not happy with the tambours

[nkeeler]

We have a 77 safari, and the tambours are in terrible condition, has anyone changed them out for regular doors??

[VIKING]

I haven't had to deal with this in an Airstream myself, but I know what you mean about them being in terrible condition. As a cabinet maker I have dealt with tambour on many things and it rarely works really great. You may have a hard time changing out for hinged doors depending on how the cabinets are made. If you can't find anything to run a screw into to secure the hinges, you might be able to attach them using rivets if you have very light doors made for it. In my '64 some of the doors were 1/4" plywood.
I have helped at least a few people who were trying to fix or replace their tambour, but none who were changing it for doors. You might try a google search for tambour and see if anything comes up.

Best to you,

Rich the Viking

[kevin242]

What do you mean by terrible condition? Broken? Hard to open? Finish coming off?

Ours were sticky and hard to open at first, but WD-40 in the tracks made for one finger opening/closing - super easy now. If more difficult a fix, I know Out-Of-Doors mart in North Carolina sells sheets of tambour material.

[nkeeler]

the tracks are in bad condition, they are very sticky. and the ones that are not sticky won't stay open, when your getting stuff out. so its a hold with one hand and pull the drawer with the other. the tracks are just well used.

[Land Shark]

Go to Louis and company.com a cabinet supply house. Under convient hardware. They sell tambor, track and and rails. I have used some parts to make adjustments to orignal existing tambor.

[kevin242]

If your 1977 Safari is like our 1977 Tradewind, the upper cabinet fronts are actually rounded. That would make it a challenge to design cabinet doors. I would try to keep tambours unless I had a cabinet maker in the family.