Rear compartment door goes KLUNK

[Bill]

From the first day that I bought my first TM in 2001, a very minor annoyance has driven me crazy. The issue is so trivial that I never did anything about it, but annoying enough that I finally gave in. The issue? When the door to the rear tool compartment is open, the slightest breeze blows it back and forth, and each time it hits the rear bed support, it makes a KLUNK (or more often KLUNK KLUNK) sound that reverberates through the trailer. A trivial problem with a trivial solution.

Long ago I had purchased a package of mini-bungee cords, each about 6 inches long.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...gkw=90500&sr=1

I grabbed one, and bent the hook on one end into a closed loop. I used an ice pick to poke a hole in the inside skin of the door, and screwed the bungee to the inside of the door with a 1/2-inch sheet metal screw. The other end just hangs free. Now when I open the door, I wrap the free end of the bungee around the bed support and hook it over itself. It immobilizes the door in the full open position. No more KLUNK.

[Edit: I think our long-time member Mike Laupp posted a similar fix a number of years ago. It was part of a thread on dual-battery conversion in TMs with the rear battery (like mine), and I got so fixated on the battery issue that I didn't take note of the KLUNK fix. So I've presented my own version - but the good idea wasn't really mine.]

Bill

[ShrimpBurrito]

I have the same problem. So much so that some of the paint on the bed support arm has chipped off from the door slamming against it.

I ended up just wrapping a rubber band around the support arm, feeding it through itself, and then looping it around the door lock, but your solution is more elegant!

Dave

I have thought about a similar solution, but the only stuff I have back there is rarely used. So I just keep it latched. I open it when we arrive in camp and open it again when packing to leave.

[countrygirl]

Cool idea!

I was looking at the above posts and went out to my 2720. After a little thought I decided to add a shelf to make more storage. Before the shelf everything was just piled in there.

I took advantage of a rear support to hold the inside edge of the plywood. The outside has two support posts made from 1 X 3's. The full length shelf can't be put in through the door so I cut off 5 inches. I then added it on the battery end. No need to fasten it except for some nails into the support posts.

This just about doubles my storage space for the items I keep back there.

This has bothered me too from day one! I pretty much do what ShrimpBurrito does,which is definately better than listening to that dang door banging around in the wind.TM should come up with some sort of a latch to hold that thing in place!

TrailGuy77

TM:2010 3023,Electric Tongue Jack
TV:2005 Toyota Tundra Access Cab 4x4 V8-Doug Thorley Headers,Gibson 2 1/2" Exhaust,Draw-Tite Brake Controller,Eaz-Lift 1000 LB WDH

[YWORRYDOG]

One of these http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/r...or-catches.htm on the rear door will hold it open by latching on the bed support.

Same here Bill- very annoying. I put a piece of heavy velcro on the bed support arm and on the door. It works but barely and certainly not in a blow. I think even if you secure it as you've done, putting some kind of bumper material will keep it from rubbing.

I'm not sure WorryDog's latches would work due to the angle. I'd also be worried about poking holes in those arms (maybe it could be put on the door and latched to the arm somehow). They aren't very big and putting a hole in one side- especially a vertical face might weaken it. I'm sure when two people are on the bed, there's quite a bit of force on those.

Phil

[YWORRYDOG]

"on the rear door " Yes it has to be on an angle to match the support No holes in the support.

[B_and_D]

Ours came with two latches. The one on the top has a handle on the outside you can turn to secure the door. The one on the bottom has a lock.

We just close the door and turn the handle; we rarely, if ever, lock it.