Cupboard catches -security in rta

[Rjcamper]

After some help. Following a recent RTA (we are all ok but motorhome is written off) all cupboards opened and we had a food, dry dog food, kettle, cup, etc, etc shower

Now we had a 2003 Compass and we have seen in later motorhomes the cupboards lock with push in button.

Our next motorhome is likely to be a Rapido but still an earlier model (2005 - 2008), does the Rapido have locking cupboards or can it be retro fitted?

(The RTA is still with insurers so will have to wait to explain circumstances, but no injuries to us or dogs thankfully)

 

[SteveJ]

Not sure what the current catches on a Rapido are like but there are loads of press button cupboard catches on eBay, just search for caravan cupboard catches.

 

[Sus3v]

Not sure what the current catches on a Rapido are like but there are loads of press button cupboard catches on eBay, just search for caravan cupboard catches.

I would be interested in an alternative to the press button things. In our 13 reg pvc they sometimes don’t shut, sometimes don’t open and sometimes ping open when when we are driving (sorry if this is a different thread item ???)

 

[Rjcamper]

Thanks both, I will do a search. Any thoughts etc welcome as not something I really thought about until it happened

 

[The Dobbsters]

Glad you are ok! Can't help with rapido catches though.

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[Rjcamper]

Glad you are ok! Can't help with rapido catches though.

Thanks, first accident in 30 years of driving, very scary......

 

[Reallyretired]

My Rapido has some push in catches but the high level lockers with the exception of the one over the fridge don't. The matching locks are available from ebay, I had to replace one of mine and wouldn't be too difficult to fit, they need a single hole through the door about 1cm (without checking)

 

[Brains]

I dont think the type of catches will make much difference
What you really need to do is bag up heavy stuff, (like tins) and always store it low down.

Back in the late 1980's we had a VW camper 'hippy bus'
We crossed the boarder at Derry into Eire
We had heard many people say that the roads in Eire left a lot to be desired.
After a couple of miles on a dead straigth and flat road a we reached terminal velocity (63mph with a tail wind) I commented to SWIMBO that the roads seemed fine to me

At that point we hit a 'step' in the road, we were briefly airborne,
we landed about 1 bus length down the road, amazingley I kept the van on the road in a straight line.
The impact though had opened every cupboard and locker and during the 3 seconds of weightlessness has distributed it everywhere
Having bought the van to a halt we found no major damage, we had dented the exaust and two of the tyres were flat and looking at the road surface we were obviously to the first to take off and land.

The mess inside though was impressive, literally everything was everywhere, pot and pans mixed with bedding, tools mixed with food, It took a couple of hours to put everthing back (whilst waiting for two new tyres)

What we found was luckly all the tinned food was in shopping bags in a locker under the bed.
It was in the bags, even if it was no longer under the bed.

Had I been hit by a can of beans I suspect hospital would have been the result.
Hence to this day, tins and other heavy items stay in bags

 

[Rjcamper]

Thanks, I am hoping with the next van storage is more versatile

 

[Shrimp]

Good that you are all ok, shame it had to happen!
I expect there’s something out there that you could make work, the only one we have to worry about is the cutlery drawer, it kept crashing open in a sharp stop so hubby fitted a turn type fastener to keep it shut in the cupboard underneath.

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[george w menzies]

our burstner was written off after rta but nothing escaped from cupboards or drawers but the radio
landed on my lap.

 

[Minxy]

We had a 2003 Rapido and it had push button catched on both bottom and top cupboards/lockers.

 

[Rapido925M]

We have had a 2002 Rapido 9Series for 13y: it has push-button catches.

Sometimes I forget to push them in, especially on the cutlery drawer, but all that happens is it noisily opens at a corner.

However, ONCE in S Spain (La Alcazaba, on the N340a I think) I failed to spot a raised platform crossing ("elevado") and hit it at more than the legal 20kph, giving us quite a shaking. Only the rearmost locker came open and a small plastic bottle of olive oil dropped out, soaking quite a few things.

Worse things happen at sea, my Dad always used to say.

Gordon

 

[PeteH]

I can vouch for that type of catch (push button lock) was definitely fitted to 2007 models and likely long before that.

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[Rjcamper]

We have had a 2002 Rapido 9Series for 13y: it has push-button catches.

Sometimes I forget to push them in, especially on the cutlery drawer, but all that happens is it noisily opens at a corner.

However, ONCE in S Spain (La Alcazaba, on the N340a I think) I failed to spot a raised platform crossing ("elevado") and hit it at more than the legal 20kph, giving us quite a shaking. Only the rearmost locker came open and a small plastic bottle of olive oil dropped out, soaking quite a few things.

Worse things happen at sea, my Dad always used to say.

Gordon

As my Dad was in the Merchant Navy some of his stories make your hair curl so not to sure about that

Thanks all, still in arguments with the insurance payout at the moment so everything is on hold until sorted.............

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[Vipar]

Sorry about youRTA. Hope you get paid out the market value

 

[Mrsambulancekidd]

Glad you & your dogs are ok, that's the main thing.
Enjoy your next MH.

 

[Podney]

Our 2006 Rapido has locking catches i.e. you need to push button in to open them.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Even if you have to retrofit push button positive locking catches (there seem to be 2 sizes to choose from) it should be a fairly simple DIY job with basic tools. The biggest challenge would appear to be to shim or adjust the lock to prevent the closed locker door rattling.