We just bought a used RV so I went to work to make sure everything worked properly. Part of that…read moreinvolved tuning up the cam locks that secure the exterior compartments. I decided to clean, lube & adjust them all. Some were rough to turn, some were missing nuts & some could be rotated with or without the keys, opening them in either case. This needed to be repaired.
Having trouble finding replacement parts I asked for help on Nextdoor & many people contributed their thoughts & advice. That was sincerely appreciated. This process made me aware of how difficult it was to find certain parts. Consider this case of the missing nut. I have the measurement tools that told me the nut on the back of my cam latch was either 18.5 mm with a pitch very close to 1.0 mm or 3/4"-24 in the Imperial realm. With great difficulty even the best I could find in metric were 19 mm nuts but even then they were the wrong pitch. Finding a 3/4"-24 nut was much easier . . . on paper.
Clearly the nut was a "standard" product but where to get it from, hmm. I contacted these hardware sources, some from past experience & some from people's advice: Ababa Bolt, Ace Hardware, AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Grainger, Home Depot, Lowe's, Marshall's Industrial Hardware, McMaster-Carr, Mesa Fastener, Pell-Mell Supply, TruValue Hardware & United Fastener.
I had initially contacted J.R. Products, the manufacturer of the cam lock, but they would only sell me an entire new latch for about $11 each. If I replaced all 15 that would cost me a little under $200 with tax & shipping. I then called these RV places seeking some 3/4"-24 nuts: A1 RV Repairs, County RV Service, eTrailer, Overland RV, RV Trailer Supply, San Diego Trailer Supply & South Coast RV. Without exception they told me I'd have to buy all new cam locks & no one would sell me just the nut required for the latches without them. As I scanned my Yelp list of RV places I noticed one place I hadn't called happened to be the closest one to my home. I hadn't called them before because they were a long way down the list & the further I went down that list, the greater my frustration & hopelessness levels grew. I thought "What the hell! They're very close!" I called & spoke with Gary Weissenberg who has owned "Hit The Road RV" for 20 years. It is behind the Dairy Queen (and one building South) in Allied Gardens. He is one of those guys who answers the phone casually so I wasn't sure I'd reached a business. I asked & he confirmed I was talking with "Hit The Road RV". I asked if they carried parts & he said "Some. What do you need?". I told him I needed ten 3/4"-24 nuts & why I need them. He told me "Usually you have to buy the whole new cam lock but let me see what I can do." I heard him shuffling through drawers & he came back to the phone & told me sure enough he had ten of them though not new. "Fine with me" I said, "I'll be by soon." He reminded me to bring in a cam lock so we could test them to be sure. Before I hung up I asked how much they would be. He said "I'll probably never use them. You can have them."
When I arrived he greeted me warmly. I found myself not in a pristine business but in the work area of a guy who dedicates himself to his work & taking care of his clients & their vehicles rather than having a glitzy store. Despite his reluctance to be paid, I was able to pay him a paltry amount for his efforts & kindness. I only paid him $10 but if this heartfelt recommendation falls on fertile ground perhaps he will benefit with some more business. One can only hope. Needless to say he has my recommendation and, at the worst, I alone will be his dedicated new customer.
Feeling pretty happy I stopped at the Dairy Queen across the parking lot & treated myself to a small vanilla, chocolate dipped cone. I ordered the small & immediately wished I had ordered the Junior (smaller). As a habit I asked if they gave any discounts to ex-military and/or old farts. The young man at the window had no idea but he looked about inside & turning back to me said "Sure, why not?" & knocked off a buck. My day was getting better by the minute now.
Behind me in line was a Mom in her US Marine Corps uniform ferreting through her purse to find money to buy ice cream for her two young kids. With the rosy glow I had & the milk of human kindness currently coursing through my veins I said "Order what ever you want because I am paying! Thank you for your service." They were all very happy. Her two grateful kids, both with impeccable manners, noted I paid with my usual $2 bills which they had never seen before. I gave each kid one, told them what a hero their Mom was & bid them all adieu. I thought "Could my day possibly get any better?" It could! When I got home Gayle was there just doing everyday stuff.
Dave out
P.S. I learned many RVs use the same locks with the same key so there's not a lot of security there. Remember that & consider upgrading yours. Gary can do it for you if you can't or don't want to.