Quote:
Originally Posted by snowy
We already got the factory mid-point catch, which appear to be the same thing. The problem I observe is that almost everyone that opens that sliding door does so with enough force to go all the way past the mid-point catch. I.e., roll right over it. Then it is a matter of coming forward to find the latch. My hope is to make this thoughtless and effortless. I'm just going to tape up a 2x4 as a prototype and will get back on here with results.
Snowy
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The midpoint latch from the factory is useful for keeping the door from rolling shut on an decline, but was not enough to catch it upon being slammed open. Thoughts:
1) I was worried about attaching an extension to the door, knowing it would be jostled under significant force and likely work out any screws/holes in the interior liner. My solution was to use straps to hang it so it could move inside the straps without undue force on any particular mount point.
2) SMB provided some scrap material to match the interior. It is not strong, and, FYI, it is a plastic material that melts if you try to iron it(!). I used some webbing for strength, wrapped with the matching liner for looks. Also wrapped the 2x4 with same material for match, and put rubber bumpers on either end of the 2x4.
Attached are some pics of the solution from the interior facing the door, and from above looking down so you can see how the extension stops the door from opening much past the catch point. One other thing. I cut the wood so it was short enough to allow travel PAST the catch point (rather than just to it) on purpose. This works. It allows the door to go past the latch and bounce back a bit. Much longer, to make it stop IN the catch point, would likely have bounced back out of the catch point.
Also, I made two extensions, thinking one would go on the bottom bumpers, but it turns out it would catch on the support for the overhang SBM builds in when they extend the floor over the step well. Restated, bottom extension won't work on my config, but it is because of this floor extending over the step well. One on top seems to work fine, so not spending time trying to get bottom one to work.
Snowy