• Cobra Trailer Rear Door Closure/Security

    From Papa3@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 30 07:05:08 2023
    I recently borrowed a glider in a late 1990s Cobra trailer with a fiberglass top. The rear door is secured by a) the original barrel bolt sliding door latch (i.e. True Value Hardware $5.99 part) and b) a rotating hook operated by a locking T Handle on
    the trailer top which hooks over another $0.39 True Value Hardware 3/8 bolt. Nether of these is particularly secure against fore/aft loads such as when accelerating from a stop. In fact, the rear door swung down on its own luckily in the last
    mile of a 200 mile road trip. The jack/ramp was ready to depart the scene, but luckily a driver behind me flashed a warning and got me to pull over.

    Anyone found a nice, industrial-quality latch that will fit the available dimensions at the rear end of the trailer? I ordered a pair of these, but interested in what else folks have come up with.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G123W22?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

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  • From Mark Mocho@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 30 07:50:46 2023
    Most Cobra trailers I have seen utilize a barrel-type latch that has a plunger that goes in a hole on the side rail inside the trailer. Usually, only one latch is installed, but I have also seen applications with a latch on each side. Due to vibration
    over time, sometimes the hole in the sidewall becomes enlarged. I have fixed this by riveting a stainless-steel plate with a properly sized hole over the elongated hole.

    https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/barrel-bolt-latch

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  • From Hank Nixon@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 30 07:51:20 2023
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 10:05:10 AM UTC-4, Papa3 wrote:
    I recently borrowed a glider in a late 1990s Cobra trailer with a fiberglass top. The rear door is secured by a) the original barrel bolt sliding door latch (i.e. True Value Hardware $5.99 part) and b) a rotating hook operated by a locking T Handle on
    the trailer top which hooks over another $0.39 True Value Hardware 3/8 bolt. Nether of these is particularly secure against fore/aft loads such as when accelerating from a stop. In fact, the rear door swung down on its own luckily in the last mile of a
    200 mile road trip. The jack/ramp was ready to depart the scene, but luckily a driver behind me flashed a warning and got me to pull over.

    Anyone found a nice, industrial-quality latch that will fit the available dimensions at the rear end of the trailer? I ordered a pair of these, but interested in what else folks have come up with.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G123W22?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

    Some folks have added a second slide bolt on the other side for redundancy.
    UH

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  • From George Haeh@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 30 09:09:19 2023
    The rear door in my trailer is held by the somewhat bent sliding bolt, the trailer top and the locking hook – provided the bolt in the rear door is long enough to engage the hook.

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  • From John Sinclair@21:1/5 to Hank Nixon on Tue May 30 09:23:26 2023
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 7:51:22 AM UTC-7, Hank Nixon wrote:
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 10:05:10 AM UTC-4, Papa3 wrote:
    I recently borrowed a glider in a late 1990s Cobra trailer with a fiberglass top. The rear door is secured by a) the original barrel bolt sliding door latch (i.e. True Value Hardware $5.99 part) and b) a rotating hook operated by a locking T Handle
    on the trailer top which hooks over another $0.39 True Value Hardware 3/8 bolt. Nether of these is particularly secure against fore/aft loads such as when accelerating from a stop. In fact, the rear door swung down on its own luckily in the last mile of
    a 200 mile road trip. The jack/ramp was ready to depart the scene, but luckily a driver behind me flashed a warning and got me to pull over.

    Anyone found a nice, industrial-quality latch that will fit the available dimensions at the rear end of the trailer? I ordered a pair of these, but interested in what else folks have come up with.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G123W22?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
    Some folks have added a second slide bolt on the other side for redundancy. UH






    Mark is correct, the latch isn’t the problem!
    The hole in the soft aluminum side becomes enlarged due to constant vibration, until it no longer holds the rear door closed. I just moved the latch down a bit and started beating a new elongated hole!
    Two latches is a good fix for those who like to wear a belt and suspenders!
    An interesting experiment is to take a ride inside your trailer! You will be surprised at what’s going on in there when going down a bumpy county road! Most everything in bumping, rattling or just flopping around! The jack and ramp is the most
    worrisome due to its size and weight, jumping around inches from glider parts! It’s held in place by a bolt extending into the same door made of soft aluminum !

    JJ

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  • From Papa3@21:1/5 to Mark Mocho on Tue May 30 11:08:16 2023
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 10:50:48 AM UTC-4, Mark Mocho wrote:
    Most Cobra trailers I have seen utilize a barrel-type latch that has a plunger that goes in a hole on the side rail inside the trailer. Usually, only one latch is installed, but I have also seen applications with a latch on each side. Due to vibration
    over time, sometimes the hole in the sidewall becomes enlarged. I have fixed this by riveting a stainless-steel plate with a properly sized hole over the elongated hole.

    https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/barrel-bolt-latch

    Yup - noticed that. I'll start with a doubler around the hole on the one side and maybe try one of the 90 degree latches on the other.

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  • From Dan Daly@21:1/5 to John Sinclair on Tue May 30 10:48:48 2023
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 12:23:29 PM UTC-4, John Sinclair wrote:
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 7:51:22 AM UTC-7, Hank Nixon wrote:
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 10:05:10 AM UTC-4, Papa3 wrote:
    I recently borrowed a glider in a late 1990s Cobra trailer with a fiberglass top. The rear door is secured by a) the original barrel bolt sliding door latch (i.e. True Value Hardware $5.99 part) and b) a rotating hook operated by a locking T Handle
    on the trailer top which hooks over another $0.39 True Value Hardware 3/8 bolt. Nether of these is particularly secure against fore/aft loads such as when accelerating from a stop. In fact, the rear door swung down on its own luckily in the last mile of
    a 200 mile road trip. The jack/ramp was ready to depart the scene, but luckily a driver behind me flashed a warning and got me to pull over.

    Anyone found a nice, industrial-quality latch that will fit the available dimensions at the rear end of the trailer? I ordered a pair of these, but interested in what else folks have come up with.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G123W22?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
    Some folks have added a second slide bolt on the other side for redundancy.
    UH
    Mark is correct, the latch isn’t the problem!
    The hole in the soft aluminum side becomes enlarged due to constant vibration, until it no longer holds the rear door closed. I just moved the latch down a bit and started beating a new elongated hole!
    Two latches is a good fix for those who like to wear a belt and suspenders! An interesting experiment is to take a ride inside your trailer! You will be surprised at what’s going on in there when going down a bumpy county road! Most everything in bumping, rattling or just flopping around! The jack and ramp is the most
    worrisome due to its size and weight, jumping around inches from glider parts! It’s held in place by a bolt extending into the same door made of soft aluminum !

    JJ

    Avionic AVG15 came new in 2009 with bolts on both sides standard. No sign of the holes elongating.

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  • From Mark Mocho@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 30 11:45:41 2023
    An interesting experiment is to take a ride inside your trailer! You will be surprised at what’s going on in there when going down a bumpy county road! Most everything in bumping, rattling or just flopping around!

    Bob Carlton tows his airshow glider thousands of miles per year and says that the G Meter is pegged at +10 and -10 within just a few miles, even on a smooth highway.

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  • From Hank Nixon@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 30 11:50:09 2023
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 2:08:18 PM UTC-4, Papa3 wrote:
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 10:50:48 AM UTC-4, Mark Mocho wrote:
    Most Cobra trailers I have seen utilize a barrel-type latch that has a plunger that goes in a hole on the side rail inside the trailer. Usually, only one latch is installed, but I have also seen applications with a latch on each side. Due to
    vibration over time, sometimes the hole in the sidewall becomes enlarged. I have fixed this by riveting a stainless-steel plate with a properly sized hole over the elongated hole.

    https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/barrel-bolt-latch
    Yup - noticed that. I'll start with a doubler around the hole on the one side and maybe try one of the 90 degree latches on the other.

    A fender washer makes a quick and easy doubler. Fasten with 4 steel pop rivets. UH

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  • From [email protected]@21:1/5 to Hank Nixon on Tue May 30 13:15:05 2023
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 2:50:12 PM UTC-4, Hank Nixon wrote:
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 2:08:18 PM UTC-4, Papa3 wrote:
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 10:50:48 AM UTC-4, Mark Mocho wrote:
    Most Cobra trailers I have seen utilize a barrel-type latch that has a plunger that goes in a hole on the side rail inside the trailer. Usually, only one latch is installed, but I have also seen applications with a latch on each side. Due to
    vibration over time, sometimes the hole in the sidewall becomes enlarged. I have fixed this by riveting a stainless-steel plate with a properly sized hole over the elongated hole.

    https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/barrel-bolt-latch
    Yup - noticed that. I'll start with a doubler around the hole on the one side and maybe try one of the 90 degree latches on the other.
    A fender washer makes a quick and easy doubler. Fasten with 4 steel pop rivets.
    UH
    UH, you are correct, a double piece of material with a matching hole can and will solve the problem. The plunger should go through a piece of material that is harder than the aluminum side panel. I put these so called door locks on both sides of the
    bottom door and they are fitted into a harder piece of material that is riveted it the inside panel of the trailer which makes a secure latch that will last for a long time. OBTP

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  • From Eric Greenwell@21:1/5 to Mark Mocho on Tue May 30 15:29:09 2023
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 11:45:43 AM UTC-7, Mark Mocho wrote:
    An interesting experiment is to take a ride inside your trailer! You will be surprised at what’s going on in there when going down a bumpy county road! Most everything in bumping, rattling or just flopping around!
    Bob Carlton tows his airshow glider thousands of miles per year and says that the G Meter is pegged at +10 and -10 within just a few miles, even on a smooth highway.
    Fortunately for us, the glider G-meter does not indicate trailering loads accurately, as it is tuned for flight loads, which do not have the same frequencies in them that trailer loads do. To confirm this, I suggest you ride in the cockpit of a glider
    being trailered, to compare your butt feelings with the G meter readings. Video it for YouTube!

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  • From John Sinclair@21:1/5 to Eric Greenwell on Tue May 30 21:04:24 2023
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 3:29:11 PM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:
    On Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 11:45:43 AM UTC-7, Mark Mocho wrote:
    An interesting experiment is to take a ride inside your trailer! You will be surprised at what’s going on in there when going down a bumpy county road! Most everything in bumping, rattling or just flopping around!
    Bob Carlton tows his airshow glider thousands of miles per year and says that the G Meter is pegged at +10 and -10 within just a few miles, even on a smooth highway.
    Fortunately for us, the glider G-meter does not indicate trailering loads accurately, as it is tuned for flight loads, which do not have the same frequencies in them that trailer loads do. To confirm this, I suggest you ride in the cockpit of a glider
    being trailered, to compare your butt feelings with the G meter readings. Video it for YouTube!







    I took a flash lite and laid down just forward of the of the ramp and asked my wife to close the lid and drive the tow car……..Caution, don’t do this unless you have a strong marriage! Pat took the roughest Road she could find and then drove as
    fast as she dared! After returning home, I waited patiently for the lid to open……………after several minutes I cautiously said “ honey, are you there”? No answer! Pleading with my sweetest manners…………she said not a word for a good ten
    minutes, finally the lid slowly opened!
    Good one Patricia……
    JJ

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  • From Mark Mocho@21:1/5 to All on Wed May 31 04:42:30 2023
    I took a flash lite and laid down just forward of the of the ramp and asked my wife to close the lid and drive the tow car……..Caution, don’t do this unless you have a strong marriage! Pat took the roughest Road she could find and then drove as
    fast as she dared! After returning home, I waited patiently for the lid to open……………after several minutes I cautiously said “ honey, are you there”? No answer! Pleading with my sweetest manners…………she said not a word for a good ten
    minutes, finally the lid slowly opened!
    Good one Patricia……
    JJ

    Lock your dog and your wife in the trunk of your car. After an hour or so, open it and see which one is happy to see you.

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