Posted 2005-07-11 3:49 PM (#27921) Subject: Door latches
Regular
Posts: 63
I have a trailer manufactured by Hawk that has faulty door latches. First, the bulkhead door latch wouldn't hold (opening in transit unless it's locked) and now I'm having the same problem with the dressing room door. Needing to lock every door whenever I haul is not acceptable to me. The dealer will send me replacements but I have heard of similar problems with these latches on other trailers and I'm not sure that new ones will be any better than the original ones. I had a Four-Star for 9 years and never had a problem with door latches not holding. Before that I had a sundowner and a Keiffer, and those worked.
Anyone else having latch problems? Are there better and more reliable latches out there that would fit onto my trailer?
Posted 2005-07-12 5:56 AM (#27943 - in reply to #27921) Subject: RE: Door latches
Expert
Posts: 2689
I had a problem on my Jamco trailer that, from your description, is similar.
On the two "escape" doors it really doesn't matter, since they have butterfly latches over them anyway. The DR/tack room door latch was sticking and was worse than the escape doors, i.e. failing to snap shut when closed and it became very difficult to open, it seemed locked when in fact it wasn't. These are "paddle latches", similar to camper door latches.
It seemes to be solved, I hosed all 3 inside and out with good ole WD 40.
The DR/Tack room door is probably more exposed to wind and rain than the two escape doors and I'm guessing that was why it was the worst of the 3.
BTW, there are stickers on all 3 of the doors on this trailer saying that the doors should be dead-bolted when travelling - I don't always do that.
My guess is that these paddle latches are common components on recent/current trailer production. I don't think it matters which trailer manufacturer you buy from, they're all using the same parts from the same supplier. They may be outsourced to somewhere far away, but that opens up a topic we've done before (-:
RE 4-Star: I also have one of those, but it has a ramp on each opening, no hinged doors, no latches similar to the ones you described.
Posted 2005-07-12 8:57 AM (#27947 - in reply to #27943) Subject: RE: Door latches
Veteran
Posts: 140 Location: Colorado
My 1999 Featherlite has a sticky paddle latch as Reg described. It's the exterior latch. There's a plastic wear plate inside the mechanism which has been grooved over time and stops the door from opening. It failed after only about 2 years (and I am not happy spending $100 to replace it with another crappy FL paddle latch).
However, my 1994 Trailswest's paddle latches all work, even though they are older. Probably because they are all metal...
Posted 2005-07-12 9:19 AM (#27952 - in reply to #27921) Subject: RE: Door latches
Regular
Posts: 57
I had a lot of trouble when I first got my Hawk getting the doors to open. None of my keys worked. After several attempts I figured it out. I think the new locks were stiff. The pass through door I swear would not open at all and I thought it was broken. It open on its own after driving around the block for a test drive. Lucky no horse was on borad. It seems to be working now. Very hard pull on the handle and it opens. For sure I will always lock both locks when transporting horses. The butterfly latch will keep it shut. I mention to my dealer these door latches were pretty flimsy and would probably have to replace them. But with what ??
Posted 2005-07-12 10:12 AM (#27957 - in reply to #27921) Subject: RE: Door latches
Member
Posts: 30 Location: Summerville, SC
I had similiar troubles with my exterior dressing rm door and horse compartment walk through door. My trailer doors have strike plates on the frames the doors are mounted in, just like a house. The strike plates are held in with 2 screws and have slots in them for adjustment. I just lossened the screws and moved the strike plates to the position I needed them in to allow the doors to securely latch with very minimal pressure. I have had no trouble since then. Check yours out for strike plates.
Posted 2005-07-13 8:13 AM (#27992 - in reply to #27921) Subject: RE: Door latches
Regular
Posts: 63
I will check for the strike plates. The latches open and close okay. The problem is they work themselves open when I'm driving down the highway. So a door that seems securely latched may work itself open on the interstate. Dealer says the doors need to be realigned to adjust for movement of the framework. They'll pay for this, but it's not something I've ever come across before.
Posted 2005-07-14 1:57 AM (#28041 - in reply to #27943) Subject: RE: Door latches
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1011 Location: Oregon
Charmac also suggests to dead bolt the locks in transit. I never did lock them on my first trailer, until I did have one open on me going down the road. Locking them (pass thru and my LQ door) is one of those checklist items I check before I go down the road. It is just easier to lock them before I leave, then to try and pull over on the highway and close the exterior door. I would probably never know if the pass thru door came open in transit unless there was a lot of ruckus going on back there, and by that time the damage can be done. Friends of mine have featherlites, silverados, silver star and trails west and they all dead bolt their locks in transit.
Door latches
