Chinook RV

Can anyone tell me why by 2001 premier battery compartment is hinged on top, but my 2000 concourse is hinged on bottom. Not a problem just wondering?

Funny. My 2000 Concourse has the battery compartment hinge at the top. Maybe it just depended on the tech that was installing it that day

Chinook flipped a number of the compartments as time went on. On my Concourse the battery area has bottom hinge, and "tire locker" has top hinge. I notice later ones have battery top hinge, tire locker bottom hinge. Sounds like you have one each side of the change.

BobW9 wrote: June 5th, 2020, 7:26 am Funny. My 2000 Concourse has the battery compartment hinge at the top. Maybe it just depended on the tech that was installing it that day

They switched the layout for outside utility on 2000. I am not sure, but maybe the one that hinged at the top is the older style with the gas/water/power separate, while the one hinged at the bottom is the integrated version? It be interesting if someone can let us know if my guess is wrong.

chin_k wrote: June 5th, 2020, 8:11 am
They switched the layout for outside utility on 2000. I am not sure, but maybe the one that hinged at the top is the older style with the gas/water/power separate, while the one hinged at the bottom is the integrated version? It be interesting if someone can let us know if my guess is wrong.

I believe we are talking about the hatches (doors) for two of the larger storage comparments, not the utility hookup hatches. Both hinges were switched around.

Layout one:
Battery/large storage compartment door bottom hinge; tire locker top hinge.

Layout two:
Battery/large storage compartment door top hinge; tire locker bottom hinge.

I can guess why.

Battery/large storage compartment. Original way you need no holder upper clip on body, but sand and stuff gets in hinge. Change to top hinge and add clip to body.

Tire locker. Can't open at all unless you lower spare. Change hinge and (maybe?) you can slightly get into it behind tire (not sure as I don't have bottom hinge or tire there). Downside: Sand etc. in hinge.

Lay out #3 2001 premier battery compartment top hinge, tire compartment top hinge.
Lay out # 4 2000 concourse bottom battery compartment bottom hinge, tire compartment top hinge.
At least this is the way there are on mine.

I think maybe it was one tech who did the compartment doors, and he/she was a gambler... and flipped a coin before installing each door on every vehicle

Blue~Go wrote: June 5th, 2020, 8:29 am I can guess why.

Battery/large storage compartment. Original way you need no holder upper clip on body, but sand and stuff gets in hinge. Change to top hinge and add clip to body.

And also, if you forget to latch it properly, it makes a distressingly awful noise every time you turn left at highway speeds

Kirah wrote: June 5th, 2020, 10:31 am

Blue~Go wrote: June 5th, 2020, 8:29 am I can guess why.

Battery/large storage compartment. Original way you need no holder upper clip on body, but sand and stuff gets in hinge. Change to top hinge and add clip to body.

And also, if you forget to latch it properly, it makes a distressingly awful noise every time you turn left at highway speeds

Or if you forget to latch the battery compartment, and start to drive off on the rig, you can use the door as a plow on the field. Speaking from experience here for me.

chin_k wrote: June 5th, 2020, 11:26 am

Kirah wrote: June 5th, 2020, 10:31 am

Blue~Go wrote: June 5th, 2020, 8:29 am I can guess why.

Battery/large storage compartment. Original way you need no holder upper clip on body, but sand and stuff gets in hinge. Change to top hinge and add clip to body.

And also, if you forget to latch it properly, it makes a distressingly awful noise every time you turn left at highway speeds

Or if you forget to latch the battery compartment, and start to drive off on the rig, you can use the door as a plow on the field. Speaking from experience here for me.

Heheh. Nothing like personal experience to learn to latch the hatch