knobs, handles and locking devices

Greg In Austin · 02-17-2008, 07:37 PM

OK, we have asked a number of questions and seen a bunch of discussions go by, but we haven't seen anything about the different drawer and cabinet knob thingies...

So, we want to know what knobs, handles and locking offerings from SMB really work? Which ones have you had that work and have given you no probems?

AND which ones do we need to avoid? Which ones have given you problems or not worked? ..and what have the problems been?

Thanks,

Greg in Austin
SMB in WIP

**BroncoHauler** · 02-17-2008, 09:40 PM

Greg,

First off, I only have a very small galley unit, which has three doors with latches. Since I have a son, who's about to turn two, I did not feel comfortable with him being able to open the cabinet door that accessed the water pump area or especially the inverter, so I replaced the non-locking latches provided by SMBw, with locking versions by the same company (believe it was SouthCo). I found them at a local marine supply store. They were quite pricey at $25 each, but it was a clean solution rather than adding another locking latch to the doors. I think it was two screws per latch. It's not much of a lock, only intended to keep out curious fingers.

Herb

jage · 02-18-2008, 07:10 AM

My brother has got circles that you push, then they pop out, then you have to twist to get the cabinet open. It's clean in theory, as you can push them again to make all the knobs flush, however since his sprinter has about 20 storage compartments and drawers there is a mismash of out and in knobs randomly at all times. It all seems like too much work for me.

My side door cabinet mechanisms are always coming loose (fasteners back out) but otherwise the black pull tabs work without issue on the drawers and cabinets.

Greg In Austin · 02-18-2008, 07:44 AM

I have actually seen both of these options installed in a number of SMB. Those two seem to be the most popular when I tour the yard at SMB Tx. We are leaning towards the silver knobs that have to be popped out then turned to open.

What else is out there as options? Any problems with any?

kzemach · 02-18-2008, 06:45 PM

We haven't had any real problems with any of the drawers per se, although on really rough roads one might pop once in a while (and while tightening up the tolerances noted that SMB mis-aligned several of the holes during the build...) Overall though, I wouldn't shy away from what's already in there. When/if they do pop open, you can snug them up quite easily and it won't happen again.

geoffff · 02-19-2008, 12:17 AM

Same here -- Those circular black drawer latches seem to be a good design, and work well -- except if the latches aren't lined up quite right (on bumpy roads). A couple of our latches needed some adjustment on our Sportsmobile's maiden voyage.

-- Geoff

**daveb** · 02-19-2008, 09:19 PM

I have had the silverware drawer (which could be made of something other than cheap plastic) open and dump. Other than that, all works OK. I really don't like the way the closet doors open and close, they always stick and need separate tracks. Maybe they fixed this since 06.
Dave

charlie56 · 03-04-2008, 04:37 PM

Greg
We went with the silver pop-out type. The ones I have you don't have to turn after you pop them out, you just pull. I am really pleased with the way they look compared to the black ones. (They draw less attention) Have a problem with one of them unlatching, but I think the catch just needs to be adjusted a little.