....time ago...)
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01-21-2025, 07:45 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Odessa, FL
Posts: 1,085
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Make sure the coach is perfectly level on the tires, not on jacks before you start adjusting.
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2023 Tiffin Allegro Bus 45OPP
2019 Birkshire 34QS - Traded
2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with BlueOx/AF1
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01-21-2025, 09:08 AM
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#8
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Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 56
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We leave ours loose. Just moved the loop latches out allowing for easier closure.
Ken
__________________
2016 Newmar Dutchstar 4369
2021 Chevy Blazer Toad
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01-21-2025, 09:47 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Metamora, MI
Posts: 5,557
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shepardmike
Make sure the coach is perfectly level on the tires, not on jacks before you start adjusting.
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What's important is that the chassis is not twisted before doing body alignments. It's not important on tires vs on jacks if the chassis is not torqued. Your recommendation speaks that you are using the compliance of the air bags / tire rubber to minimize the chance of twist. But if the jack system is properly adjusted (2D level in the front of the chassis AND in the back of the chassis) then the chassis isn't twisted.
When you get your car chassis pulled straight in a body shop post a collision, the chassis is mounted highly rigid on a known straight rail system...not on the tires. Similar with jacks vs. tires.
If the tire is on a bump or in a hole, it is pushing / pulling on the chassis. The air bags / tire rubber tries to stretch to accommodate, but the chassis is still getting forced.
This issue is the exact same with "what is the right process to bring in / out your sildes - on jacks or off jacks..." that has been debated thousands of times.
If the RV is parked on a level, hard surface, that's the best chance that the chassis isn't torqued - on tires or on jacks. So, that's the recommendation.
If the tire is on a high or low spot, it is pulling / pushing on the suspension which gets directly transferred to the chassis. Then the chassis gets torqued. At least with jacks, one can change the settings to account for imperfect parking spot.
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2002 Newmar Mountain Aire Limited 4370 w/ Spartan K2 and Cummins 500hp
ASE Master Certified (a long.....time ago...)
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01-22-2025, 06:32 AM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Hudson Oaks
Posts: 7
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Update
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWaters
2018 Newamr Dutch Star 4369
Can anyone tell me where to find a video on aligning basement doors. Mine seems to keep going out of alignment and I have to slam the WeWe out of it to get it to close.
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Update. I used the term align, should have said adjust. The door is aligned, however, I need to adjust the U or D bolt to allow it to close smoothly. I have that information now, thank you to everyone that posted.
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01-26-2025, 11:46 AM
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#11
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 25,316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWaters
Update. I used the term align, should have said adjust. The door is aligned, however, I need to adjust the U or D bolt to allow it to close smoothly. I have that information now, thank you to everyone that posted.
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If you want to fix it correctly, replace the door seals. I replaced mine and helped a couple of others replace theirs. It's neither hard nor expensive. Newmar will sell you the seals they used on the 2023 and newer coaches for about $250.00.
The new seals go on the same way, yet are softer, different design and make the doors close 100% better/easier.
Measure your door openings and order what you need. I didn't do my DEF or engine battery doors, but it's not a big deal to do them too.
Start at any bay door by pulling off the old seal. I started each bay at the center bottom, so there were no water leak issues. I used a dab of silicone at each corner of the bay openings. Using a rolling stool, I just rolled to each door and changed the seals.
Once done, with the coach aired up, I lubed ad adjusted each latch. That tool I used in another post was just to get you close.
The biggest issue with the doors not closing was caused by the thickness and density of the old seals. Those "D" rings on the door frame often do not have enough adjustability to adjust OUTWARD so the door will close without slamming. The new seals solve this.
If you keep the old seals, the first adjustment is moving the "D" ring outward. If it's at it furthest point, you might need to grind the holes a little. With the coach aired up, move the door to the almost closed position and with a flashlight, "eyeball" the height of the "D" ring and latch opening and make your adjustment.
Changing the seals was one of my best mods. No more standing next to a $300K to $400K coach in a campground and having to slam the doors.
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali 4x4 6.2L
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01-26-2025, 01:21 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 521
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Don, do the seals have a groove they press into so it's just a matter of pulling them out?
__________________
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Spartan)
2017 Jeep Rubicon
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01-27-2025, 12:25 AM
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#13
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 25,316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. T
Don, do the seals have a groove they press into so it's just a matter of pulling them out?
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Yes, they're slotted and you just pull them off. The only thing that occasionally gets in the way is the plunger (switch) that turns the bay lights on and off. Removing just the rubber cover on the switch gives you the room you need to R&R the seal.
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali 4x4 6.2L
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01-28-2025, 10:09 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Cornell, Ca.
Posts: 101
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as one of the people DS Don helped (OK he did all the work) the new gasket is absolutely the solution and worth every penny. A year later I still marvel when I gently close the doors and they stay latched
I over ordered the new gasket so I have some amount for sale - I'll measure tomorrow. DM me if you want to purchase. As Don said, it really is an easy afternoon job and it makes everything just feel better about our coach (OK almost everything
__________________
2020 Newmar Mountain Aire
'07 Jeep Grand Cherokee Toad
Air Force 1/Blue OX - IoT upgrades
2015 Berkshire QL-400 DP
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