Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-04-2004, 03:52 PM   #1
5 rivets, 1 loose screw
 
Rog0525's Avatar
 
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County , Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
Images: 11
Angry Non hinged compartment doors

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
Rog0525 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2004, 04:26 PM   #2
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
 
Inland RV Center, In's Avatar
 
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
Images: 1
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
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA
Inland RV Center, In is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2004, 04:45 PM   #3
5 rivets, 1 loose screw
 
Rog0525's Avatar
 
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County , Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
Images: 11
TY Andy

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
Rog0525 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2004, 05:14 PM   #4
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
 
Inland RV Center, In's Avatar
 
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
Images: 1
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
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA
Inland RV Center, In is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2004, 05:41 PM   #5
5 rivets, 1 loose screw
 
Rog0525's Avatar
 
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County , Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
Images: 11
Thanks again Andy

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
Rog0525 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2004, 10:49 PM   #6
qqq
4 Rivet Member
 
qqq's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 403
Images: 4
Thumbs up

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

Hart
qqq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2004, 03:51 AM   #7
Rivet Monster
 
wahoonc's Avatar

 
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak , North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
Images: 40
Just out of curosity...when did Airstream make the switch? BTW my 75 has the piano hinges on the bottom.

Aaron
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2004, 04:33 AM   #8
4 Rivet Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 366
Thats how I lost my refrig access door.! (Insert expletive here.)
Need new door and piano hinge.
Dick
Navigator is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2004, 08:40 AM   #9
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
 
Inland RV Center, In's Avatar
 
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
Images: 1
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
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	mvc-001s.jpg
Views:	533
Size:	36.9 KB
ID:	4330  
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA
Inland RV Center, In is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2004, 12:05 AM   #10
qqq
4 Rivet Member
 
qqq's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 403
Images: 4
Andy,

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

Thanks

Hart
qqq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2004, 09:32 AM   #11
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
 
Inland RV Center, In's Avatar
 
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
Images: 1
Hart.

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

Andy
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA
Inland RV Center, In is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2008, 03:41 PM   #12
2 Rivet Member
 
ayresdream's Avatar
 
1971 29' Ambassador
Merritt , British Columbia
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 38
Hinges on compartment door

[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
ayresdream is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2008, 11:55 PM   #13
2 Rivet Member
 
A/SimpleLife's Avatar
 
1971 29' Ambassador
Sunny South , Florida
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 54
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
A/SimpleLife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2008, 11:07 AM   #14
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
 
Inland RV Center, In's Avatar
 
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
Images: 1
Quote:
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
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA
Inland RV Center, In is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2009, 08:11 AM   #15
4 Rivet Member
 
The Flintstones's Avatar
 
1970 27' Overlander
Houston , Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 272
How/Where to Attach New Hinge

Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In View Post
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
What a great fix. I have this exact problem to. My "J" is bent, coming loose and not securing the door very well. I want to fix before I lose one or more.
Are rivets the best way to attach new piano hinge? Does anyone have a close up photo of this already done. I hope I have room without having to put under rub rail.
thanks
James
__________________
____________
1970 Overlander
The Flintstones is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2009, 09:10 AM   #16
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
 
Inland RV Center, In's Avatar
 
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
Images: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Flintstones View Post
What a great fix. I have this exact problem to. My "J" is bent, coming loose and not securing the door very well. I want to fix before I lose one or more.
Are rivets the best way to attach new piano hinge? Does anyone have a close up photo of this already done. I hope I have room without having to put under rub rail.
thanks
James
You can use Olympic rivets.

Andy
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA
Inland RV Center, In is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2009, 08:38 PM   #17
4 Rivet Member
 
mouth012006's Avatar
 
1974 Argosy 24
Science Hill , Kentucky
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 427
Images: 51
Okay, having same problem with one more challenge.....Can add the piano hinge to the bottom but the PO did not have the key and tried to drill out the lock....well guess what it now has some part of it still stuck in and you can't get it out. I took the whole door to a lock smith and was told to just replace the door...yeah like that is so easy on a 1974.....anyway what could be a solution to this problem?
__________________
Kevin & Monique
New to A/S---Not to Honey Do's
Sweetie (lab) Snickers (lab) Blackie(lab)
Dotz(daschund) CB (daschund) Oh and 3 kids!!!
TAC# KY-3
mouth012006 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2009, 09:19 PM   #18
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
 
Inland RV Center, In's Avatar
 
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
Images: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by mouth012006 View Post
Okay, having same problem with one more challenge.....Can add the piano hinge to the bottom but the PO did not have the key and tried to drill out the lock....well guess what it now has some part of it still stuck in and you can't get it out. I took the whole door to a lock smith and was told to just replace the door...yeah like that is so easy on a 1974.....anyway what could be a solution to this problem?
We have the replacement locks.

Andy
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA
Inland RV Center, In is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2009, 05:41 AM   #19
Rivet Master
 
rideair's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,800
Won't work on a 1966

Though I'm sure there is a fix (and I'm still looking for a good one) I don't think this "J Hinged" thing will work on a "1966" trailer (which Rog0525 profile says he has). On the 1966-1968 (I know 1966) there is "no" hinge to remove or replace. I know on the 1966 model (I own three of them) the top "lip" of the door slides into a channel in the frame holding it into place, the door lock (at the bottom)then holds the door shut. This is the "BIG" problem with that style. On a 1966 even a "J Hinged" door would be nice! I have seen people attach a cable from the frame to the door (does not hold it in place, just keeps it out of the ditch if it comes un-done going down the road).

That fix works very well on the 1969 trailer on that did use the "j hinge".
__________________
Paul Waddell
rideair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2009, 05:46 AM   #20
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
 
Inland RV Center, In's Avatar
 
Corona , California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
Images: 1
access doors.

64 to 68 access doors, do not have a hinge.

The door fits in a small slot at the top of the door frame.

Unfortunately, there is no fix. To open that access compartment, the door must be removed.

A hinge cannot be used, that would also allow the door to seal correctly.

My earlier posts were referring to 69 and newer access doors.

Andy
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA
Inland RV Center, In is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:45 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.