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codybear · 08-10-2006, 09:43 PM

I want to know why they designed our Safari with a door that swing opens towards the back instead of toward the front??..someone told me it's called a 'suicide door'..

CaddyGrn · 08-10-2006, 09:57 PM

I have heard, on occasion, it makes a difference when using an Awning. Other than that I am also clueless. We have a suicide door on our 63 Bambi. You do want to be sure you have extra protection to keep the door closed as they can come open in transit... Ours did once... fell off on the Interstate. Horrible experience.

Mrs. NorCal Bambi (traveling in S Tardis)

Pahaska · 08-10-2006, 09:58 PM

So that the door does not run into the awning arm. With the exception of the front bedroom models, every Airstream for many years has had the rearward opening door.

Just keep both locks locked while underway and you don't have to worry about the door.

Pahaska · 08-10-2006, 10:00 PM

Jsut noticed the year of your trailer. many owners of older trailers use a wood stick through the grab handle to secure the door while underway. See my article in Airstream Life or search this forum for photos of such a stick.

flyfshr · 08-10-2006, 10:17 PM

Our suicide door came off on the freeway too. Not an experience I want to live through twice. Do whatever it takes to keep that door closed and secure while in transit and don't rely on a bungee.

Brad
FF

codybear · 08-10-2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pahaska

Jsut noticed the year of your trailer. many owners of older trailers use a wood stick through the grab handle to secure the door while underway. See my article in Airstream Life or search this forum for photos of such a stick.

Yes, a fellow Airstreamer told me of his piece of wood that he used to 'latch'
the door..I think the door has swung open so many times espectially when we're parked on uneven ground, that the door or hinges are warped and that the door doesn't even latch securely..one of the suggestios we got was to replace the hinges and/or pins and/or door knob..any suggestions?..how 'bout just taking a hammer and poundin' the hinges?...just kidding

codybear · 08-10-2006, 10:24 PM

John,
we were actually thinking about how much it would cost to put on an awning and where to get a good one at a good price..it never had one when we got it from my in-laws or I guess the first owner..

Safari Tim · 08-10-2006, 10:29 PM

Brad,

How were your hinges originally attached to the trailer? What have you done to ensure it does not happen again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyfshr

Our suicide door came off on the freeway too. Not an experience I want to live through twice. Do whatever it takes to keep that door closed and secure while in transit and don't rely on a bungee.

Brad
FF

Pahaska · 08-11-2006, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codybear

John,
we were actually thinking about how much it would cost to put on an awning and where to get a good one at a good price..it never had one when we got it from my in-laws or I guess the first owner..

There are several sources for Zip-Dee awnings on this forum. Do a search for Zip-Dee. Unfortunately, there was a price increase just days ago. lewster and Inland RV Center, among others, deal in Zip-Dee awnings.

flyfshr · 08-11-2006, 08:10 AM

Ambassador Tim ~

The stainless steel hinges were riveted to the body with six rivets each. They were attached to an area of the skins that was unsupported by a rib or any other additional support behind the skin. When re-attaching, I added a number of new rivets of larger diameter and once I returned home Vulkemed the top edge of the hinge where it meets the exterior skin. When the hinges were off, the skin had corroded and since this trailer spent a good deal of time in the Pacific NorthWest before I purchased her, the integrity of this bond between skin and hinge was comprimised. I also added, begrudgingly, two hasps to the leading edge of the door to keep it closed in transit. That door is not going to open while in motion again!!

Brad
FF

**moosetags** · 08-11-2006, 08:47 AM

We have an '05 Safari 25' FB. Ours has a sucicide door and since it is at the rear, it also hits the awning suuport. We understand there were only a few FB's hinged this way before the factory decided that this was not such a great idea.

codybear · 08-11-2006, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pahaska

There are several sources for Zip-Dee awnings on this forum. Do a search for Zip-Dee. Unfortunately, there was a price increase just days ago. lewster and Inland RV Center, among others, deal in Zip-Dee awnings.

Hi John,

Thnnx for the Zip-Dee idea. Do you think replacing the pins in the 2 door hinges (they look a little bent), might be a start in 'straightiening out the door?

A-Merry-Can · 08-11-2006, 12:22 PM

i too, am a member of the suicide door opening on the highway and ruining your trip... twice, actually... and every time, i get... well, ya know...

! the second time, it snapped my door frame, too. i need to get that taken care of pretty soon. a friend of mine has experience welding aluminum (which i've heard is NOT for the beginner!). it also blew a hole in teh side of the trailer with the door knob. i'm thinking about changing the name of my trailer to "Patches".

i like the latch idea, though, think i'll do that on mine as well! are those stainless hasps from McMaster?

jp

Minnie's Mate · 08-11-2006, 12:38 PM

We have an '06 Safari 30' and it has the "suicide" style door. Thought all Airstreams did now days except the rear door Safari FB.

Pahaska · 08-11-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codybear

Hi John,

Thnnx for the Zip-Dee idea. Do you think replacing the pins in the 2 door hinges (they look a little bent), might be a start in 'straightiening out the door?

I really can't say without actually seeing the parts. A pro, such as lewster, migt be a better person to ask.

A-Merry-Can · 08-11-2006, 04:49 PM

hey codybear,

post some pics so we can give you some more constructive feedback. was the door frame cracked and/or bent? replacing aluminum skins is a piece of cake, but the actual door frames are a little tougher.

when my door blew open the second time, it (FORTUNATELY) never left the trailer. the hinge edge was unbent, the handle edge, however snapped and twisted. i thought about how to get the curve back in it, and i've come up with the idea of buying a 2X6, tracing the curve on it from the back of the door, and clamping the front down until it's close, if not even a little MORE curved (to hold the top and bottom closer to the body). THEN get my friend to weld the cracks for me.

also, all the aluminum rivets sheared on the inner panel when the door bent. by bending the door back slightly by hand, and re-riveting them in place, the door was enormously more stable feeling. it's amazing how flimsy a door will feel with just the outter skin attached.

look forward to some pics!

jordan

flyfshr · 08-11-2006, 04:54 PM

Those hasps were purchased at the WalMart in Gallup, NM while on the second day of our two week journey. All repairs needed to be made on the road. They have held up fine.

Brad
FF

codybear · 08-11-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pahaska

I really can't say without actually seeing the parts. A pro, such as lewster, migt be a better person to ask.

Ok, here's a couple of pix of the warped door, notice that the door doesn't have the same gap top to bottom ithe gap is wider at the top..it's about a 1/4-1/2 inch difference in gap

codybear · 08-11-2006, 05:31 PM

here's the view from the inside of the pins that appear to be bent

A-Merry-Can · 08-11-2006, 05:39 PM

your door looks just like mine did... same year, even! ha! i think your hinge pins are fine. the leading edge is probably bent and,or cracked. take a close look at where the door catch is on the frame, and see if it has a crack going towards the trailer. then get close to teh edge, and look down the edge (like you're "sighting" a board to make sure it's straight), and see if the curve is consistent. mine hit the trailer so hard it actually curves back out above and below the door handle, and thus, my door has the same gaps yours has.

lastly, check the interior panel and see if the rivets have sheared off. if they have, replacing these rivets in their original hols will restore some of the curve, and make the door considerably stronger.

jp