where to buy original porch light for 1998 concourse

[Flame]

I have my 1998 concourse almost completely in restored condition. Would like to replace the dingy porch and awning light lenses. Any idea where I can purchase them? I would replace the complete light if need be but want it original. Any parts catalogue for our rv? Where is everyone buying their parts? Also one of my driving lights has a cracked glass lens. Any ideas on that?

[Chinookers]

If it's the same as on my 2003 Premier ... http://rvparts.normsrv.com/rv-parts/55- ... nly-556788

[Blue~Go]

Note that the link above is the lens only (even though they show the whole fixture in the photo). I checked the part numbers and it seems that it may have been discontinued fairly recently. My guess is there are still some out there floating around though. They were used on quite a few different RV's over the years, including Airstreams.

Here is the name and part numbers:

Fasteners Unlimited part #P-1327 = complete fixture.
Fasteners Unlimited part #P-1327 = lens only

As far as finding parts in general, off the top of my head I can think of a few general categories.

1) Things that were fabbed specifically for Chinook. For example, most of the metalwork (steps, our era rear bumper, etc.) was done by ASAP Metal Fabricators, in Yakima, Washington (still in business).

2) Parts that are specifically Ford, such as the obvious cab things, and the less obvious taillights (from a Ford van on our era, but from Ford Explorer or other minivan on other years).

3) Parts that are generic RV parts that you can find at RV suppliers (some take some hunting). Examples would be Fantastic Vent, vinyl trim strips that go over screw channels on hatches (our era), plastic holder that hold up compartment doors, roof tank vents, holding tanks, Thin Lite fixtures, and on and on.

4) RV appliances. Dometic fridge, stove, roof AC, etc.

5) Home type stuff. Delta faucet, etc.

There are some Chinook made things, such as the shell and interior pillars - but not all that many, really.

There is quite a bit of info amassed here (search function), or you can ask of course (like you are doing now), or scour some RV supply catalogs, or use Google image search in come cases to filter through.

[Flame]

I am striking out everywhere. I even called the new Chinook company and they could not steer me in the right direction for locating a replacement porch lens. Blue I called the places you told me and checked some others and they don't have any. I can get by with just one lens. Don't need complete light but would buy them if I had to. One of the lenses cleaned up and looks like new but the other is very,very, yellow. If anyone knows a place that has just one lens please let me know. Also my porch and awning light had 2 different bulbs. Does anyone know what the correct bulb is? If I get the correct number then I am going to try to cross it to a led bulb.

[pdemarest]

Hi Flame - I bought my awning and porch lenses from Amazon but it looks like they are out of stock. There is a lens that looks like it might fit. Take a look;

https://www.amazon.com/Deco-008089-01-7 ... CC67V1PGYP

[pdemarest]

These guys will sell you the whole fixture with lens:

http://www.valuervparts.com/fasteners-u ... ht-p-1327/#

[pdemarest]

Sorry for the multiple posts but I was able to replace my lenses last year and since this is now a discontinued item its really hard to find them. These guys are in Canada but claim to have the whole fixture:

http://www.rvsuperstorecanada.ca/porch- ... -light-2-2

[Blue~Go]

Just as a note, I would probably call any of these places before just putting one in my cart and buying. Reason I say that as I've had numerous times in the past where I "found" a discontinued item on some website, put one gleefully in my cart, and... nope. So now I call, especially if it's a lesser known place.

Along these lines, I had been looking for another low-profile Fantastic Vent frame. I like that they project up above the roof less, and there is plenty of room down below (especially in the shower, which is where I had planned on putting a second one). They are hard to find. Finally I found one on a recognizable RV parts site. Yay! But just to make sure, I called. They said they'd have to call their "warehouse" (which turned out to mean they called Fantastic Vent/Dometic). But yay, they had one! So Fantastic shipped it to them, and they shipped it to me.

Hmmm, outside of the factory box clearly says "high profile base." Well, let's carefully open it... Yep, high profile (which are a dime a dozen and I could have bought with one click from Amazon much easier). Sigh. So I called them. "Are you sure?" Yes, I am, sadly. "Well, it's the lowest profile one they make." Well okay, but if the shortest building on the block is forty storeys, that doesn't make it a low building. After literally days of calling, being on hold, explaining, I FINALLY got them to issue me a call tag. They were still like "But they don't make one that's lower anymore" as if that makes it a low-profile base (and duh, that's why I called and explained they were hard to find and did they really have one as their website specified they did).

Weeks later, they refunded my purchase price but not the shipping. I decided at that point my time was more important than arguing over that part. So calling doesn't always work, but usually it does.

BTW, I finally found an "old stock" low profile frame somewhere else, which was the only part I needed. It's now sitting in my parts hoard

On the porch light though: I know some people like to keep it super original, but aside from that, I wouldn't say that light is a great design, at least IMO. I would prefer one that is a bit hooded on top, and projects more of the light down. Perhaps a potted LED fixture. From what I have read this design can be prone to leaking. I have not removed mine, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is very little faying surface, and maybe an annoyingly large hole (not sure on that though, just a hunch).

A friend has a newish Airstream and that has a really nice light over the door. It's either stainless or aluminum, hooded, and the lens faces down, so won't get a bunch of UV light and yellow or crack.

All that to say it wouldn't bother me to put on a completely different light fixture, as long as it wasn't cheesy. I realize that's a matter of taste though.

[Flame]

Blue, Thanks for the advise and I do always call a company first on something like this. I will call today the company in Canada to check their stock. Blue, I have considered changing the complete light to a better one and led. But...as you know our original light is tall and would take a pretty good sized light to completely cover the area where it is mounted. Also I want to change all my bulbs to led where possible. I have researched a few with angle down led lighting but all have been only 2 inch wide.

[Flame]

Well, I even called Canada for that lens/light and they didn't have it and said its discoed and tried 4 places he knew and they didn't have it. Our original light is 4 1/4 inch tall and only maybe 2 1/2 inch wide. The Tall is what is messing me up. I would replace my awning light with a brighter led light IF....I could find one that would cover my existing holes from the old light. So length doesn't really natter to me but heighth does and must be at least 4 1/4 inch wide. If all that makes sense. Ant recommendations?? I'm really getting frustrated now and want this little problem resolved!! Down to the final 2 or 3 things to make this restoration complete and it is wearing me out.