Kitchen Hatch Repaired for Good!!

I had a few problems with my kitchen hatch, so had it replaced under warranty by my dealer. When they originally replaced it, apparently the hinge had some problems.

A few weeks after it was replaced it started "scootching" to the right and would leak if it was wet after I opened the door. So I took it back and they "fixed" it, but the fix was really ugly and gooey with sealant and caulk and a few months later it was scootching to the right again.

We took it back to the dealer for some other work and just showed them the hatch. The manager looked at it and right away said that was unnaceptable and told us it would be fixed for good at no charge to us!!! (Even though the warranty had expired).

They put in a new hinge assembly, straightened everything out and also put in a pop rivet on either side of the hinge so it can't "scootch" in either direction!!

Woo Hoo!!!

Here are a couple of pics.

Thanks for reading!!!

Carol

A Few Modifications

I just recently got a new Tow Vehicle - 2009 Explorer Sport Trac V8 with Class III/IV Tow Package.

When attempting to hook the T@B up to it for the first time realized the "Loops" for the safety chains were too big for the existing hooks and breakaway cable.

I found the following solutions:

Larger replacement Hooks - 5/16" Latch Slip Hook (found at Lowes) solved the safety chain problem:

A 3/8" Shank Loop that will just hang on my hitch solved the Breakaway Cable problem. (Rated to 2000 lbs).

I also had my dealer install a couple of things for me.

An outside cable connection. No more cables hanging out the window.

And a small hatch door to access the area under the bed. I don't have a furnace, so that storage space was totally wasted. It's not very big, but it is big enough for me to put my power cord in there. I've got another larger hatch door on order for the door side. That will make it much easier to access that formerly unused space as I leave the bed up all the time and it's too much hassle to get under there.

Coming next: My kitchen hatch fixed once and for all. (I hope!)

Carol