Securing Entry Door while underway

[John Oliver]

Any ideas, suggestions, etc. as to how to secure entry door while traveling. My 1986 31' Soverign has rearward opening "suicide door" with nothing except main lock/latch to prevent catastrophic opening.

In ten years I have never had a problem, but always have visions of door flying open while crossing over Bear Tooth Mountains, or on I-80 outside Cheyanne Wy !!

Would like to come up with something, other than hasp type lock, that does not require punching holes in the shiny stuff !!

Thanks in advance for the tips

Oldsalt47
1986 31' Soverign
2007 6.0L GMC Yukon XL Denali
Co-pilot Remington Shur Shot 90 lb Black Lab

[moosetags]

We had one of the very early 2005 25FB's. These also had the rear-hinged entry door. I towed that trailer about 120,000 miles in eight years. I never had any problem with the door coming open while underway. I did always try to be careful about double locking before starting out. I thought about getting a marine stainless steel slide bolt for the outside of the door, but was concerned about someone come by and locking while I was inside. Therefore I never did anything and it all worked out.

Brian

[John Oliver]

Thanks I know what u mean about the getting "locked in" vs locked out. Being a sailor for 40+ years, I am familiar with all the exterior slide bolt type locks. Was thinking about some type of bolt that was quickly removable so it could be removed and put inside when not traveling ??

[John Oliver]

Thanks I know what u mean about the getting "locked in" vs locked out. Being a sailor for 40+ years, I am familiar with all the exterior slide bolt type locks. Was thinking about some type of bolt that was quickly removable so it could be removed and put inside when not traveling ?






"Judgment comes from Experience, Experience comes from bad Judgment" ....... Simon Bolivar

[centennialman]

Can you post a pic of your entry door in the closed position?

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by centennialman

Can you post a pic of your entry door in the closed position?

Steve our FC20's also have the so-called suicide door, and I am trusting the lower deadbolt entirely to stay latched while underway. We avoid using the upper lock, which is part of the door's operable latch, except when we are both inside for the night. I don't think our upper lock is subject to,vibrating open in transit, like some older models seem to, but this is TBD I guess.

I believe the original poster here has an older lockset.

Peter

[centennialman]

Thanks Peter....I am curious to see if his trailer has a grab handle just to the side of the door or not. My 1966 Airstream had a grab handle and I fashioned a wooden piece that slid into it and across the door for extra piece of mind in regards to the door flying open.

When I bought my FC 20 this year the first thing I pondered was how I could make the door more secure from flying open. Haven't come up with any ideas yet.

[Dingo Girl]

There is a gizmo fashioned out of wood that you can make to hold the door closed for the 60s trailers. Not sure about other years.
It fits in the vertical handle next to the door.
I tried to search our out but can not find it.
Maybe some one that has one will chime in

[moosetags]

Here are a couple of shots of the door on our 2005 Safari 25FB. As you can see, there is a grab handle right next to the door open. A wedge as you describe is a good idea.

Brian

[centennialman]

Here is the link for the wooden doohickie thingy. It worked well on my 1966 Airstream. http://www.airstreamcentral.com/arti...tch/Page1.html
I may still have the template in a file if anyone wants a copy. I spray painted mine gray.

[ijustlee]

It seems to defy common sense that almost all Airstream doors are hinged suicide style. Does anybody know why they do it this way?

[centennialman]

One school of thought is that the door would be in the way of the awning rail on some models or that it would cover a window if it opened to the right. There is more room in the center part of the trailer for the door to cover and secure when parked etc...

[moosetags]

We have had two 25FB's. A 2005 with the rear hinged door and a 2015 with a front hinged door. Given our druthers, we prefer the rear hinged door. It just works better on a 25FB.

Brian

[Dingo Girl]

Originally Posted by centennialman

Here is the link for the wooden doohickie thingy. It worked well on my 1966 Airstream. http://www.airstreamcentral.com/arti...tch/Page1.html
I may still have the template in a file if anyone wants a copy. I spray painted mine gray.

Thank you!
I was hoping someone would have one!

[Wayne&Sam]

I see in the photos that you have a deadbolt in addition to the regular door latch. Underway, I always use the deadbolt and have never had a problem.

[drboyd]

Thanks!

Originally Posted by centennialman

Here is the link for the wooden doohickie thingy. It worked well on my 1966 Airstream. http://www.airstreamcentral.com/arti...tch/Page1.html
I may still have the template in a file if anyone wants a copy. I spray painted mine gray.

[centennialman]

I have to give credit to Freshair for the design of the wooden door block. He sent me a template 10 years ago and I believe he is the one on the link I posted earlier. I don't believe he would mind if it's shared since he posted the dimensions etc... on the link. If anyone wants a copy of my template, please send me a private message with the address and I will get it mailed out to you right away.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by centennialman

Thanks Peter....I am curious to see if his trailer has a grab handle just to the side of the door or not. My 1966 Airstream had a grab handle and I fashioned a wooden piece that slid into it and across the door for extra piece of mind in regards to the door flying open.

When I bought my FC 20 this year the first thing I pondered was how I could make the door more secure from flying open. Haven't come up with any ideas yet.

Our 2014 FC20 does have a grab handle to the right of the door FYI. Thanks for the link to the wooden door safety piece.

[dkottum]

With the dead bolt in place I seriously doubt any Airstream door would come open. Maybe something unforeseen would happen, a really big bump, someone forgets to close it tight.

So we went to the hardware store and bought a small rubber door stop, and a little loop bungee. Drilled a hole in the tall end of the door stop and put the bungee through it. Then when traveling we loop the bungee to the grab handle and push it under the grab handle towards the door so it blocks the door from coming open. When we go inside we pull out the stop and let it dangle from the grab handle as a reminder to put it back in place when hitting the road again.

[John Oliver]

Thanks for all the input! Yes, my Soverign does have the grab handle and like others, I have used a series of different "wooden wedges" thru grab handle to keep door shut. I was hoping to find something a bit more craftsman like than a cedar wedge - although the wedge performs flawlessly !!! ( KISS ). Maybe I should leave well enough alone ...As yet. I have been unable to open files which have the prototype wooden latch. Will keep trying


Thanks