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09-10-2024, 06:18 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2023 25' International
Alameda
, California
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 80
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How do you keep your fridge shut and cabinet doors in one piece on a bouncy road
We generally do not camp in campgrounds. We usually end up 10 miles down some dirt road at a hot spring or fishing hole. As I understand it, this is what Wally Byam originally intended. Thor, on the other hand, appears to build our beloved tubes for smooth as a baby's bottom paved roads.
See the attached photos for what happened to me AGAIN today. The cabinetry hinges do not stand up to a well graded dirt road. Neither does the fridge.
Someone else here must have had this happen to them too - and replaced their hinges and latches with something more robust - and come up with a solution for the fridge doors flying open (this time they flew completely OFF!)
What do you do?
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09-10-2024, 06:36 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2019 30' International
Pennsylvania
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,335
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That's some wild stuff right there, I'm having trouble with the idea this happened on a "well graded dirt road" but hey, who am I anyway
With that being said, I'd consider a nice cooler for a trip like this, load the fridge upon destination arrival, tape things shut.
I'm always checking my hinges, tightening things up, have spare hinges/parts on board.
__________________
If you ain't havin' fun you ain't doin' it right
2017 Ford CCSB F250 XLT 6.2L Gas 4x4 4:30 rear Leer Topper Ruby Red
2019 International Serenity 30 Rear Twin
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09-10-2024, 08:12 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2010 30' Classic
Warren
, Manitoba
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,344
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I live on a sometimes "well graded" gravel road 5 miles from pavement. I keep my speed down to 20-25 mph and my biggest problem is dust. If I went 60 mph, the doors and fridge would probably do the same, fall off!
__________________
ACI #7394
2012 GMC 2500 HD Duramax Denali
2010 Classic Limited 30' ,1994 Excella 34'
1987 Limited 34', 1976 31', 1976 Argosy 22' Gone to new homes
Hensley Hitch
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09-10-2024, 08:14 PM
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#4
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2 Rivet Member
1963 26' Overlander
Waynesville
, Georgia
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 93
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Cabinet lock straps
Same issue here so we bought these for the refrigerator. Work like a charm and aren’t very noticeable. I put heavier items from cabinets in tubs on the floor while under tow.
Jool lock straps from Amazon. https://a.co/d/iipjONG
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09-11-2024, 03:40 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Ocala
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,230
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What tire pressures are you running?
__________________
“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught.” - J.C. Watts Jr.
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09-11-2024, 04:58 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2006 22' Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,313
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As mentioned, check your latches.
Don’t overstuff your refrigerator.
Try tension rods inside your frig to keep contents from hurling themselves about.
Maggie
__________________
🚐 Interstate Owner Emeritus 🚐
🌹 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last. 🐚
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09-11-2024, 07:34 AM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
2020 25' Globetrotter
Hillsdale
, New York
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 325
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Honestly the plastic shelves in the frig of my 2020 Globetrotter seem barely strong enough to support much weight while we are at the campsite.
I wouldn’t trust more weight than a container of lettuce in there when we are rolling down the road.
SPP
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09-11-2024, 07:35 AM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
2020 25' Globetrotter
Hillsdale
, New York
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 325
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Kind of feel the same with traveling with anything in a storage compartment that is not at floor height.
SPP
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09-11-2024, 09:06 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,359
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bungie chords are very useful
__________________
2023 25' FB FC, hatch, Queen,30A,1AC,Awning pkg, Convection uwave.Multiplus 12/3000-50,700A Lion,MPPT 100/30,Orion-TR 30,Cerbo GX,GX touch 50,Lynx distributor,dual BMV-712, smart shunt 500A&1000A, RUUVI temp/humidity sensors,2 Mopeka LP sensors
NCR,Ontario,VE3HIU since 1978
WBCCI# 21212
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09-11-2024, 09:10 AM
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#10
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 16,476
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Hi
Most likely (= simple) answer: You are going too fast for that road. Not just by a little, to fast by a lot. If you are at 20 MPH, try 5 MPH. It's not the road, it's the speed on that road.
It's not just the doors swinging open that you need to worry about. The combo of to fast and to rough can damage a lot of things.
Other far less likely answers:
Way too much WD bar tension can mess things. Still not by the amount your damage indicates.
Crazy tire pressures would not help. Again, not a real big deal.
Bob
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09-11-2024, 09:25 AM
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#11
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Site Team
1994 25' Excella
Waukesha
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 6,120
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On my fridge I installed straps to keep the doors closed. They are made from an old belt that I cut pieces from. They can be totally removed once we're parked in a camp site by twisting the mount on the left, and they can be snapped in the fully closed position for travel or left in the slightly-ajar position to ensure air flow when the trailer is in storage like in the photo.
They've worked like champs keeping the doors closed. Simple solution that just works. Cost me less than a few bucks for the hardware bits.
__________________
Richard
11018
1994 Excella 25 'Gertie' Follow the build on Gertie!
1999 Suburban LS 2500 w/7.4L V8 'Bert'
1974 GMC 4108a - Custom Coach Land Cruiser 'The Bus' (Sold)
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09-11-2024, 09:54 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2015 30' International
FREDERICK
, Maryland
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 561
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What tire pressure are you running and what speed are you going on those roads? How about W/D hitch setup? I have traveled on many dirt roads and have never had this happen in 10 years.
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09-11-2024, 09:55 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Springfield
, VA
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 20
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We’ve used stick on Velcro straps. Easy to install, prepare for travel, and pull back to operate the fridge and cabinets at the site.
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09-11-2024, 10:21 AM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
1964 30' Sovereign
Ione
, CA
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 257
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Slow down. Thin bungie cords and velcro can help but with them you will rip handles off if you're hitting bumps fast.
How old is your trailer? Axles older than 10 years will often have stiffened (or frozen) torsion elements in them. No suspension movement - not good.
Definitely release tension on your leveling hitch.
Again, slow down.
__________________
Mark & Melanie Trowbridge
1964 Airstream Sovereign 30' (Double)
2004 Dodge Ram QuadCab 4x4 Diesel
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09-11-2024, 10:39 AM
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#15
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1 Rivet Member
2020 23' Flying Cloud
Portal
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 6
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Believe it or not, our refrigerator door flew open (but the hinge held) throwing the contents all over the Airstream on a PAVED road in NM. The road conditions – US 491 from the Colorado border to Gallup – were the worst I've ever seen and I drove as slowly as I thought necessary without being a hazard. Thankfully the cabinets held altho things were messed up inside them. Will look into some of these solutions as the "baby locks" we got just don't quite fit.
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09-11-2024, 01:59 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2019 25' International
Washington
, Washington, D.C.
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,300
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MRA
We generally do not camp in campgrounds. We usually end up 10 miles down some dirt road at a hot spring or fishing hole. As I understand it, this is what Wally Byam originally intended. Thor, on the other hand, appears to build our beloved tubes for smooth as a baby's bottom paved roads.
See the attached photos for what happened to me AGAIN today. The cabinetry hinges do not stand up to a well graded dirt road. Neither does the fridge.
Someone else here must have had this happen to them too - and replaced their hinges and latches with something more robust - and come up with a solution for the fridge doors flying open (this time they flew completely OFF!)
What do you do?
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OMG. Slow down. Go 4-5 mph if necessary.
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09-11-2024, 02:16 PM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Woodway
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 176
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Keeping Cabinet Doors Shut
We run a tarp bungee around the handles of the under sink doors but the others seem to stay shut. However, faced with some really bad roads, look into the simple, 'press to release' child-resistant locks for your other cabinet doors. Each set that we have in the house goes on with four small screws and made of Nylon so they're immune to breakage.
For the fridge...hmmm. I'll watch other responses!
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09-11-2024, 03:24 PM
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#18
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New Member
2019 27' Globetrotter
Saint John
, IN
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 2
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cabinet doors
We have traveled all over on all kinds of roads. We started to just automatically putting blue painters tape on microwave cabinet, two large drawers under sink, closet door, and refrigerator. It is easy to remove without residue and have not had any problems. Better safe than sorry.
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09-11-2024, 03:42 PM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member
2023 25' Globetrotter
Ancient City
, Florida
Join Date: Sep 2023
Posts: 229
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Also blue tape on the fridge latches. Marine latches on problem cabinet/ drawers
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09-11-2024, 10:32 PM
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#20
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2 Rivet Member
2005 22' International CCD
Im Fang
, Canton Freiburg
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 41
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Yes. For me as well. Every cabinet has a bungee cord. My fridge doesn’t open so I am ok there, but it too has a cord across
__________________
David Steed
2005 Airstream International CCD 22’ #4242
Name: Hi-Ho Silver!
1656 Im Fang, Switzerland
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