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Ceiling drop down storage stiff to open

pematthe-1967

pematthe-1967

VIP Member
Messages
29
Location
Slovenia
Vehicle
T6 Ocean 150
2017 Cali Ocean with a rear ceiling storage cupboard. Not sure if there’s an official name for it. Just above the rear seats.

It is really stiff to open and drop down As if it is catching on the left (wardrobe cabinet) side. There’s a knack to un-latching it but the effort required getting it to open seems excessive. I don’t want to dismantle just yet to investigate but wondered if others have the same. Is it normal, or is something out of whack!
 
That reluctance to open seems to come as standard, and yes there is a knack, Mrs Db 5" 5" has it, I don't at 6' 4".
I commiserate but can't assist. Sorry. Db.
 
Doorbundle said:
That reluctance to open seems to come as standard, and yes there is a knack, Mrs Db 5" 5" has it, I don't at 6' 4".
I commiserate but can't assist. Sorry. Db.
Click to expand...
We are very similar to Doorbundle, Mrs DoH can open that upper drawer/ cupboard, I can’t. Then again incentives are a wonderful thing: she keeps all her clothes in it, I don’t!
 
Doorbundle said:
That reluctance to open seems to come as standard, and yes there is a knack, Mrs Db 5" 5" has it, I don't at 6' 4".
I commiserate but can't assist. Sorry. Db.
Click to expand...
Dry goods only for us, Biscuits, Crisps, etc. Not enough space for Mrs Db's 'wardrobe'.
 
Think this is normal. The only position I can easily open it from is kneeling on the bench seat facing the draw, cant do in a seating position. Try putting a bit more weight in the draw see if that makes it easier to pull down, it certainly seems to be designed such that it never drops down hard.
 
It is not the unlatching that’s the problem, I have that ‘knack’ sorted out. It is like one side of the unit is much stiffer than the other - or rubbing on the cabinet.

I did find a random forum thread about replacing a part but the symptoms described didn’t really match mine.

Oh, and we keep the games in there - cards, boardgames etc. The rainy day stuff as the ‘cupboard’ is so difficult to open properly.
 
pematthe-1967 said:
It is not the unlatching that’s the problem, I have that ‘knack’ sorted out. It is like one side of the unit is much stiffer than the other - or rubbing on the cabinet.

I did find a random forum thread about replacing a part but the symptoms described didn’t really match mine.

Oh, and we keep the games in there - cards, boardgames etc. The rainy day stuff as the ‘cupboard’ is so difficult to open properly.
Click to expand...
Have a read of this at post 18 onwards ...
vwcaliforniaclub.com

Overbed locker repair

We foolishly overloaded the locker with books and as a result the hinge pin sheared off on one side. The van centre quoted £150 to repair but when it came to do the job realised the the whole kitchen had to be removed to access the hinge so the cost escalated to about £750. So we declined the...
vwcaliforniaclub.com vwcaliforniaclub.com
 
Last edited:
Ours is stiff also, mainly on closing it - seems to flex so it depends where you apply the force. Similar on way down, slightly pulling the handle leftwards makes it move easier in our case. I guess we should try to apply a little Autoglym rubber and vinyl care to the wardrobe bullhead, it makes things slip easier and it isn’t oily.
 
Hawthorn37 said:
Ours is stiff also, mainly on closing it - seems to flex so it depends where you apply the force. Similar on way down, slightly pulling the handle leftwards makes it move easier in our case. I guess we should try to apply a little Autoglym rubber and vinyl care to the wardrobe bullhead, it makes things slip easier and it isn’t oily.
Click to expand...
Think this may be better ...
WD-40 Specialist Dry PTFE Lubricant Spray - Ideal for Long Lasting Protection & Lubrication on Metal, Plastic & Rubber Surfaces https://amzn.eu/d/9Ex8l77
 
KGCali said:
Think this may be better ...
WD-40 Specialist Dry PTFE Lubricant Spray - Ideal for Long Lasting Protection & Lubrication on Metal, Plastic & Rubber Surfaces https://amzn.eu/d/9Ex8l77
Click to expand...
I’ve got a can of that and use it on some stuff, and I’m sure it’ll work, but it does leave a residue. The AG spray is more of a cleaner and allied by a cloth. Works great on the pop top hatch runners, cupboard runners etc.
 
pematthe-1967 said:
2017 Cali Ocean with a rear ceiling storage cupboard. Not sure if there’s an official name for it. Just above the rear seats.

It is really stiff to open and drop down As if it is catching on the left (wardrobe cabinet) side. There’s a knack to un-latching it but the effort required getting it to open seems excessive. I don’t want to dismantle just yet to investigate but wondered if others have the same. Is it normal, or is something out of whack!
Click to expand...
As everyone else has said, this is standard behaviour. I find that if stood directly in front, it opens easily. If I stand slightly to one side, it catches on the wardrobe and gets stuck.
There is definitely a knack.
 
Hawthorn37 said:
I’ve got a can of that and use it on some stuff, and I’m sure it’ll work, but it does leave a residue. The AG spray is more of a cleaner and allied by a cloth. Works great on the pop top hatch runners, cupboard runners etc.
Click to expand...
For anyone interested, I tried using the AG vinyl and rubber spray, on the locker side bulkhead which the hatch moves against - total waste of time - as would be any lubricant applied to this area. It feels like it’s the mechanism that is stiff - not friction with the bulkhead. To be honest, we can live with it, so we will!
 
Extract from my forum link above in post #9 ...

The excessive resistance issue was cured instantly by flattening the captive nut plates that hold the drawer sides to the sliding hinge mechanisms - if the short bolts are overtightened, these plates can deform, bend/dish and rub on the hinge sides.

If you read all of the post it explains in detail how to fix a stiff drop-down cabinet on the Cali. Good luck in your fix.
 
I find that after unlatching I press and hold lightly on the other side, it relieves the catching on the wardrobe side and lowers ok. I’m just holding it square to stop it catching, frustrating to have to do it but it works.
 
pematthe-1967 said:
2017 Cali Ocean with a rear ceiling storage cupboard. Not sure if there’s an official name for it. Just above the rear seats.

It is really stiff to open and drop down As if it is catching on the left (wardrobe cabinet) side. There’s a knack to un-latching it but the effort required getting it to open seems excessive. I don’t want to dismantle just yet to investigate but wondered if others have the same. Is it normal, or is something out of whack!
Click to expand...
Yep always had this problem, seems standard!
 
pematthe-1967 said:
2017 Cali Ocean with a rear ceiling storage cupboard. Not sure if there’s an official name for it. Just above the rear seats.

It is really stiff to open and drop down As if it is catching on the left (wardrobe cabinet) side. There’s a knack to un-latching it but the effort required getting it to open seems excessive. I don’t want to dismantle just yet to investigate but wondered if others have the same. Is it normal, or is something out of whack!
Click to expand...
I‘ve had the same problem with mine. (15 years old now) I solved the problem by applying PTFE dry lubricant spray to the black semi circular runners either side of the cupboard. Pack kitchen towel around the area to prevent the spray dripping through. It will dry and run as a dry lubricant. Reapply every couple of years.
 
Yep same prob here. Pulling forward more (ie towards the front of the van) rather than down does help a bit, but we've all learned our own knack and have learned to live with it. Stay happy.
 
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