Any chance someone can post a couple photos of the inside of the latches on the V2? I have a V1 and know that I will have to do two versions (one for the back and one for the sides) because of where the stiffening cross member is for the panels. It would be nice if I could design one of the two versions to fit both.
Thanks!
I see you’re in Denver, I’ll happily test out a version on the V2 if needed!
Not the best pictures since my truck is in garage, but first two are of the rear panel and last two of side panels.
At least at first glance looks like they’d work.
Thank you! This is exactly what I needed. Looks like what I am finalizing for my side panels would work on all three sides for you. I may take you up on the V2 testing, I’ll let you know!
I’d be happy to test these out for ya 
I tend to go into lots of places that add scratches to the truck (rhino lined the whole thing because of it).
Lots of great innovation and problem solving in here but unfortunately this should be solved by GFC. There’s clearly a problem with these locks and it shouldn’t be on the end user to solve the problem. I think GFC has been pretty good about addressing previous issues but shrugging their shoulders at their customers being locked out of their $8k campers doesn’t look good. Hopefully GFC will come up with a fix that doesn’t require the end users to print blocks to cover the locks.
I’d choose to do @Espinoza700 design before mine since it looks so awesome, but if anyone wants the file for mine shoot me an email at josh@jedf.us and I’ll send it out to you. I also have 3 sets of 6 of the .020 aluminum plates that you need to make it work so I’ll mail those out no charge to the first 3 folks that want them.
It’s been single digit F around here lately and what I have noticed is ice crystal build up in the latches I have lithium grease in. They haven’t stopped working at all.
NOT A SINGLE INSTANCE OF FAILURE TO OPERATE since greasing up.
I tried to get a picture of it but couldn’t get a good one. it ain’t purdy but it works
So close yet so far….
Finally was able to get it all assembled and installed…. The sides are perfect and they absolutely do the job, I’ll be leaving those on…. The rear would have worked perfectly if it wasn’t for the rear window seal interfering…… 4/6 isn’t too bad…. Will figure something out…. Perhaps along the lines of a slip in cover as the base will still work, just doesn’t have the clearance to slide the cover enough to let the latch pop up
Oh crazy; on the XL for my Ram it fits no problem!
Could it be rotated 180 degrees and work? So the cover slides away from the window seal.
nope… if you look closely at the edge, you can see where the panel bends upward… same issue
So a little update on fridgid northern testing on the latch covers. They do work great; but I have learned that you have to be diligent about closing the latches and covering them back up if you’re in Cabana mode.
Last weekend at the end of a snowmobile avalanche training course; it was puking wet snow. Had the doors on the camper open latches exposed. When I closed everything down there was snow filled in every crevasse. I kind knew this would be a problem, tried my best to clean it. Today, we’re pushing -20C and everything was frozen up. Good thing - I hit the covers pretty firmly with my palm to break them free and they survived. But the other snow that was in the latch obviously melted and all my doors are frozen shut.
I still think that the solution here is simple…either a t-handle or bigger latch so you can get more leverage. But I’d say the jury is out…compression latches are not ideal in consistently inconsistent winter weather. You need something with leverage to break the ice.
I got the gasket and magnets and printed out one of my magnetic covers to test it out. The panels have a slight bend to them quick prevents the bottom from evenly contacting the panel, but they seem to hold on well. I had to add a lip to make them easier to remove. They will look better in black, but I had grey on hand.
It is snowing and and supposed to be -3 tonight, maybe a will blast it with water for the ultimate test!
I sprayed water on and around the latch cover last night. You can see where a little water got in, but it stayed around the latch body and the latch opened just fine. This probably simulates a pretty worse case scenario.
I am not going to be selling these. They work great and I am happy with the design, but I really just made these because I like the doing the design. I will be making the files available to anyone who wants them. If you can have a 3d printer or don’t have the capability to print in the material you want (ABS, ASA, or PETG would be ideal), somewhere like 3d hubs can print that for a reasonable cost. This is especially true in a group buy scenario.
I am going to continue to tweak the design and make a version compatible with the V2 if there is enough interest.
Definitely interested!
Nice work!
I received a set of the plates from @jedgar last week (thank you!!). Currently trying to find someone around here to print in ABS or ASA- the Lulzbot & Prusas at work are set up for PLA, which I don’t think is a great match for this application. If anyone has any recommendations for a place to order the print from online as well I’m all ears.
I have had good luck with 3d hubs. I was ordering large quantities though, which made it very inexpensive.
PETG would also be a good option and could be printed without an enclosure like ABS and ASA require.
Thanks for the idea black. Gonna do this, I’m tried of looking like a jerk who doesn’t know how to unlock a lock or a thief trying to break into the thing
Pretty disappointed in these locks
I competed the side and rear latch cover design for the V1. I think these will fit side and rear doors for the V2, but I have no way of checking that. The side covers have 4 magnets to add extra hold so you can drive fast without worrying about them. I have liked being able to stick them to the side of the truck or the tailgate when I open the GFC so I dont lose the covers.
Below is a link to the files for printing the backing and covers. If you try them out, let me know what you think so I can edit them as needed. If you test them out on a V2, I will be particularly interested in how they work. If I need to, I can make a design that works for all of the V2 folk. The non gasket material and magnets can be found on ebay for around $10.
Enjoy!
