Slamming the door - forever?

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I watched a video where the guy tightened the hinge bolts and made the door close perfectly. See if your door has some play when open if you lift up on it. It looked like a simple fix.

Sorry, my time to edit expired while looking for a decent picture.
The screws are under an aluminum plate. Held by double sided tape, I think.
Make sure screws are tight.

[Ray Eklund]

This bracket with the threaded welded nut is what came loose.

The nut that is missing is what kept my upper door hinge and door attached to the Airstream entrance. We were traveling when the door was opened and leaned two inches away from fitting the door frame, when Nancy was getting into the trailer.

The Top screw was still attached by the nut that come off the rivet.

The Lower screw could be pulled out without any effort.

We realigned the door, and I began to orientate pressure onto the ? on the inside of the frame, which I discovered later, was the nut that broke off the poor weld on the door bracket that hold the door onto the door frame. Four bolts. Two bracket. Four 'welded' nuts.

This was instant. No sign that the door was coming off. When we opened the door... it was loose, but not falling off.

I was able to take a LARGE Pillips screw driver and pliers to torque the single nut and ? at the time, bolt... tight. Slid the other screw into the other hole, put tape on it and hoped it might keep things aligned. The one screw and nut held the door securely.

At our next camp site, I made access to the floor trim and aluminum skin to find what fell out. With a flashlight the BRACKET was between the wall. There was nothing more I could do. The Airstream Dealer repaired the door. I was not there to watch, but after two years... never another problem.

They work on the inside, remove the molded door frame and drill two holes and may replace with another bracket, somehow. It worked. Door is solid. You would not know it happened. If it happens to you, remember this post. If you have one NUT and Bolt attached... Pull out the head of the bolt, apply pressure with a straight edged screw driver (wife held pressure), and I took the large Philips Screw driver and Pliers for leverage and gently tightened the bolt and nut... then giving it a Torque to keep it solid.

Really a poor excuse to hold such a heavy door. The screws are not tempered and are too small diameter.

I was saved by a 'nut'. Most cannot say that. I had a Thread about the repair somewhere on the Forum.

Our Airstreams are improved... as we use them. Ours is now 100% just perfect for us, after closing in on the third year of ownership.