Shower latch caution

ChanW

Heh! Just a little heads up for those single campers...

Note that the latch on the shower door does loosen up after a while. If left in the "pointing up" position, it can inadvertently wiggle itself down to the "locked" position. 

It would be tough to reach, to unlock it, if you happen to be inside the shower at the time.

It might be a little awkward shouting out until someone comes to let you out. Imagine if you'd locked the Tab door too.

(I'm a natural paranoid, I moved ours up closer to the top of the door) 

jkjenn

ChanW said:

Heh! Just a little heads up for those single campers...

Note that the latch on the shower door does loosen up after a while. If left in the "pointing up" position, it can inadvertently wiggle itself down to the "locked" position. 

It would be tough to reach, to unlock it, if you happen to be inside the shower at the time.

It might be a little awkward shouting out until someone comes to let you out. Imagine if you'd locked the Tab door too.

(I'm a natural paranoid, I moved ours up closer to the top of the door) 

It might be worth doing for those of use who travel solo. I could be trapped for days! In all likelihood, I would just bust it open, lol. But, I would rather not have to bust it open.

Tabaz

LOL!  Of all the things that could go wrong on a camping trip!  I'm going to start taking my PLB in the shower with me after reading this.  Seriously, I will turn my knob DOWN when not in use.  Thanks for pointing this out Chan.

ChanW

Yeah I thought I'd always point it down too, but I think I know Murphy too well.

Tabaz

RollingLagrima

Ha, good one Chan!  And nice solution OAZ.

Verna

Yes, thanks, Frank. I just turned mine down. It's normally down....I wonder if Sunny turned it upward??;) 

Tabaz

Personally, I'm not taking any chances . . .

ChanW

Excellent OutbackAZ! 

We certainly are a creative problem-solving bunch, here!

jkjenn

OutbackAZ said:

Personally, I'm not taking any chances . . .

I seriously thought this AM, maybe I need to keep a wire hanger in there. Lol!

ChanW

Or a Colt 45 would probably work. B-)

jkjenn said:

OutbackAZ said:

Personally, I'm not taking any chances . . .

I seriously thought this AM, maybe I need to keep a wire hanger in there. Lol!

RollingLagrima

Or for the super OCD, take the door off and go with a shower rod and curtain...

jkjenn

RollingLagrima said:

Or for the super OCD, take the door off and go with a shower rod and curtain...

No, the OCD in me is too nervous of getting the floor wet.

Verna

And I thought I was over reacting for wanting to put a bungee cord across the door...... 

Nomad

Warning - I closed my door three weeks ago and the dead bolt sliped into place. Luckily, I keep my second set in the TV. We searched all over the place for my keys because the door just won't lock by itself. Finally dug out the spares and low and behold, the main set was hangin on the hook inside.

Ratkity

PXL, I had that happen on my Reverse TD. Fortunately, the back window was up and I could gently pull the screen out of the track (not like T@B windows) and then do TearDrop Yoga to reach the spares.

BTW, good luck on your current TearDrop Yoga poses as St_Bob directs you to check the trailer wiring!! Strrrrretch!

ScottG

ChanW said:

Or a Colt 45 would probably work. B-)

You talkin' a gun, or one of those big beers to help pass the time until someone lets you out?

Michigan_Mike

While you're at it you might want to install a back-up fire alarm in that trailer too.  

ChanW

solved the problem.
Stopped using the shower.  

Nomad

ChanW - Thought I smelled something :-)

Nomad

Mike - Verna delivered me two redneck alarms when we met up so I have a spare :-)

lkc001

@ChanW Gee---Thanks so much for giving me something else to think about that never crossed my mind before    haha! My only thought before reading this was maybe putting another little latch on the door to have two on the door while towing!

ChanW

@lkc001,   
It's important to think of everything!
(Just don't lose sleep over it!)

DigitalSorceress

This is the kind of thing that would never occur to me in a million years .. until I got locked in.. so THANKS!

ReenieG

Does anyone know where I can get a replacement latch? Mine was tight when I first bought my used T@B last month, but it falls downward now and I can't find a way to tighten it to the lock position for transport.

@ChanW for posting about pointing this puppy down! I'm solo too; well, except for my two dogs but they don't have thumbs, so they're pretty much useless for this, lol.

ChanW

@ReenieG, when I moved mine, it only left a leetle-beedie hole where it had been mounted. Yep, the hole's still there!
You could just move it, and leave the hole, or you could put a nice stainless steel screw in the old hole, so it looks like it belongs there.

ReenieG

@ChanW, I think you may have misunderstood my question... I was being facetious on the no thumbed travel companions. But I'm still hoping someone can tell me where I can find a new shower plastic door latch thingy since mine is useless with how loose it is.

Verna

@ReenieG, you can contact a dealer who can order a new one from nüCamp. If you don’t have a dealer, try contacting Missouri Teardrop as they don’t mind ordering “stuff” and having it drop shipped directly to you. 

MuttonChops

ChanW said:

Heh! Just a little heads up for those single campers...

Note that the latch on the shower door does loosen up after a while. If left in the "pointing up" position, it can inadvertently wiggle itself down to the "locked" position.

Yep, real world problem for solo travellers.
Recently removed the 'factory latch' completely due to realistic fear of being locked in.  Now use a small spring clamp at top of door during travelling.  Can never be locked in and has a big plus of keeping the long magnet strip in place on wash-board roads

Picture added in later post (10-15-2020)

ChanW

@ReenieG, no I didn't mistake your question, I simply don't explain myself very well. My apologies!

It sounds like the hole that your 'latch' is screwed into has loosened or stripped enough so that the latch will no longer stay in position (it's friction fit).

I'm assuming your latch is the same as mine, a simple turn-type lever that blocks the door from swinging open when it's turned 90 degrees toward the front of the Tab.

If that's the case, then the screw that the latch pivots on should allow for tightening to give it more friction to stay in the position to which you set it. If the screw won't tighten, then perhaps it's stripped, likely the hole in the aluminum frame of the shower has enlarged beyond repair.

If that's the case, then the solution I suggested would be the way to go - simply move the whole screw/latch assembly, abandoning the original hole, and filling it (the original hole, ie: for aesthetic purposes) with an attractive stainless-steel sheet-metal screw.

In hopes that this applies to your situation!!! Otherwise, (er, edit) what year/model is your Tab, and can you provide a photo of said latch?

ChanW

Yep, I like your solution @MuttonChops!