How to Quickly Fix a Loose RV Cabinet Latch

Do you have a cabinet latch or two in your home, RV, motorhome, or camper that need a fast repair? Learn how to quickly fix a loose RV cabinet latch, that can also work in your home, apartment, or dorm.

How to Quickly Fix a Loose RV Cabinet Latch

Sometimes, blog posts just aren’t “pretty”.

And today’s post falls into that category.

A couple months ago, I shared about some of the repairs and quick fixes I needed to complete here at the new My Wee Abode trailer. So far, I’ve fixed several issues, including how to easily repair an RV screen.

As promised, I’m sharing how to quickly fix an RV cabinet latch. However, this isn’t just for RVs. Many older homes have similar locking-type hardware, as do some apartments and dorms. If you aren’t sure what a cabinet latch is, read on.

What is a RV Cabinet Latch?

Before I show you what an RV cabinet latch looks like… here is where I had the cabinet issue:

The bathroom is super tiny… but I have two different closets/cabinets, PLUS a column of shelves that you can’t see in this image.

RV cabinets are all fitted with ‘locking’ hardware that keeps the cabinet/closet doors from opening while traveling. Sometimes, they can come loose from the wood because of overuse, as this one had.

The screws had come loose, and worn away some of the wood that was holding the locking hardware in.

This is what the latch is supposed to look like:

By the way, this type of cabinet latch is super helpful when baby is just starting to crawl and doesn’t have a whole lot of arm-strength. It is not easily pulled open by a curious baby! (However, as baby grows into toddler-hood, extra security cautions must be taken for cabinetry and closets.)

This was a simple fix! Let me show you how easy!

Easily Fix a Broken RV Cabinet Lock

All of these items will be tools you will use for future repairs/projects. And they are all affordable. You might even have some of them in your current DIY tool stash!

4 Simple Steps to Quickly Fix a Loose RV Cabinet Latch

If you are looking for a before photo, sorry, I forgot to snap the shot!

But, here are the 4 quick and easy steps to fix this loose cabinet latch problem:

1. Fill the empty holes with the Plastic Wood product. You can simply use your fingers to push the putty into the holes, until it is completely filled and has a bit ‘bulging out’ of the hole. Let dry until pink color (yes, it starts out pink!) has disappeared, and I would let it dry for another hour after that.
2. Take 220 grit sandpaper/block and sand excess dried putty until flat against wood.
3. Drill a starting hole for the first screw. Be sure to make this just a small divet.
4. Place hardware in line with filled holes and carefully drill-in the screws.

And that’s all there is to it!

Now, the cabinet door isn’t hanging open any longer, and it will stay securely shut for the time when I may need to travel with My Wee Abode!

My hope is that this post helped you. This can easily translate into fixing many cabinet hardware issues, and might just alleviate any fears you have to do a DIY. 🙂