Need replacement pilot light panel cover

[nwchinook]

Hi ,
I lost my pilot light panel cover for a 1997 Chinook Concourse. Any new or salvage parts available??
Thanks,
Vern

[Blue~Go]

I'd like to help, if I could, but I'm not sure I know what pilot light cover you mean. Could you explain a bit more?

[Concourse]

I'm guessing Vern is asking about the hot water heater on the outside of the coach because the stove is piezo start, the furnace doesn't have a cover you can lose, and the refrigerator access panel wouldn't just refer to the pilot. Just a guess. Anyway, if I guessed the quiz right the hot water heater is a very common off the shelf Suburban 6 gallon unit. The door is a standard part and not specific to the Chinook coach (other than the paint job).


One example:
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... els-/43662

[Blue~Go]

I thought of that after I responded, but then figured, well, I'm still not sure.

But I bet you are right, as those covers seem prone to flying off. You can't tell on mine whether it is the original or a new one, but on many of the Millenium painted Chinooks I see a plain white cover in place of the original Millenium painted one.

I once found mine halfway off (caught my eye before it really came off, whew). I now tie a small string through the loop so it can't come off even if the finger pull turns.

And, like you say, they are easily available for replacement.

Here is one on Amazon for quite a bit less:

http://www.amazon.com/Suburban-6261APW- ... eater+door

The part number is Suburban 6261APW (Polar White)

[Concourse]

I have a Millennium paint job on my Concourse and would hate to lose the painted one but it wouldn't be the end of the world. I'm sure there are better prices (and shipping) of the one door I referenced but I didn't look very hard. I've seen a modification to install a stainless screw in the door at the top near the stock twist look which adds both mechanical and theft security.

[Blue~Go]

I have a Millennium paint job on my Concourse and would hate to lose the painted one but it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Understood. The reason I said "Whew!" when I didn't lose mine is that I think it could do some damage to someone else by flying off on the highway. Goes into someone's windshield, onto the road in front of a motorcycle, etc. That would suck. I've since made it so it can't fly off just by the twist-handle twisting. I realized I wasn't the only one when I saw a number of "Millenium" Chinooks with plain white doors.

[nwchinook]

I'm guessing Vern is asking about the hot water heater on the outside of the coach because the stove is piezo start, the furnace doesn't have a cover you can lose, and the refrigerator access panel wouldn't just refer to the pilot. Just a guess. Anyway, if I guessed the quiz right the hot water heater is a very common off the shelf Suburban 6 gallon unit. The door is a standard part and not specific to the Chinook coach (other than the paint job).


One example:
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... els-/43662

Thank you Concourse and Blue Go for your quick response. It is the water heater cover. Thanks for the source. I was able to make a cover with a piece of washing machine lid--It looks ok but I will order one from campingworld.com . Attaching it with a safety cable is a great idea.
Vern

[Concourse]

Glad we could help. Don't be a stranger. There is a lot of great information here and more each day.

[Blue~Go]

What Concourse said! I hope you'll feel like sticking around.

What I did was not exactly a "leash" type safety strap. Reason I say that is my vision of that would be a cord or wire that would hold it onto the rig, but let it dangle (therefore not killing anyone behind me, but still beating up the side of the rig).

I found that the reason mine started to come off was that that little, spring-loaded, loop-shaped "turn button" at the top center, turned itself as I drove, and thus the cover could slip past it and come off. So what I did was simply tie a knot/loop of cord through that handle loop. Now it can't go through the slit in the door no matter what position it's in. So not only can't the door come off, but it can't change position either. I just untie the cord when I want to open the water-heater door (which is not very often). I used cord because it was handy at the time, but kept it since it's soft and doesn't scratch or rattle.

[1998chinook]

I have a Millennium paint job on my Concourse and would hate to lose the painted one but it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Understood. The reason I said "Whew!" when I didn't lose mine is that I think it could do some damage to someone else by flying off on the highway. Goes into someone's windshield, onto the road in front of a motorcycle, etc. That would suck. I've since made it so it can't fly off just by the twist-handle twisting. I realized I wasn't the only one when I saw a number of "Millenium" Chinooks with plain white doors.

There is a youtube channel called Xplorer Steve. He has an Xplorer style class b. A trick he used for the cover was to run a small carabiner through the twist-handle eye.