Project: Solution to Groceries Falling on Floor

[JudyJB]

I really need a place for heavy canned goods so I don't have to put them in the drawer that also keeps opening.

I have two shallow cabinets that were designated as "pantries," but have been mostly useless since the doors open going around corners and stuff falls on the floor. I am able to put some stuff on this top shelf because they fit into a space that reduces falling, but the lower shelves were useless because stuff just slides off.

It occurred to me that some of that railing you see sometimes on shelves might help. I got some at Home Depot, stained it to match my cabinets, cut it to the right length, and glued it in place. I fit it so that the ends were inside the door frame so it is more likely to stay in place.



I wiped away the excess glue shown on this photo and am going to get my son to help me screw another piece to the shelf shown here.

[Bethers]

Good job. And hopefully does exactly what you want/need it to.

But, I suggest you find a way to fasten the cabinets so they don't open on the road. That stinks.

[Redwahine]

Looks great. That is exactly what the book shelves on my boat looked like. Let us know how it works

[longdog2]

Looks great Judy. That would work well in a medicine cabinet too.

[Sandersmr]

You said your shelves were shallow - I have the opposite problem. My shelves are really deep and narrow, so to find anything meant taking everything out. I used baskets for a while but that only allowed me one layer. I got the slide out baskets at Home Depot - now I can get to the very back of the cabinet so much easier. And stuff doesn't fall out. Also, the latch on my cabinet really seems to hold.

Maybe we can check your latch at the TX GTG if you haven't figured that one and offer some solutions. You know how we like to offer advice.

[snowball]

I decided to put my can goods under the sink (it opens into the living room as well as under the sink) so when I get cans out it's from lv side but put one
of those devices that you put the can in it rolls down to the bottom automatically giving you the oldest can of what ever as I recall its adjustable to the size
of cans really one of my best things I think might need to look at it and see if I can adjust it as some of the stuff I bought for both Larry and I will no longer
buy as much...if you have that space might consider it
sheila

[JudyJB]

Yes, the latches definitely need to be improved, but I think it is the weight of stuff shifting that partially causes the opening.

The can thing is also good, but I also need to store liquids in bottles like oil, vinegar, etc. and am hoping this will help me do that.

My big problem is the large, deep drawer under the refrigerator that I put food in, but that has opened putting a large hole in the paneling opposite it. This paneling is on the side of the oven and is that very thin fake wood stuff. It has a hole about 2" by 3" and the factory is trying to follow the dealers' lead and claim I overloaded it, causing it to open. When they did that originally and refused to fix it (dealer, not factory) I asked the factory to give me a list of the weight limits of all drawers and cabinets, and of course, they said there was no such thing.

I have tried to take some of the heavy things out of that drawer, and frankly, it was never full of canned things and heavy bottles. I have to put a pillow on the floor when I travel so as to prevent the drawer from bashing into the paneling, which means I have to remove it to get to the bathroom each time--pain in the _ _ _ _. The factory has said only that they would "evaluate" it to determine if they would cover it on warranty. I am planning to put up a BIG stink. In fact, I will take a photo and post it right now. Stay tuned.

So, cabinet and drawer latches are on my long list of things I want fixed when I visit the factory "Customer Service Center" in November in Indiana. (Other items include an entrance door that does not latch well and bent steps that deployed at 50 MPH, hitting a national park log on the side of the road, a shower door handle that is hanging loose, etc, etc, etc.) We shall see how much service I get.

[JudyJB]

Here are photos of the drawer and the panel opposite it showing the damage:





I have asked them to add a better latch on the drawer and repair the panel, but they have not promised to do so. I think it would be difficult to replace the panel because it is part of the kitchen slide and is on the side of the oven/stove, so might mean having to redo all of it.

It is upsetting even to talk about this issue because I bought a new motorhome so I would not have problems with it--HA!

[mtngal]

Hey Judy, to keep my frig door closed while traveling I use a tension curtain rod. Might that work as interim solution for your drawer?

[Bethers]

No excuse for that. How does the drawer latch now?

[JudyJB]

Same as always. When I turn a corner, it often opens, so I have to stuff something there to prevent it, hence the pillow. I have been to two dealers and had some warranty work done, and both said the factory would not fix it because it was my fault for overloading the drawer. I had about the same amount of food in it as you can see in the photo--certainly not loaded to the brim and much of the stuff were things like noodles or stuffing mix, not canned goods.

The big problem is what I think is a design flaw: putting a large drawer directly across from and in striking distance of a thin veneer panel. If other drawers open, it does not matter because there is nothing to hit. In this case, it bashes a hole. There should be a stronger latch or something that prevents the drawer from opening so far. I can't be the only one with this problem on this model.

I am afraid that the tension curtain rod's small end would cause another hole in the cabinet. It needs something bigger to stop it from opening. There is no problem with the refrigerator door latching: just this drawer below it.

[asirimarco]

Welcome to the world of movable housing. When you get one drawer or door and the contents fixed so they don't open and cause problems another one starts.
You eventually learn to be especially careful turning corners.going around curves and going driving over rough ground. Things you don't think about in cars.
We use indoor outdoor carpet to line most of our shelves and/or rubbermaid that stops some of the shifting and really cuts done on noise. Bill also did what you did - he put little rails at the bottom of the drawers. One big pull out sliding drawer under the sink now had a pin that slips into the base so it can't slide out -just remove it when we're parked.
Also use the spring tension rods you can buy at CW for other places. Especially the refrigerator.
Once had a watermelon come crashing out of the refrigerator - that was along time ago when the refrigs had to be locked from the outside.

[Sandersmr]

Something you might consider, especially for that drawer are baby latches. My sister had some where you open the drawer part way to be able to reach and release the latch mechanism. Others had a magnetic release.

[retiredhappy]

How frustrating!! In both my gulfstream and my Roadtrek I've never had problems with the doors opening. I would be furious if I bought new and had these problems. Stand your ground at the factory. Remember a squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[Dawn309]

Judy, I really like the rails you made. I agree that your drawer should stay latched. My drawer in the last 5th wheel would come open like that when turning corners too. Luckily there was nothing for it to hit. It would just break the rollers for the drawer each time. We even tried the metal ones. Same problem. I stored my pots and pans in that drawer so it was heavy. Your drawer does not have anywhere near that kind of weight from what I could see. Stay on the factory. Ditto on the greasy wheel.