Non hinged compartment doors

[Rog0525]

The exterior compartment doors (fridge and battery access) on my Caravel simply detach when opened and are usually a PITA to get back in place. Would it be a major job to install piano hinges or such?
It may sound like a minor inconvenience but once the flanges get bent, getting the doors back on can cause a guy like me to nearly exhaust his cussword vocabulary.
Has anyone else found this to be a problem in need of a solution? Any and all suggestions welcome.

Rog

[Inland RV Center, In]

Remove the "J" hinge from the door.

Put the door back in place, but upside down.

Install a piano hinge at the bottom of the frame and attach it to the door as well.

Takes 10 minutes.

No more bad words, and no more ill fitting hinge.

Andy

[Rog0525]

That sounds like great advice as usual. I'm unclear as to what a "J" hinge is but perhaps I'll understand better next time I examine the doors (the trailer is stored 10 miles from my home).

Rog

[Inland RV Center, In]

Rog.

The "J" hinge is at the top of the door. An upsidedown and reversed "J" hinge is at the top of the frame.

It is that combo thats making use up your vocabulary.

When you see it, you will have but one word. "DUH"


If you look at later year trailers, you will see what Airstream did.

Also, with a piano hinge at the bottom, you won't lose the door, nor can you run over it.

I bet you will change every one of them, pronto.

Actually, everyone should change them.

The lock works the same, it's just at the top of the door instead of the bottom.

Andy

[Rog0525]

Sure is nice to have a resident AS expert on board. I'm betting that others will also benefit from this very helpful info.
It all makes sense now, or, in my case, to quote the lyrics from a famous song:
"I can see clearly now, the brain is gone".

Or something like that.

Rog

[qqq]

Thanks to Rog & Andy for this GREAT improvement to a poor design.

Hart

[wahoonc]

Just out of curosity...when did Airstream make the switch? BTW my 75 has the piano hinges on the bottom.

Aaron

[Navigator]

Thats how I lost my refrig access door.! (Insert expletive here.)
Need new door and piano hinge.
Dick

[Inland RV Center, In]

It appears that some 73's and most of the 74's, had the hinge at the bottom of the access doors.

We have attached a photo for reference.

Andy

[qqq]

Andy,

Could you post a pic with the door open so as to see the way the hinge mounts to the AS.

Thanks

Hart

[Inland RV Center, In]

Hart.

The other half of the hinge in the photo is mounted underneath the rub rail.

Andy

[ayresdream]

[Lightning flashes, thunder crashes] "It's alive... the thread is ALIVE!!!"

I want to put hinges on my compartment doors. A trip to the local building supply store had piano hinges with a nickel coating. Can I use that on aluminum, or should I get aluminum piano hinges? Any suggestions of suppliers?

Thanks

[A/SimpleLife]

Me too, me too, I need piano hinges. Can sure relate to the frustration of trying to get that @#$% little door back in its little hole with the bent "J" hinge! I was thinking of hiding the kitty litter near a compartment door so it would slip out easily. I'm interested to hear any answers to ayresdream's questions.
Thanks, Gwen

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by ayresdream

[Lightning flashes, thunder crashes] "It's alive... the thread is ALIVE!!!"

I want to put hinges on my compartment doors. A trip to the local building supply store had piano hinges with a nickel coating. Can I use that on aluminum, or should I get aluminum piano hinges? Any suggestions of suppliers?

Thanks

You should use aluminum hinges, but plated is ok too.

Andy