Kitchen drawer won't stay shut

chriscowles · 02-03-2020, 11:11 PM

This doesn't match a sub-forum topic so I'll put it here.

One of the kitchen drawers on my new Rockwood Mini-Lite 2507S won't stay shut. Unlike the others, I don't feel it catch when it closes. I looked on the drawer slides on both the working and non-working drawers and can't identify the mechanism that holds it closed. Can someone tell me what to look for, so I can repair it? Should I just replace the drawer slides? They can't be very expensive at a big box store.

Rockinh · 02-03-2020, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriscowles

This doesn't match a sub-forum topic so I'll put it here.

One of the kitchen drawers on my new Rockwood Mini-Lite 2507S won't stay shut. Unlike the others, I don't feel it catch when it closes. I looked on the drawer slides on both the working and non-working drawers and can't identify the mechanism that holds it closed. Can someone tell me what to look for, so I can repair it? Should I just replace the drawer slides? They can't be very expensive at a big box store.

You have "one" that doesnt stay closed. Your so lucky. I think that is one of the area's where FR saves a buck. I have one that works. All the rest dont stay closed. On the last trip out, one came open and broke the glass on the front of the oven. I switched places with the drawers and the problem seems to stay with the drawer. I took them apart and couldnt really see any problem but they are cheap models. The better ones are not real expensive and likely cheaper than the hassle of taking the camper back for warranty work. Good luck. Our workaround is a pc of foam between the oven and the island drawers while traveling. Replacements are on my "todo" list.

PSU Turf · 02-03-2020, 11:28 PM

How about this type of latch? They hold my drawers closed.

chriscowles · 02-03-2020, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockinh

... Our workaround is a pc of foam between the oven and the island drawers while traveling. ...

My workaround is passing the broom handle down through the drawer pulls. They're large enough for it to pass through, and they're all aligned when closed. I'd rather fix it, though. We didn't have this problem on our previous Shamrock hybrid.

Rockinh · 02-04-2020, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSU Turf

How about this type of latch? They hold my drawers closed.

I think that would work, but my silverback has self-closing /soft close drawers that dont self close. I think I will replace the slides with better units, someday, maybe, aah probly not.

davidgle · 02-04-2020, 02:19 PM

I added a handle just below the counter top and now run a metal yard stick down through all the handles. Rather not do that but it was a cheap fix and I have a spot for my metal yard stick...

SailorSam20500 · 02-04-2020, 02:26 PM

A number of folks have installed the high strength magnets to help hold drawers shut. Another solution is a couple of screw eyes, one in the cabinet face and one in the drawer. Drop in a nail and drawer won't open.

Larry-NC · 02-04-2020, 02:35 PM

There are a couple of types of self-latching drawers. Some have a barb on the back end of the drawer that inserts into a latch--sort of similar to the one illustrated in Post #3. Others have ramps on the slides at the front end which provides self-closing and a certain resistance when first opening.

A sure and easy solution is to simply install childproof latches on the drawers that don't stay closed.

jbrosecity · 02-04-2020, 04:15 PM

I just replaced one on a kitchen drawer in my Keystone Avalanche which has this kind

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WD57XH1/

the little spring loaded clip had worn out. easy to fix

NMWildcat · 02-04-2020, 04:48 PM

You don't have to replace the slides, unless you just want to. In every RV we have ever owned we have added/replaced with 10-15 pound drawer latches/catches to solve our 'self opening' drawers and cabinets.
You can find them in any hardware store, all types and materials. Easy to install and they work!

RJJB · 02-04-2020, 05:34 PM

Take a look at these catches

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...Catch&_sacat=0

Rockinh · 02-04-2020, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

You don't have to replace the slides, unless you just want to. In every RV we have ever owned we have added/replaced with 10-15 pound drawer latches/catches to solve our 'self opening' drawers and cabinets.
You can find them in any hardware store, all types and materials. Easy to install and they work!

Thanks. You obviously dont have a wife who slams drawers shut so hard the awning retracts. And the drawer front falls off. That is the main reason for having the self closing soft close drawer slides. If I dont fix the slides, I will be fixing the drawer fronts. (delete this before the wife sees it)

donkro · 02-04-2020, 06:05 PM

I have replaced the latch several times on the one drawer we have, they don't seem to last long, maybe that's why Amazon sells them by the 6-pack! Will try the nail and eye hook next.

beechjet16mf · 02-04-2020, 06:14 PM

I have changed all the drawers on our Flagstaff 27RlWS with soft close drawer slides. It solve our problem with drawers not staying closed, plus they work so smoothly. Much better than the cheapies that came with the trailer. It didn't take me long to change; maybe a day.

bedubya · 02-04-2020, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSU Turf

How about this type of latch? They hold my drawers closed.

After our first outing thats what our dealer put under the our top drawer.

RitaB · 02-04-2020, 07:07 PM

I've had 3 Travel Trailers and never had a problem with drawers or cabinets opening up while camped. During travel was a different matter. After the first time I had to spend time cleaning up broken and spilled stuff because of a road full of potholes, I learned to use bungees that go through the handles or knobs and hold several doors together. Since then I've never had an open drawer, etc. Yeah, I'm cheap.

Old Bleu · 02-04-2020, 08:02 PM

I believe that the soft close slides can be adjusted to make then stiffer or looser. Orvan showed me how when we were up at his shop last May, but I can't really explain it without having the slide in front of me. It's basically increasing or decreasing the pressure on the spring that pulls it closed.

Rockinh · 02-04-2020, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beechjet16mf

I have changed all the drawers on our Flagstaff 27RlWS with soft close drawer slides. It solve our problem with drawers not staying closed, plus they work so smoothly. Much better than the cheapies that came with the trailer. It didn't take me long to change; maybe a day.

They do work nice, when they work. My silverback came with softclose slides on all the drawers in the rv. Most do not work after only 6 months. The ones installed by FR are cheap units. I have a toolbox with selfclosing slides and they have worked well for several years now but they are quite heavy duty, and my wife is not allowed to open or close them.

metalsideup · 02-04-2020, 11:42 PM

https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f68/mini-lite-drawers-finally-tamed-132075.htm

CincyGus · 02-05-2020, 01:53 AM

I've always just tied them together with a bungee. Hook the top drawer handle, drop the bungee through the drawers below it and then hook to the bottom one. While one may not have enough resistance to stay shut on it's own, I've yet to find one that could pull all the drawers open. They've all stayed shut since I started doing this.

I do the same trick with overhead cabinets horizontally. Cabinet door handle get the bungee and stretched through handles to the other on the same height. If there are no cabinets closes enough, go with a smaller bungee and just wrap around the two handles that meet next to each other.

Been an easy, quick solution for us for almost 10 years in 3 different campers.

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