Visit our Popular Forums

AirstreamGypsy · 07-09-2008, 11:56 AM

Oh woe is me... stupid, stupid, stupid.

I forgot to turn my deadbolt and I knew I should have replace the striker - holder as it was getting thin.

I was just finishing a wonderful trip in the Sierras, photography, hiking and boondocking. (more on that later)

A gentleman pulled up beside me beeping his horn. Rolled down my window to hear him say, "your door is open". Ugh! Checked to make sure I could successfully keep it closed for the rest of the trip home, then started crying. That lasted the first hour, then I was severely depressed for an hour, then resigned, then I tried not to think about it.

The damage may not look bad to some of you folks out there but for me it is huge. I am in the middle of Timbuktu. Here are the photos.

LJH · 07-09-2008, 12:08 PM

I am so sorry, AG. Sometimes things just happen. I'm sure that you will have it looking good as new in no time!

Mel · 07-09-2008, 12:15 PM

Major bummer! I'm so sorry this happened. I'm glad at least that you were able to get the door closed and secured for the rest of your trip.

AirstreamGypsy · 07-09-2008, 12:19 PM

Thanks for your sympathy. I'm wondering if my insurance might take care of some of the repairs. I'll have to give them a call. I imagine that they would want an "authorized dealer" to make the repairs but I'd rather trust those on the forums who have extensive experience on the vintage trailers.

Foiled Again · 07-09-2008, 12:22 PM

Sympathy Karma. Beautiful vintage unit too.

The FB's withOUT the suicide doors ARE wonderful.

Paula

AirstreamGypsy · 07-09-2008, 12:26 PM

Thank you for the Karma paula! I can use all I can get!

Lumatic · 07-09-2008, 12:42 PM

Caca pasa

vswingfield · 07-09-2008, 12:47 PM

I'm sure you feel awful. What a beautiful rig.

Aerowood · 07-09-2008, 01:18 PM

If you lived closer I would be more then happy to help you out. Let me know if there is anything I can do to.

Kip

AirstreamGypsy · 07-09-2008, 01:24 PM

Thanks Kip,

I will need to deliberate on this unhappy incident a bit more. I'll pm you later when I know what the insurance says.

flyfshr · 07-09-2008, 01:27 PM

AG - now we have matching dents. I've lived with mine so long and have wanted to get it fixed and plan on doing it myself one day. I feel your pain. When's the next restoration rally? Seems they could make quick work of this.

Brad
FF

AirstreamGypsy · 07-09-2008, 01:37 PM

Brad, I never noticed your dent at Deadhorse. So sorry!

I don't think I could wait another year. Plus I am afraid the wind would rip open the door if I don't fix it soon.

Melody Ranch · 07-09-2008, 01:51 PM

Were both locks in the locked position? I cant figure out how it popped open with the dead bold locked too. Just the door lock...yes! Now I am worried about how mine is. I used the wooden latch in the 69 Caravel but rely on the dead bold in the 66.

flyfshr · 07-09-2008, 01:56 PM

Fortunately, the dent isn't noticeable when the door is latched in the open position during an Open House.

Otherwise it is very obvious. If you recall, my door came completely off after crashing into the side on our maiden voyage. I was ready to head back home and it was the first day of a two week trip.

Brad
FF

AirstreamGypsy · 07-09-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AirstreamGypsy

Oh woe is me... stupid, stupid, stupid.

I forgot to turn my deadbolt and I knew I should have replace the striker - holder as it was getting thin.

You should be fine if you check, check and recheck. I'll use a real paper checklist from now on.

AirstreamGypsy · 07-09-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyfshr

If you recall, my door came completely off after crashing into the side.

Brad
FF

I remember now Brad. Did you have a new door made or did you repair the old one? That sounds improbable. And did you do it yourself or did you have someone else repair the door?

Suzanne

flyfshr · 07-09-2008, 02:06 PM

Lucky for me, the door survived in remarkable condition. I riveted it back on at our first over night, put on two hasps and haven't done a thing to it since. It needs attention but mostly for cosmetics and not functionality. I'll get to it when my shop gets built.

Brad
FF

FreshAir · 07-09-2008, 02:18 PM

So sorry. Hopefully when it is fixed (I noticed that there is no grab bar on your coach) you will aquire one of these 'door locks'; see picture. Any of you out there with mid 60s AS want a template PM me and I can send one and you can cut your own from wood. I have a few left for those not handy woodcutters.
Neil.

BogieGolf · 07-09-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshAir

So sorry. Hopefully when it is fixed (I noticed that there is no grab bar on your coach) you will aquire one of these 'door locks'; see picture. Any of you out there with mid 60s AS want a template PM me and I can send one and you can cut your own from wood. I have a few left for those not handy woodcutters.
Neil.

(FreshAir has the best preventitive measure out there. We roll with one of these nowdays.)

I am so sorry about your door.
I feel your pain and totally understand because our Sovereign recently suffered the same fate. Prior to our incident, we had no visible dents anywhere. Your trailer is still gorgeous.
If you have not done so already, read this http://www.airforums.com/forums/f453/another-sprung-door-26820.html . I was able to completely straighten our BADLY bent door by following Inland Andy’s advice in post #22. I did not make a jig, as mentioned elsewhere. By removing the inner skin after drilling all of the rivets out, the outer skin can be bent back into shape.
I was also able to pull the corresponding dent on the curbside panel almost all the way out using suction cups from Harbor Freight. It might be worth a try.
Again, really sorry about your door. Not that it will help the situation, but I’ll send you some karma.

Chris

CanoeStream · 07-09-2008, 04:33 PM

I'm currently repairing an Argosy door damaged by a worse dumba** move on my part. Using Olympic rivets is a PIA with the follow-on gasket that I'll have to put back. LI Pets did his with Olympics and has documented it here at AIR (quickie links: A & B). Inland RV does these repairs as a fully qualified repair/dealer (insurance) standpoint but they're mighty far away from you. But if Kip (the master buck riveter -- find Shari's 05-12-08 post at http://www.airforums.com/forums/f91/s-girl-31084.html) is offering to help I most certainly would take him up on the offer!