5 cuft fridge latch - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Problem Solving | Owners helping each other
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-18-2017, 07:29 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Coast, Florida
Trailer: None now
Posts: 1,266
5 cuft fridge latch

I'm beginning to wonder what the life expectancy of the fridge latch will be on our 2017 19.
It's a piece of plastic that catches another little raised piece of plastic in the door frame. I looked to see if I can fix it if it fails and apparently all I could do is buy a door reversing kit.
So am I wrong in wondering or have they finally created plastic that never gets fatigue.
I know our previous trailers door fell off and cost way more to fix than I expected and that was plastic too.
wetzk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2017, 08:17 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
escape artist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
Quote:
Originally Posted by wetzk View Post
I'm beginning to wonder what the life expectancy of the fridge latch will be on our 2017 19.
It's a piece of plastic that catches another little raised piece of plastic in the door frame. I looked to see if I can fix it if it fails and apparently all I could do is buy a door reversing kit.
So am I wrong in wondering or have they finally created plastic that never gets fatigue.
I know our previous trailers door fell off and cost way more to fix than I expected and that was plastic too.
Hi: wetzk... Our 5 cu. ft. fridge door latch broke while in transit. I was able to get one at CW in Myrtle Beach SC. on a long holiday weekend. The plastic was fine but the paper clip like spring just failed. Had to buy the whole handle to get the spring clip!!! $35. USD but who's gonna argue!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
Attached Thumbnails
P1030125.jpg  
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
escape artist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2017, 08:22 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Looks similar to my latch. I run a couple bungee cords to help the door stay closed. Not sure if that would help, but my latch is still fine after eight years on washboard and pothole travel.
Attached Thumbnails
Fridge bungee.jpg  
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2017, 08:25 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Not too big of a deal. Not too expensive and easy to change out. I was considering taking along a spare, though I bet they last longer than expected. Only time will tell. It would be nice if it was made tougher, not much different than most appliances and parts made for RVs.

Black Refrigerator Door Handle - Dometic 3851174023 - Refrigerator Accessories - Camping World
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2017, 08:27 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
Looks similar to my latch. I run a couple bungee cords to help the door stay closed. Not sure if that would help, but my latch is still fine after eight years on washboard and pothole travel.
They are quite different actually. With the old ones there always seemed to be a chance they might let go, though the only time we had trouble was when the hinge pin on the catch fell out. Once I permanently fixed it, is was fine. I much prefer the way the new ones latch as it seems more secure, and doubt they would ever release without breaking, and being plastic, that chance is increased.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2017, 08:35 PM   #6
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
I don't know about the latch. The one in Ten Forward is still okay (knock wood), but Dometic hinges that fail seems to be common enough that Larry Gamble (Little House Customs) has manufactured a hinge repair kit. And I know one 17' Escape owner that had to have the entire door replaced due to failing hinges. Keep an eye out for problems.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2017, 08:36 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Coast, Florida
Trailer: None now
Posts: 1,266
Unfortunately it's not the same part. Here is the new latch. We looked it over and it appears to be part of the door.
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_20170418_203211.jpg   IMG_20170418_203204.jpg  
wetzk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2017, 08:38 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
I push it in when closing and opening so that it does not click, makes me feel better.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2017, 08:46 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Coast, Florida
Trailer: None now
Posts: 1,266
There are numbers on it but they do not reference to anything. 303 26 56 & 10-220-24PO
wetzk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2017, 08:47 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Coast, Florida
Trailer: None now
Posts: 1,266
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
I push it in when closing and opening so that it does not click, makes me feel better.
We do to but mainly because that is a loud click!!!
wetzk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2017, 09:19 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
You must not have the new Americana series (DM2663), as that is the latch for them. Here is a photo I just took off mine.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 07:04 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
But on the other hand, it seems to be working better than the older models, I'm pleased so far with it's performance. what is is like down there in Florida, keeping things cool enough?
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 07:08 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Jim, we have the standard smaller model, is yours the optional larger model? That may explain the difference in the latch.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 07:22 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
Jim, we have the standard smaller model, is yours the optional larger model? That may explain the difference in the latch.
Is the smaller fridge still the Americana series? I imagine a latch could easily be gotten for it too.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 07:24 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett View Post
Is the smaller fridge still the Americana series? I imagine a latch could easily be gotten for it too.
I hope so....
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 07:28 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
I checked the book, RM2454 is the model #
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 07:37 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
They call them "positive lock" Americana models
https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-RM245.../dp/B0058SQQLQ
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 11:39 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Area 51, New Mexico
Trailer: pondering.....
Posts: 728
the larger version seems to have a nice big handle, however the actual latch mechanism may be the same or similar. In the RM2454RB the part numbers for the latch mechanism is two parts, one mounted to the door and one mounted to the inside of the door frame. People who have owned the RM2454 (Casita's ?) would be able to explain how long the latching mechanism lasts.
"The following list is a list of commonly used parts, which
should be available, if required, from your Dometic Service
Center."
"Commonly used parts" could also mean they don't last long.
Part # for RM2454 A or B
293 26 70-01/7 Handle (light brown)
293 26 70-02/5 Handle (black)
not in the previous listing but also part of the latch mechanism
2932855014 A B Catch, Door

perhaps buy spare parts prior to need or simply "where's the duct tape"
freespirit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 12:59 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
emers382's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Emerson, Manitoba
Trailer: 2016 Escape 5.0TA, 2022 F150 2.7EB
Posts: 1,848
Quote:
Originally Posted by escape artist View Post
Hi: wetzk... Our 5 cu. ft. fridge door latch broke while in transit. I was able to get one at CW in Myrtle Beach SC. on a long holiday weekend. The plastic was fine but the paper clip like spring just failed. Had to buy the whole handle to get the spring clip!!! $35. USD but who's gonna argue!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
That same latch broke again in Feb. 2015. I had to buy the whole latch as well, even though the spring failed. I think it cost $40 in Mesa!! Last summer the spring fell out but Beth managed to put it back in and it's fine now.

Adrian
emers382 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 01:08 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Quote:
Originally Posted by emers382 View Post
That same latch broke again in Feb. 2015. I had to buy the whole latch as well, even though the spring failed. I think it cost $40 in Mesa!! Last summer the spring fell out but Beth managed to put it back in and it's fine now.

Adrian
'bout time to get that new 5.0TA on order, Adrian.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:06 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.