Coach door latch squeak permanent fix
The coach door latch seems to squeak on many different rigs. It is a common concern/complaint.
Our View is no different. Like many owners, we had been wrapping the striker bolt with tape. We've tried a variety of types of tape and none of them last very long.
We mentioned this to some relatives (who also RVers) and they came up with a great idea:
The striker bolt is 1/2" diameter -- actually a bit smaller, maybe 0.498"
They had a union/coupling for copper pipe was exactly 1/2" I.D.
The coupling had a little 'dimple' inside so that when used to join 2 sections of pipe, they both are inserted an equal distance. That dimple had to be drilled out with a 1/2" bit.
The O.D. of the coupling was too great for the latch clasp -- by about 0.020" -- so we turned it down by sliding it onto a 1/2" bolt and then securing it with a nut (so it would not slip). With the coupling firmly captured between the bolt head and the nut, we put the end of the bolt in a variable speed cordless drill. One person held the drill and a second used either a file or Emory cloth to remove copper from the coupling. The thickness was checked periodically with a caliper.
When it got close we checked to see if it would fit in the latch clasp.
The final check was to reinstall the striker bolt with the coupling on it. The latching acting was just a bit too snug, so we took another 0.002" off. It's now perfect! Smooth, firm latching with little effort -- no movement, no squeaks.
Note: The coupling can be reversed if it ever wears excessively.
See the image below:
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2009 View 24J on 2008 Sprinter 3500 cab-chassis.
2000W Magnum Energy inverter/charger; 200W solar; Firestone airbags; Hellwig anti-roll bar, SumoSprings, Koni FSD shocks & struts; hitch carrier for Suzuki DRZ400...
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