Don't Forget To Lock The Galley!

fdkoh99

fdkoh99

Junior Ranger
OK - I know its part of Cary's training that everyone gets when you buy the TD - but some folks on the forum are buying used campers and might not get all the same information.

I was reminded about why locking the galley is important just this month when driving through Idaho. We had recently stopped at a car wash to recover from a couple of muddy dirt roads in Colorado and opened the galley to grab some quarters from our "for showers only" pouch in the silverware drawer. Well - we forgot to re-lock the galley when we finished. No problem - right? Wrong.

About 4 hours later I accelerated to 80+ mph - passing a truck - when I pulled back into the right lane - the truck starts flashing his lights at me... I look back and sure enough the hatch is all the way open. I pull over and go back and literally the hatch is fully open with the support arm locked in the open position. The aerodynamic lift that is created by the wing shape of the TD - was enough to lift the hatch enough for the support arm to fall into place(and we all know how heavy the hatch is).

Good news - nothing was lost except for about half our paper towel roll - as the wind had unrolled it.

So we have two choices - drive slower than the stall speed of the TD wing or make sure and lock the galley door!

Keep on Camp Inn!
 
fdkoh99 said:
OK - I know its part of Cary's training that everyone gets when you buy the TD - but some folks on the forum are buying used campers and might not get all the same information.

I was reminded about why locking the galley is important just this month when driving through Idaho. We had recently stopped at a car wash to recover from a couple of muddy dirt roads in Colorado and opened the galley to grab some quarters from our "for showers only" pouch in the silverware drawer. Well - we forgot to re-lock the galley when we finished. No problem - right? Wrong.

About 4 hours later I accelerated to 80+ mph - passing a truck - when I pulled back into the right lane - the truck starts flashing his lights at me... I look back and sure enough the hatch is all the way open. I pull over and go back and literally the hatch is fully open with the support arm locked in the open position. The aerodynamic lift that is created by the wing shape of the TD - was enough to lift the hatch enough for the support arm to fall into place(and we all know how heavy the hatch is).

Good news - nothing was lost except for about half our paper towel roll - as the wind had unrolled it.

So we have two choices - drive slower than the stall speed of the TD wing or make sure and lock the galley door!

Keep on Camp Inn!
Click to expand...
Being a second owner, we have never heard of this before. We will be locking the galley hatch now on. Thank you!
 
Happened to us once early on, complete with the paper towel tail. You never forget to lock it up after that...
 
fdkoh99 said:
OK - I know its part of Cary's training that everyone gets when you buy the TD - but some folks on the forum are buying used campers and might not get all the same information.

I was reminded about why locking the galley is important just this month when driving through Idaho. We had recently stopped at a car wash to recover from a couple of muddy dirt roads in Colorado and opened the galley to grab some quarters from our "for showers only" pouch in the silverware drawer. Well - we forgot to re-lock the galley when we finished. No problem - right? Wrong.

About 4 hours later I accelerated to 80+ mph - passing a truck - when I pulled back into the right lane - the truck starts flashing his lights at me... I look back and sure enough the hatch is all the way open. I pull over and go back and literally the hatch is fully open with the support arm locked in the open position. The aerodynamic lift that is created by the wing shape of the TD - was enough to lift the hatch enough for the support arm to fall into place(and we all know how heavy the hatch is).

Good news - nothing was lost except for about half our paper towel roll - as the wind had unrolled it.

So we have two choices - drive slower than the stall speed of the TD wing or make sure and lock the galley door!

Keep on Camp Inn!
Click to expand...

"80+ mph"? Yikes. I made the mistake of not locking my cabin doors once and a shift in inner contents on a very rough road opened the latch. I caught it before anything fell out.
 
Tour 931 said:
I always turn the handle so it’s locked in place but I seldom use the key to lock it.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest locking it up, as our latch handle (and I assume the others here) was turned to the secured position too. Especially if you've got anything back there more valuable than the paper towel. I think it'd be much less an issue on shorter and/or slower speed trips though.
 
Tour 931 said:
I always turn the handle so it’s locked in place but I seldom use the key to lock it.
Click to expand...
I agree with Ken and Peggy - mine was closed and the handle in the locked position too - just not locked. I think if it is not locked - road vibration can slowly undo that unless its locked - then the speed causes the opening.
 
I always close mine, but didn’t always lock it. Got to our destination and the latch was released. Close call. Vibration does some funny things...
 
Yep, been there, done that...got the t-shirt. LOL. Happened to us when driving to California from Texas. Only takes happening one time before you become quite vigilant at checking that hatch door before pulling onto the highway.
 
As a long haul trucker I learned to stop and do a walk around inspection after a mile or two. It’s actually required if you stop for the night.
 
Tour 931 said:
As a long haul trucker I learned to stop and do a walk around inspection after a mile or two. It’s actually required if you stop for the night.
Click to expand...

Great advice I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had that oh fiddlesticks moment...

A few minutes stop on the side of the road could save hundreds and headache remedy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top