DIY: Easy Furniture Fixes
Keeping cabinets, drawers and doors opening and closing is easy and cheap
Often going unnoticed, furniture hardware must be among the most humble components that go into making a caravan. These components have a much tougher life than the equivalent parts in a regular, stationary, home as constant vibration and bumps from being on the road take their toll. On the flipside, this is one of the simplest DIY maintenance tasks and all of them can be completed by anyone, and with little more than a screwdriver.
This time, we look at latches, hinges and struts but for once, we didn’t have examples of broken hardware when we put the story together with the guys at The RV Repair Centre. Instead, functioning parts were removed and put back on again to show how it’s done.
Furniture latches
Caravan furniture latches differ from cupboard and drawer knobs in a house because they need to prevent doors and drawers flying open while moving. Latches are usually spring-loaded and are released by pushing or pulling the handle. Sometimes people forget to release the mechanism and just pull on the handle too hard. This can result in broken striker mechanisms or catches. Repairs are usually completed by replacing the broken parts.
1. Remove the screws retaining the back catch
2. Remove the back catch
3. The back catch is “hollow” and prone to breaking. (This one isn’t broken.)
4. Remove the screws retaining the handle
5. Remove the handle
6. Mark the cabinet with a pencil to help align the catch during reassembly
7. Undo the screws retaining the striker
8. Remove the striker.
Reinstall in the reverse order, using new parts where required.
Adjust Concealed Hinges
Concealed hinges are often used in caravan furniture. The hinges have adjusters to enable doors to be aligned. Sometimes the adjusters come loose due to the vibration and bumps while travelling causing misalignment. Turning the adjusting screw clockwise allows the door to come closer to the hinge point. Turning the adjusting screw anticlockwise pushes the door further away from the hinge point.
1. Identify any doors that are misaligned
2. Find the adjusting screw
3. Turn the adjusting screw in or out to move the door closer or further from the hinge point
4. Check for alignment
Worn Hinge Screw Holes
Some hinges are fastened with quite short or small gauge screws. Over time, the screws can come loose and the screw holes become worn, so the screws can’t be retightened.
1. Check for loose or missing screws
2. A longer screw can be used to bite in deeper than the worn hole. NB: Ensure the screw is not too long and pokes right through the timber. An alternative solution is to use a larger gauge screw or a piece of wood packing.
3. Screw in the longer or larger gauge screw
Worn Door Struts
Top-hinged doors open by swinging the door up and struts hold the door up when in the open position. Sometimes these struts fail, and the door won’t stay in the open position. The solution is to replace the strut.
1. Remove the screws from the bottom bracket retaining the strut
2. Remove the screws from the top bracket retaining the strut
3. Fit a new strut and replace the brackets
IF IN DOUBT, CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL
Improper maintenance can lead to injury, death or property damage. Maintenance work of this nature should only be undertaken by people with suitable competence. Information provided is general in nature, not comprehensive and should only be taken as a guide. Individual discretion must be exercised and persons undertaking described tasks do so completely at their own risk. Publishers and creators of this content accept no responsibility for loss or damage.
Thanks to Andrew Phillips and the team from the RV Repair Centre for their assistance.