Door Hinges

[2005 ford]

We have an 1990 Excella 1000 and the door is becoming harder to close. I noticed some type of bushings that look worn. I tried lubrication but it doesn't seem to help. There are two large screws per hinge that attaches the hinge to the trailer door frame. I haven't been able to figure out (visually) on how the hinge would come apart to replace these bushings or hinge pin. Can these hinges be repaired and how do you remove them from the door? Do you have to take off the inner skin of the door to remove hinge from the door?

Thanks,
Bill

[perryg114]

My 81 trailer does not seem to have bushings. Does the door have slack in it when you lift up on it. Can you see actual play in the bushings. Sometimes they get loose where they are bolted to the trailer. Is the bushing in the part attached to the trailer of the door part. If they are on the door part you can drive the hinge pin out and replace the bushings in the door part of the hinge or in the trailer side for that matter.

There are two 1/4-20 flathead bolts that hold the hinge brackets on the trailer and the only way to remove them is to drill holes in the inner skin so you can get to the nuts on the inside.

Perry

[sandlapper]

With some help you can lift the door up, slip in some nylon washers onto the pin to fill in the space from the wear and help keep the door lifted. You'll need to snip out a "v" section of the washer so it can be pushed onto the pin.

I find also that a regular dose of good silicone on the lock, handle, and the strike plate works wonders.

[Phrunes]

I have a fitment issue on my 76 Argosy...door latches fine, but door skin protrudes at bottom. I tightened the hinge screws that attach to the trailer and the bottom one appears to be stripped out because it wont tighten. Any idea what the screws screw into? Nut, aluminum doorframe, etc.?

[2005 ford]

Tried lifting up on the door and have zero movement up or down or side to side. There is no issue with locking/latching the door so I'll wait on hinge removal (last resort as I don't want to drill holes inside to remove nuts). The top hinge upper bushing is the one that has a space below the flange of the bushing/sleeve. Going to try and fit a nylon washer there to see if it makes a difference. This all started after camping on the coast of SC in March, around the second week the door started to open hard. Thought it was salt air corrosion so I sprayed with WD40 at the site and then with silicone spray lube 2-3 times at home. Wonder if graphite would be a better lube? Thanks for the tips.

Bill

[sandlapper]

Heck Bill, graphite would be worth a try, it is slick stuff. I keep a small tube of it in the trailer to puff into key holes.
My son has a '90 34' that had some door issues. The nylon washers really helped out.
You may need to wiggle the door back & forth as you lift up on it.

Good luck.

John

[perryg114]

Can you take some photos of the problem for us?

Perry

[2005 ford]

This is the picture of the top portion of the top hinge. You can see the bushing/sleeve I was referring too. It looks like the bushing has a flange on it and it separated from the rest. Off to find some nylon washers tomorrow.

[perryg114]

Is the bottom of the door hitting the frame?

Perry

[2005 ford]

The bottom of the door clears Ok.the door swings with more resistance then usual. My concern is as the bushings wear the hinge pin over time will wear out the hinge. Maybe I'm overly concerned.

Bill

[sandlapper]

Bill sounds like the door might just need a good dose of WD40 or Boshield or graphite on the hinges/pins. The nylon washers would also help some.

Our salty coastal air wreaks havoc on a lot of stuff. BTW, where were you when in SC?

[2005 ford]

Sandlaper, We stayed in Myrtle Beach area at Pirates Cove campground. Left cold and snowy upstate New York with the goal of heading south until we hit sunny weather and 80F. Well, the weather was great and we decided to stop and spend the month in Myrtle Beach area. Leaving for a short camping trip today and I will bring my can of silicone spray and keep on lubing the hinges.

Bill

[raveson]

Had he same kind of problem with the door hinges on my 345. Found the door would not close without lifting at certian level situations. Tried to tighten the hinges without any luck as the screws to the top were loose. Opened the interior skin and rebolted the hinge and liberally applied lock tite to the nuts. Did ths 3 - 4 years ago and have not had any more issues. If the screws to the hinges are loose, the only good answer is to unrivit the door frame and carefully peel back the interior skin for retightening. Is a pain, but well worth the time.

[perryg114]

To tighten the hinges all you need to do it drill some 3/4" holes over the bolts. Here is a pic showing some plugs over the holes. No reason you can't paint them to match the wall if you want.

I have thought that one way to eliminate hinge and pin wear would be to hollow out the pin and put a zerk grease fitting on the end of the pin. A few holes in the pin would allow the grease to get to the hinge.

Perry

[2005 ford]

Perry, That looks pretty good. Thanks for the pic. The screws that hold the hinge to the trailer are tight. I've been lubing 2-3 times a day since I posted. I think the lube is finally working it's way down the pin. Not much improvement but some. The nylon washer as purchased was too thick and I need to sand a few and try again. On the road boon docking in Old Forge, NY in a pull off. Nicks Lake has openings on Wednesday for a campsite to recharge.

Bill