Freezer drawer latch

[Jeff753]

Tiffin uses plastic cabinet latches to secure the doors and freezer drawer. Today our freezer slid out on a corner and broke one of the slides.
What are people doing to address this design error.
The latched wallow out the plastic holes on the doors and become ineffective.

[bentjm]

Checkout Fridge Fixer to see if they have a model for your specific refrigerator.

[Lt Dan]

Agree with Fridge Fixer. I installed one of theirs and removed the plastic cabinet latches. It's available on Amazon or directly from them.
https://www.amazon.com/Fridge-Fixer-.../dp/B07YNCBRCP

[jerhofer]

I screwed a small hook into the cabinet front on each side and use a rubber bungee strap.

[garykk]

We use the Fridge Fixer as well, but they were a a lot cheaper when we switched. I also removed the plastic latches.

[Warhorse6]

Bought these on Amazon for under $10 for 5. Anchored one end on fridge door and other on freezer. If you want something different go to refrigerator locks on Amazon.

[Jeff753]

Originally Posted by Warhorse6

Bought these on Amazon for under $10 for 5. Anchored one end on fridge door and other on freezer. If you want something different go to refrigerator locks on Amazon.

Problem with any fridge side mounted solution is its set in a cabinet with about 1/4" on each side.
Probably could use an adhesive mounted latch and use the adhesive side in the gap.

[bneumann]

We used one of those baby safety drawer straps on the main refrigerator door; fastened on side, with only limited gap available & on face; easy to use & cheap. Has always worked for years.

Nothing on freezer door, never opened during travel bumps & turns; will do same if needed.

Also replaced the cheap black plastic safety catches twice on top of main door; no big deal. This was, of course, the cheap Tiffin installation, now improved with the baby safety drawer straps.

[Jeff753]

Originally Posted by Jeff753

Tiffin uses plastic cabinet latches to secure the doors and freezer drawer. Today our freezer slid out on a corner and broke one of the slides.
What are people doing to address this design error.
The latched wallow out the plastic holes on the doors and become ineffective.

The original plastic latches would work if they could be scurely anchored into the fridge plastic trim. Epoxy? 2 sided tape between latch and fridge with the screws through it?

[DRM901]

I installed magnetic catches on the 2 doors & the freezer drawer. That was 4 years ago. Never had them open on a trip since.

The trick is to get them aligned right so the magnet can grab the plate well.

The catches I used are no longer sold. They are about 4" long, 60 lbs hold. Mine are stainless steel. From Amazon.

[MAG9]

Qdos Safety Adhesive Fridge/Freezer Lock | Chrome | Easy One Handed Operation.

https://qdossafety.com/adhesive-fridgefreezer-lock

Available on Amazon

[MAG9]

Keeps all three drawers closed.

[jandcr]

Originally Posted by Warhorse6

Bought these on Amazon for under $10 for 5. Anchored one end on fridge door and other on freezer. If you want something different go to refrigerator locks on Amazon.

I like those. Very nice looking too. Simple and affective. Looks like it belongs there - no straps or cords and such. Inexpensive, too. For RV travel use, I would install them so the latch drops down rather than lifts up so you don't have to unlatch every time you open the fridge.


Our GE French door has never had an issue with the freezer drawer, but the left side fridge door was a repeat problem. In our case the cabinet latch itself kept breaking. I got tired of having to replace it, so I used some 3/4 PVC plumbing pipe and two 90 elbows to make an upside down "U" shape piece that simply slips under the two long handles and then slides down down. It was cheap (actually free, since I already had the parts) and locks them in place very effectively when on the road.


I looked at the Fridge Fixer website. To me, it looks overly complex - and it's expensive for what you get. I also was not impressed by the main photo on the home page, which shows an obviously 3D printed part- and quite a crude one at that. Hopefully that was just the prototype and production parts are now injection molded.


Of course, a few strips of Velcro would work pretty good too - and if you don't want anything dangling when it's not in use, just a piece of the "loop" o the door and frame and a strip of "hook" to use when traveling that you can stow in a drawer (or in the fridge) - a lot less than $90!!

[bentjm]

Originally Posted by jandcr

I like those. Very nice looking too. Simple and affective. Looks like it belongs there - no straps or cords and such. Inexpensive, too. For RV travel use, I would install them so the latch drops down rather than lifts up so you don't have to unlatch every time you open the fridge.


Our GE French door has never had an issue with the freezer drawer, but the left side fridge door was a repeat problem. In our case the cabinet latch itself kept breaking. I got tired of having to replace it, so I used some 3/4 PVC plumbing pipe and two 90 elbows to make an upside down "U" shape piece that simply slips under the two long handles and then slides down down. It was cheap (actually free, since I already had the parts) and locks them in place very effectively when on the road.


I looked at the Fridge Fixer website. To me, it looks overly complex - and it's expensive for what you get. I also was not impressed by the main photo on the home page, which shows an obviously 3D printed part- and quite a crude one at that. Hopefully that was just the prototype and production parts are now injection molded.


Of course, a few strips of Velcro would work pretty good too - and if you don't want anything dangling when it's not in use, just a piece of the "loop" o the door and frame and a strip of "hook" to use when traveling that you can stow in a drawer (or in the fridge) - a lot less than $90!!

It is 3d printed.

Injection molds are pricey. Too pricey for a low volume item.

Velcro works - until it doesn't.