By Dustin Simpson
The RV industry continues to take shortcuts that can cause owners to become frustrated. I see RVers complaining often in our Facebook groups, especially when it comes to RV cabinetry and cabinet hardware problems. Have you ever had a rear-mounted drawer socket that had come loose or even broke? It’s not uncommon.
The other issue we keep coming across, both in our shop and online, is drawer sockets that have been stapled in place instead of being screwed in properly. We’re also noticing that the rail has been riveted in place to the drawer socket, also making repairs difficult.
In this situation, the manufacturer used cheap scrap wood to support the cabinet drawer sockets. Also, they went with a T-style design instead of an H-style design for the framework.
By not having both sides supported, the drawer sockets will sway back and forth and side to side in travel. Most often, we see the wood is broken in the center of the T or the drawer socket has become damaged.
My recommendation would be to remove all the hardware, install additional wood bracing, and correctly mount the drawer sockets and rails in place.
Hopefully, this information helps you keep an eye out for the issue and gets you to inspect what’s going on behind your cabinet drawer before damage occurs.
DIY RV cabinet hardware product links:
- Drawer Slide Socket Set
- Drawer Slides – Make sure to measure the size you need before ordering.
- RV Drawer Latches and Catches Hardware
Our Facebook groups
These Facebook groups were created to help educate owners about parts, problems, repairs, fixes, and upgrades on RV units. We will be sharing videos that include WHAT’S IN THE SHOP? and SHOP TALK episodes with information on accessories and products that we use and install on the units from the shop.
We try and help as time allows to answer questions and problems. We encourage others to share their experience so we can build a resource page to help everyone.
Please follow us on YouTube, and see our published articles on RVtravel.com and other social media pages.
Please feel free to share your stories, problems, and upgrades with us so we can build a resource page to help others.
Thank you,
Dustin
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More from Dustin
Read more of Dustin’s articles here.
RVDT2836
Great article, keep them coming.
Thank you Dustin. Your facility has fixed one of our drawers successfully. We have one more pending our next visit!
Due to thin wood, the RV manufacturer used very short screws that easily pulled free. Finally came up with the idea of gluing blocks of wood below the side rails to add additional support. The blocks had to be thin enough to not project into the drawer path. Sort of a rail for the rail, but it did the trick.
We own a camper in the Rockwood/Flagstaff Mini/Micro group and they are billed as a cut above. However our kitchen drawer slides below the sink are sub-standard. Had to rebuild them after several years of towing. Very poorly made.
I have contacted the manufacturer “Gras” as their hinges used in Airstream trailers. Their hinges are designed for home use, not RV’s which move in all directions.