Little Guy hatch locks did not hold

[Richard A.]

I own a 2008 Little Guy Silver Shadow (built by the previous company). This particular model had the battery next to the hitch and has NO galley. The rear hatch is locked with the standard, t-handle locks that Little Guy uses. These locks swing down and lock behind a "handle" mounted on the trailer floor. There are three locks.

On the way home last weekend I decided to put some extra weight at the extreme rear of the trailer (to lighten the load on the hitch) on the floor, in the empty space left by the foot end of the mattress. I put my Honda EU2000i generator .. a large duffle bag with camping gear .. and a few other things. I (as usual) locked all three t-handle locks on the hatch and locked both doors shut.

During the trip home I heard something rattling as we drove down the highway. It only lasted for a few seconds. I did not pull over to check. When we got home I checked the trailer and did not see anything obvious that was missing or loose. It was hot. I was tired. So I didn't empty the trailer for a few days. When I finally did I noticed that the rear hatch was open and only held down by gravity. All three t-handle locks were still locked, but they had all slipped out from the handle mounted on the floor. Thus (I imagine) the hatch was bouncing in the breeze as I drove down the highway. I haven't checked everything (not sure what I packed in the car vs in the td) but it seems like I lost an old collapsable Coleman stove stand (I think I just dropped it on top of the big duffle bag) .. and that was what I heard clattering/rattling down the highway. Luckily the generator did not fall out (I would have been SERIOUSLY pissed)

Aparently there was too much weight in the extreeme rear of the TD and somehow it caused the hatch to bounce up and unlatch while still locked.

Now I realize that this will not matter much to most of you as most of you have a galley in that area, but I thought I'd mention it for the rest of you.

[Gage]

Now I realize that this will not matter much to most of you as most of you have a galley in that area, but I thought I'd mention it for the rest of you.

Well that is a problem that most everyone faces once in a while with that type of hatch catch. Even my hatch has come open a couple of times. It will happen. What I have done with mine is add a Ball Bungee from the 'T' handle to a hook attached to the frame under the galley. So it's not just Little Guy. It's every teardrop with a floor catch. I changed that method on the KIT I restored. I installed a center 'T' handle that pushes a rod into the side walls (one each side). Don't have the problem with the KIT.

[Nobody]

I used a 'T' handle & locking rods like Gage says. Salvaged the mechanism from an old P/U camper shell. Had to shorten the rods by a few inches & devise a receptacle in the sidewalls for the rods but it has served well for 6yrs & 12K+ miles. I did add a couple of 'toggle' latches on the outside for a period of time but one of them was severely mangled in the rear end collision year before last, & since the 'T' handle locking rods had held securely I removed 'em (the toggle latches). For rod receptacles I drilled holes in the sidewalls & 'inset' a large steel washer with 3 countersunk screws for strength. The rods extend about an inch into the receptacles when fastened so the entire trailer wall(s) would have to separate before the hatch could open. In a case like that I'd have lots more problems than just a hatch popping open