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07-29-2010, 06:47 AM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member 
1993 30' Excella
Lakeland
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 343
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Why did Airstream change from front hinge doors to suicide hinge doors?
Does anyone know? 
Early airstream like the 54's had a front hinge, if the door popped open it just flapped a little, now if something happens it's a heart stopper. 
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07-29-2010, 07:08 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master 
1967 24' Tradewind
Greenville
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,107
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I 've wondered the same. Maybe so that it is opened with the right hand as most people are right handed?
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07-29-2010, 07:44 AM
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#3
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Patriotic
1973 23' Safari
North of Boston
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,546
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It was due to the advent of the permanently mounted awning. You can't open the non-suicide door all the way if there is an awning arm in the way. This type of awning wasn't invented until the 60's...earlier awnings used free-standing poles, so there wasn't anything in the way of the door.
__________________
Air:291
Wbcci: 3752
'73 Safari 23'
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QC
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07-29-2010, 08:09 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1979 23' Safari
1954 29' Liner
Orange
, California
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,850
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arcamedies
Does anyone know?
Early airstream like the 54's had a front hinge, if the door popped open it just flapped a little, now if something happens it's a heart stopper. |
It depends on the model, both of the doors on my 1954 Liner hinge at the rear.
Bill
__________________
Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental, 2014 Dodge Durango
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
https://billbethsblog.blogspot.com/
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07-29-2010, 08:26 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1977 Argosy 24
Currently Looking...
Milltown
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,087
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I always thought it was so when the door was open, the door didn't cover a window.
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07-29-2010, 09:07 AM
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#6
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Silver Condo III
2015 30' International
Saskatoon
, Saskatchewan
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 264
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Not quite
Quote:
Originally Posted by ventport
I always thought it was so when the door was open, the door didn't cover a window.
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Well that can't be the reason. The door on my 28 International covers one of the dinette windows, almost completely!
When I save up a few pennies, I am going to have a new door put in that opens normally. I can deal with the awning arm, but sure miss the window in the dinette.
__________________
Malcolm & Randy
WBCCI # 12523
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07-29-2010, 09:16 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Safari
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck
It was due to the advent of the permanently mounted awning. You can't open the non-suicide door all the way if there is an awning arm in the way. This type of awning wasn't invented until the 60's...earlier awnings used free-standing poles, so there wasn't anything in the way of the door.
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Yep...this is my thought too. We have a '64 GT with the hinge on the right and if it had a mounted awning the door would only open 90-degrees (without modification). This is one of the main reasons we use a rope/pole awning - who wants to have their door sticking straight out from their trailer?
I know there is a way to modify a ZipDee or other older attached awnings like A&E and CareFree that you can detach an arm from the trailer and stake it to the ground - but I think that was a later design solution.
Shari 
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07-29-2010, 10:25 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1966 24' Tradewind
Placerville
, California
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,328
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We HAD a 5'er with the door that openned to the right and stopped at the awning brace. VERY annoying to have a door sticking out there. Now we have an Airstream with the suicide door and.....no awning. I make a simple 'latch' to prevent the accidental opening( no matter how good your lock is) of the door in travel. If anyone wishes a FREE template to make your own 'latch' PM an email address to me and I will send the template to you.
Neil.
__________________
Neil and Lynn Holman
FreshAir #12407
Avatar;
Kirk Creek, Big Sur, Ca. coast.
1966 Trade Wind
1971 Buick Centurion convertible
455 cid
1969 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight
455 cid
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07-29-2010, 01:32 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master Commercial Member
Currently Looking...
Denton
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 789
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Front Beds
Quote:
Originally Posted by arcamedies
a front hinge, :
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FYI on Front beds that have rear doors, they hinge to the right. The first year they did a front bed the door hinged to the left and they rediscovered the awning/door problem. Thus, the front bed units hinge to the right.
Dan
__________________
Dan Brown Denton NC
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07-29-2010, 01:34 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master Commercial Member
Currently Looking...
Denton
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 789
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front bed
Quote:
Originally Posted by kamadeca
Well that can't be the reason. The door on my 28 International covers one of the dinette windows, almost completely!
When I save up a few pennies, I am going to have a new door put in that opens normally. I can deal with the awning arm, but sure miss the window in the dinette.
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I'm thinking your 2009 INT is a front bed.
Dan
__________________
Dan Brown Denton NC
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07-29-2010, 11:16 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
1993 30' Excella
Lakeland
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 343
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Modified Door
Quote:
Originally Posted by FreshAir
We HAD a 5'er with the door that openned to the right and stopped at the awning brace. VERY annoying to have a door sticking out there. Now we have an Airstream with the suicide door and.....no awning. I make a simple 'latch' to prevent the accidental opening( no matter how good your lock is) of the door in travel. If anyone wishes a FREE template to make your own 'latch' PM an email address to me and I will send the template to you.
Neil.
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I was going to add a deadbolt to be safer, never saw one of those unwind. I always lock mine from the outside so vibration couldn't jimmy the slide but you added a neat latch assembly.
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07-29-2010, 11:24 PM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
1993 30' Excella
Lakeland
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 343
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Continental suicide door
Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
I always thought that Airstreams were just wicked cool like a Continental and the suicide door was just taunting that rebel attitude of daring to open into the wind.
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Never thought of it that way,I love it, I always liked the suicide door on the Conti's, great style.
My FJ has the suicide doors  open wide.
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07-30-2010, 06:07 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2008 27' International FB
Venice
, Florida
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 706
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Interesting thread on doors.
When we bought our Sovereign last year the machanic going over the details was sure to tell us not to light the furnace with the door open and up against the outside wall, reason, the vent will be behind the door not letting the vent to work properly and possibily damaging the aluminum. Just FYI!!
__________________
 Bill and Janice, We're lovin' it! (Airstreaming)
Airdreamers
WBCCI #8880
AIR #41310
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07-30-2010, 06:45 AM
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#14
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Silver Condo III
2015 30' International
Saskatoon
, Saskatchewan
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 264
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan@LED4RV
I'm thinking your 2009 INT is a front bed.
Dan
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Nope, rear bedroom. I usually sit beside the window that is blocked and can't see anything. The wife on the opposite side is always pointing out birds, animals, etc. that I can't see!
__________________
Malcolm & Randy
WBCCI # 12523
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07-30-2010, 08:15 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
asbury park
, New Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 905
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Quote:
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It was due to the advent of the permanently mounted awning. You can't open the non-suicide door all the way if there is an awning arm in the way. This type of awning wasn't invented until the 60's...earlier awnings used free-standing poles, so there wasn't anything in the way of the door.
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hmm... i have an old school awning on my 62, but i have a non-suicide door...?
am i missing something?
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07-30-2010, 08:24 AM
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#16
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Patriotic
1973 23' Safari
North of Boston
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,546
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NJtoNC
hmm... i have an old school awning on my 62, but i have a non-suicide door...?
am i missing something?
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no, not a thing. works out fine, that way. If you had a "new-school" awning, you wouldn't be able to open the door all the way.
__________________
Air:291
Wbcci: 3752
'73 Safari 23'
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QC
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07-30-2010, 09:22 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
asbury park
, New Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 905
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Quote:
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no, not a thing. works out fine, that way. If you had a "new-school" awning, you wouldn't be able to open the door all the way.
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but to say that the door change was due to the new awnings... that was not the situation in my case. was the awning style an 'option'? does anyone know of a trailer 62 or older with a 'factory installed' permanent awning?
my argument (for arguments sake - to play 'devils advocate here) is that perhaps 'awnings' are not the reason for the change ...
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07-30-2010, 09:45 AM
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#18
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Patriotic
1973 23' Safari
North of Boston
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,546
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you say you have a "non-suicide" door, on a trailer that was built before permanently mounted awnings were invented...
So, I don't know what you mean when you say " that was not the situation in my case".
The factory didn't install awnings during that era; they were aftermarket accessories.
__________________
Air:291
Wbcci: 3752
'73 Safari 23'
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QC
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07-30-2010, 11:38 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1965 17' Caravel
1983 27' Excella
Walnut Grove/Laguna Woods
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kamadeca
Well that can't be the reason. The door on my 28 International covers one of the dinette windows, almost completely!
When I save up a few pennies, I am going to have a new door put in that opens normally. I can deal with the awning arm, but sure miss the window in the dinette.
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Have you thought about adding a window to the door so that when it is open you can see through it? I would think that would be easier and cheaper, plus it would add a window when the door is closed.
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07-30-2010, 02:08 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1967 22' Safari
MILAN
, Illinois
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by InsideOut
Yep...this is my thought too. We have a '64 GT with the hinge on the right and if it had a mounted awning the door would only open 90-degrees (without modification). This is one of the main reasons we use a rope/pole awning - who wants to have their door sticking straight out from their trailer?
I know there is a way to modify a ZipDee or other older attached awnings like A&E and CareFree that you can detach an arm from the trailer and stake it to the ground - but I think that was a later design solution.
Shari |
Shari, My Safari has spring clip type retaining pins on the bottom of the arms that can be removed. Then awning arm fits into a foot that is then able to be placed on the ground and staked in place to keep the awning from rolling back up toward the trailer. I have not yet tried it out but I did get the two feet with the trailer back in '04 when we got it! Ed
__________________
1967 Safari Twin "Landshark" w/International trim package
2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab SLE
FORUMS MEMBER SINCE 12/16/2004AIR#7110
"My tire was thumping, I thought it was flat. When I looked at the tire, I noticed your CAT!" Burma Shave
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