Added latches to keep drawers closed while traveling

[NOJO RV]

I’ve had the two upper large clothes drawers in my 2022 37TS open on occasion. The last time the weight of the drawer broke the slide mechanism. So I installed these latches to the drawers to keep them closed.

 

[KRedburn]

I have done the same thing to my 2018 37TS. They work great!

 

[tomkatb]

Fortunate for us the purchase of a bag of bungee cords was our solution.

Had to learn several lessons the hard way.

 

[Sunseeker16]

I’ve had the two upper large clothes drawers in my 2022 37TS open on occasion. The last time the weight of the drawer broke the slide mechanism. So I installed these latches to the drawers to keep them closed.

I hope those hold up better for you than they did for me. Nearly all of mine drawers and door have them and I am constantlt replacing them because they fail with the latch in the open position and will not close.

 

[JLeising]

Drawer Travel Latches

What I did several years ago. Parts from Ace Hardware - pot knobs, as I remember. Turn to hold drawers while traveling; turn 90 degrees while parked. Never had a drawer come open while traveling since installing.

 

[Mr. Dan]

I hope those hold up better for you than they did for me. Nearly all of mine drawers and door have them and I am constantlt replacing them because they fail with the latch in the open position and will not close.

Same here. I replaced my failed ones with magnet/metal plate latches from Lowe’s. For the heavier drawers, I used a magnet latch on each end of the drawer.

 

[bclemens]

That is why we changed to soft close, self latching drawer guides. No plastic latches to break. Work great

 

[KRedburn]

the soft close self latching drawer guides work untill one has sufficient material in drawer that overrides the soft close latching. The additional push latch closure gives the drawer additional "latching" .

 

[bclemens]

The soft close we use is not like residential. We spec in the "detent force" to open the drawer. A quick jolt does not do it, it takes a steady force. Been working great, but clearly more than one way to skin a cat

 

[malmz]

We have 2 soft close that no longer soft close. You have to push them all the way in. They do close. One Pantry slide that hangs since new, on kitchen drawer with regular kitchen drawer stuff. Nothing in them hanging, they do it empty now too. 13 months.

 

[bclemens]

If you pull the drawer, there is a little rod/button/tab on the rear edge of the drawer guide. You can turn ON or OFF the soft close function. If you turn off the soft close, they just close into a little rubber edged plug that helps keep them closed a little bit. But if you flip the level, it turns the soft close back on.

For example....my home version, it was too hard to get the trash can drawer out. I turned one side off and now it is the perfect tension. (not the same drawer guides, but same principal)

 

[malmz]

Are you suggesting disabling the soft close feature or that if you cycle it it off and on may work properly again? Seems like disabling may make the drawer come out when driving. Wife loves the softclose when they are working, one of the selling points for her.

 

[bclemens]

You said you had (2) soft close that no longer soft close. I am suggesting that the trigger may have been bounced off. If you pull the drawer, and reach in on the far back....you should be able to turn it back on.

 

[malmz]

They get stuck before they soft close all they way, note you have to push them in the rest of the way until they are flush. After that they stay closed.

 

[bclemens]

Yes...sounds like the issue. When the soft close is not set, then it hits a little rubber stop in the back. Pushing IN, gets it into the rubber stop (the secondary closing mechanism)

 

[malmz]

Ok. Checking before I head to work. Much bigger issues with the slide to tackle, I will submit to CS today but see the topper thread for a preview.

 

[malmz]

No change, they are on for sure. I took a video and will edit it later today. I took the Pantry one out as I cannot do the one under the sink without putting the slide out which I cannot do without moving the RV. Who makes the drawer slides?

 

[bclemens]

We have changed suppliers. Should be able to get some sent through warranty, to replace the bad ones.

 

[malmz]

Thanks Brian, I sent a message to Bradley. I can send him the video if needed as it shows the model I have.

 

[malmz]

Just for context, I don't think these have the rubber captures. It looks like a pin and roller coaster to latch it closed. Either the pin is getting stuck on the first dip, or the pin is not engaging the roller coaster properly because the cabinet is too wide and the outer rail needs to be shimmed closer to the drawer. When putting the drawer back in I had to squeeze the 2 cabinet mounted rails closer together to get them to both engage the ones mounted to the drawer. I will look closer tonight after work.