Had a really scary experience today. Got ready to leave our trailer and the door handle was flopping. We couldn’t get out. Called our dealer service dept. and talked with Joe, service manager (who is excellent). His immediate response was let’s think this through before you use the emergency window. No one seems to know how to put it back. It’s designed for life and death circumstances and probably won’t go back together. He suggested we find someone to open it from the outside then remove the black plate and take a picture of the interior and email it to him. With fear we called security and asked them to open the door if possible. Whew, it worked. Husband then removed the plate and we emailed pictures. Meanwhile, Joe went out to their lot and took the plate off another trailer to see first hand what it was suppose to look like. With my phone on speaker Joe and my husband put it back together. Are we comfortable trusting it? Probably not but we’re a long way from home. A HUGE thank you to Joe, at Nature & Me RV in Traverse City, MI. He goes above and beyond and we’re thankful for him.
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Motorhomes were our choice for 40 years and decided to get rid of the stress and experience more flexibility in travel.
2018 30’ Classic
As far as I can tell the emergency window on our FC20 is a regular window, and the only difference is the spline for the screen has a little loop in it to make it easy to pull out. The emergency window on your classic is different? Regardless, I'm sure I could get out pretty fast in an emergency, but would not want to have to crawl out just because the door was stuck. I hope your fix was permanent.
We all use that inside handle to close the door. After a while, the handle gets loose.
In addition to strengthening the handle mount, I'm adding a cabinet pull above the handle to close the door.
The idea came from a member here; Sheriff1.
Is there a mod to prevent that bottom latch from tripping when you close the door? Ours has started to latch and thankfully I keep a set of keys in the TV and on my belt as well.
__________________ -Rich Rich & Yvonne 2006 Safari SE -Dora- 2004 4Runner SE 4.7L V8
Great little MOD. Took me maybe 15 minutes max. And it works great. Highly recommend this to all.
Thanks a lot. Love the practicality of airforums. Happy travels.
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Motorhomes were our choice for 40 years and decided to get rid of the stress and experience more flexibility in travel.
2018 30’ Classic
I followed the lead of post #25 in the second thread and picked up a 10-24 tap kit and added a screw & washers to the lever shaft. No drilling was needed, shaft hole size was very close to the #25 bit that came with the tap. A 1/2" ID washer fits over the slightly raised square shaft closely. Lever is not coming off.
Ah, the lowest bidder Airstream door handle made out of pot metal. < snip >
Nope, the handle is not 'pot metal' ... it is an aluminum casting. The 'Achilles heel' of the design is how the back of the handle is swedged onto the actuating plate... there is an easy and reliable fix for that... check out the threads linked in this discussion.
I did both mods.... no way I'm getting trapped inside!
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2014 23D International Serenity - "Fortune Cookie"
2015 Ford F150 3.5 EcoBoost, Max Tow - "Cookie Monster"
And some stuff
The screen is attached to the door on the trailer. I have developed the habit of just pulling that screen handle to close the doors together and releasing the tension of pulling on the door handle.
Nope, the handle is not 'pot metal' ... it is an aluminum casting. The 'Achilles heel' of the design is how the back of the handle is swedged onto the actuating plate... there is an easy and reliable fix for that... check out the threads linked in this discussion.
I did both mods.... no way I'm getting trapped inside!
The point is you shouldn't have to "mod" something as critical as a door handle because Airstream saved $2 to do it right.
The point is you shouldn't have to "mod" something as critical as a door handle because Airstream saved $2 to do it right.
Of course, I agree, BUT the lock mechanism is what the lock mechanism is, so my point is that the weakness in the product we have can be made virtually bullet proof with very little effort and nearly no money. Grumble about how it is and take your chances, or do a preventive fix and forget about it.
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2014 23D International Serenity - "Fortune Cookie"
2015 Ford F150 3.5 EcoBoost, Max Tow - "Cookie Monster"
And some stuff
Of course, I agree, BUT the lock mechanism is what the lock mechanism is, so my point is that the weakness in the product we have can be made virtually bullet proof with very little effort and nearly no money. Grumble about how it is and take your chances, or do a preventive fix and forget about it.
I fixed it the day it broke. I can still grumble about it.
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