Shower latch caution

Sharon_is_SAM · October 2020

@MuttonChops - do you have a picture of how you use the spring clamp?

ScottG · October 2020

@ReenieG, +1 what ChanW said. A new latch is not likely to make any difference if it is just a matter of tightening the screw, or perhaps replacing it if it or the hole is stripped.

MuttonChops · October 2020

Sharon_is_SAM said:

@MuttonChops - do you have a picture of how you use the spring clamp?

Picture

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/gq/w449qz8lwepx.png

Denny16 · October 2020

A rocker type screen door latch would be more elegant...

cheers

Sharon_is_SAM · October 2020

Thanks @MuttonChops. Getting locked in the loo is no joke.

ScottG · October 2020

Maybe we should stash a 2-3' stick in the wall behind the can. In a pinch you could reach over the door with it and push the offending latch down!

ChanW · October 2020

Or.... move the latch! 😊

ScottG said:

Maybe we should stash a 2-3' stick in the wall behind the can. In a pinch you could reach over the door with it and push the offending latch down!

ChanW · October 2020

Hmmm... it would be a sight to see 6'3 me trying to wrangle a stick around in that space, reach over the door with it, blindly aim the stick... All while in a slight panic.... Waiting for the video! 😂

ScottG said:

Maybe we should stash a 2-3' stick in the wall behind the can. In a pinch you could reach over the door with it and push the offending latch down!

ScottG · October 2020

The good news is, if there is nobody to let you out than (hopefully) there is nobody to take video... ;-)

ChanW · October 2020

Hmmm... There is that!

ReenieG · October 2020

Verna said:

@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.

@Verna I think my screw is loose in the latch so I'm going to add some plumber's tape around it first. I think this will work, but first, I'm waiting for my square headed screwdrivers to come in the mail, lol.

ChanW said:

@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, Yes, I believe that is the case, so I'll try my little DIY fix first that I mentioned above. As for why I couldn't figure out how to get into the latch, I needed to put on some cheater eyewear first since everything is so small in these T@Bs.

pthomas745 · February 2021

I'll just put this here: seems to be a replacement "shower door latch". Matches what I have in my 2017.

https://www.amazon.com/RV-Designer-H577-Shower-Catch/dp/B003VAYB1A?th=1

ChanW · February 2021

Heh! And you get two, just in case!

Tabaz · February 2021

Chan’s original post 5 years ago was one of the funniest things I’d ever seen. Happy to see it still has legs. Also comforting to know there have been no reported deaths or injuries from being locked in the wet bath.

ChanW · February 2021

@Tabaz , How could someone report if they're locked in the head? Who takes a phone into the toilet?!?

Tampakayaker · February 2021

pthomas745 said:

I'll just put this here: seems to be a replacement "shower door latch". Matches what I have in my 2017.

https://www.amazon.com/RV-Designer-H577-Shower-Catch/dp/B003VAYB1A?th=1

It's crazy that something so small and simple can cost almost $10!

ChanW · February 2021

Ya know, I think a person even minimally talented with woodworking tools (ie: a jackknife), could probably come up with a durn pretty latch... For pretty cheap!

Tampakayaker said:

pthomas745 said:

I'll just put this here: seems to be a replacement "shower door latch". Matches what I have in my 2017.

https://www.amazon.com/RV-Designer-H577-Shower-Catch/dp/B003VAYB1A?th=1

It's crazy that something so small and simple can cost almost $10!

pthomas745 · February 2021

I noodled around looking for a latch yesterday. Most of them are....just ugly.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/National-Hardware-4-Pack-1-25-in-Gray-Clip/1000134211?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-hdw-_-google-_-lia-_-213-_-doorandhomehardware-_-1000134211-_-0&placeholder=null&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo6eUir-56gIVgZ6zCh2B4QeSEAQYASABEgL4l_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

So, the "designer" latch looked pretty good by comparison!

gulfarea · February 2021

Another way to fix this problem would to drill all the way thru and put the same latch on the inside so you could lock it from in or outside of the shower. I will look at my 320 to morrow to see how hard that would be to do. Art

gulfarea · February 2021

I just ordered 2 plastic latches and when they arrive I will try to do this mod with photos when the pieces com in. Art

Tampakayaker · February 2021

MuttonChops said:

Sharon_is_SAM said:

@MuttonChops - do you have a picture of how you use the spring clamp?

Picture

You could get a smaller one, and a can of spray paint for plastic and have an elegant looking clip!

gulfarea · February 2021

I ordered the 2 plastic bathroom door latches. I removed the outside plastic latch then drilled threw the first hole so it would align the drill bit straight into the inside door jam with a 5/32 drill bit. Next I drilled the center hole in the 2 center bushings with a 7/32 bit holding the bushing over a piece of wood with a hole in it. Then

Remove the 3 points off of the blind nuts or they will not go into the knob enough to close the outside caps for proper looks. Push the 8-32 blind nuts into the 2 bushings. My blind nuts fit perfect into the knob with the bushings if you cut off the 3 spikes hope yours do also. I then removed 1/16 of the inside knob arm only so it could be rotated 360 degrees to set drag tension. This works well. Don't forget to put the plastic washer on the outside knob, I had to put a metal 1/4 washer on the inside as I could not find another plastic one. If you should get locked in the bathroom just un screw the inside knob and push the 8/32 threaded screw out of the door jam. Art

jkjenn · February 2021

FYI, the magnetic door catch on the new shower door for the 2021 T@b 320 eliminates this latch altogether.

Mellow_Yellow · February 2021

After reading this and reliving the past horror of actually locking myself in the bathroom while alone in my house (on Christmas day without my cell phone), I put some thought into how to make the T@B bathroom latch safe. Here it is: non-destructive and easier on the eyes than a coat hanger taped to the bathroom wall

Solution: place the "fuzzy" side of a self-adhesive Velcro patch just above the lever. It blocks the latch from moving into the dangerous position.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/y9/lp07qbcwl5jm.jpg

ChanW · February 2021

Mellow, that's excellent. Simple and effective!

gulfarea · February 2021

I also agree, great fast idea! Art

Mellow_Yellow · February 2021

ChanW said:

Mellow, that's excellent. Simple and effective!

Safety first! Thank you for pointing out the potential issue @ChanW!

MuttonChops · February 2021

Mellow_Yellow said:

. . . locking myself in the bathroom while alone in my house
. . . Solution: place the "fuzzy" side of a self-adhesive Velcro patch just above the lever.

Well Done & LOL

Still like my solution of removing the latch and using a Clamp While Traveling solution
keeps me in 100% in control of the situation, does that make me a type-A person, hope not

Tabaz · February 2021

Nice try there Mellow Yellow with a simple, elegant and effective solution. I still prefer my "coat hanger taped to the wall" option. Because it . . . .

ChanW · February 2021

I dunno... A well-trained dog is probably the solution (to everything!)

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