Door in a door screen

[lucymcdog]

Can somebody post a picture of how the screen is supposed to be on a door-within-a-door? I have a 1960 Traveler and the PO just stuck an aluminum-framed screen up on it with screws and a piece of rubber.

[wkerfoot]

You need to drill out the pop rivets holding the interior panels. It will then be obvious how the screen goes on, then re-rivet the interior panels.

Bill

Originally Posted by lucymcdog

Can somebody post a picture of how the screen is supposed to be on a door-within-a-door? I have a 1960 Traveler and the PO just stuck an aluminum-framed screen up on it with screws and a piece of rubber.

[samb]

I don't know if your '60 is the same as my '61. On mine the screen is attached on the outside of the inside door, between the two doors, with aluminum strips attached to the top and bottom of the screen door opening with two screws each. The curvature of the door keeps the aluminum screen frame tight to the door from top to bottom.
Sam

[Grand Master]

The above post is correct. All of the door-within-a-door screens from 1959 thru 1963 were installed this way. Earlier models may also work this way, but my memory gets fuzzy on earlier models. My Dad's 1st. Airstream was a '54 but I can't remember how the screen was installed then ( I was only 5 years old).

The screen should slip under the top bracket. The bottom bracket is removed by two screws, and then re-installed after positioning the screen.

[lucymcdog]

I took out enough pop rivets to see if the screen attached between the inner skin and the door and there was nothing there to attach it. Just smooth surface. There is a lip at the bottom on the inside of the inner door - I'll post a picture this afternoon - that looks like it should hold the screen frame but it seems like a tacky way to do it because then you have it sticking out into the inside of the trailer somewhat. I'd like it to be flush with the door, if possible. If I attach it with metal strips then the hooks that hold the outer door to the inner door will have to go through the screen itself.

If I put it between the inner skin and the door and then let the pop rivets hold it in place do you think it will be secure enough to hold the screen good and tight? Of course, when somebody goes through the screen it would be a real pain to replace it.

[lucymcdog]

Here are pictures of the channel at the bottom, the inside of the between the skin and the door, a view from the inside showing the latch hole and a view from the outside showing the channel and the latch hole.

Now what?

[wkerfoot]

Here is a picture of the screen replacement on one of my doors.

Bill

[Grand Master]

It is hard to see enough detail in your pictures, but I would recommend that you see if you current screen will fit inside the "inside" panel of your door. Is the inner edge of your screen frame the same size (or slightly larger) than the opening of the interior door panel? If so, then you just need to fabricate a top brace to secure the top edge of the screen, and an L-shaped bottom braket to secure the bottom. I think I see a screw head or rivot on the bottom of your door opening where this now missing brace once was positioned (see your bottom left picture).

Hope this helps

[lucymcdog]

Originally Posted by Grand Master

It is hard to see enough detail in your pictures, but I would recommend that you see if you current screen will fit inside the "inside" panel of your door. Is the inner edge of your screen frame the same size (or slightly larger) than the opening of the interior door panel? If so, then you just need to fabricate a top brace to secure the top edge of the screen, and an L-shaped bottom braket to secure the bottom. I think I see a screw head or rivot on the bottom of your door opening where this now missing brace once was positioned (see your bottom left picture).

Hope this helps

Sorry my pictures were so bad. The current screen won't fit on the inside panel of the door - it is too large. there is an L-shaped bottom bracket but it is riveted on the inside of the inner door. It doesn't look like there was ever a bracket at the top on the inner door - it is smooth and there are no old rivet holes. The screen frame that is on it is a cheapie aluminum one that I think the PO had made. It sticks over the edge of the interior skin about 1" on either side and, when it is sitting in the bottom bracket, is about 1" too tall. I would really like a "smoother" looking screen - the framed screen looks cheezy. If I can figure out how to make the screen fit on the outside, what would you suggest I do about the little latches that would have to go through the actual screen? Do you know of any brackets that could be fitted on to the screen that would allow the latches to go through it without tearing the screen?

[Grand Master]

I looked at my '63 door within a door screen again, and measured. the inner panel opening is 14"w X 40"h. The screen frame is 16"w X 42'h. When properly positioned, you cannot see the screen frame from inside the trailer.

Look at SAMB's pictures and see that the screen is positioned inside the door so as not to cover the latches.

the top securing bracket is also "L" shaped and fastened to the top surface of the opening. see if you see any holes in the top surface. To remove my screen, I remove the bottom bracket and the screen frame slides down until it is free of the top bracket.

I hope this helps

[lucymcdog]

Thanks - I think that is going to be helpful. I'm away from my "baby" for a week so I can't check it out but I'll look and measure when I get back home. I think the way yours is set up might just work on mine.