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Old 06-15-2008, 09:16 AM   #1
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1976 Argosy 24
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Need a cat-proof latch

We were going to take the cats with us on a three day camp out at Roaring River State Park, until we discovered (before we left home, thank goodness) that our too-smart-for-his-own-good Abysinnian figured out that by inserting his paw in this certain spot, and leveraging it a little, the screen door would pop open and he could make his escape. Does anybody have any good ideas for a screen door latch that that darn cat can't open? No room for a hook on the outside, maybe on the inside, or something better?

They have to stay home this time, but we would like to take them with us in the future.
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Old 06-15-2008, 09:24 AM   #2
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We have the problem also; Max opens the sliding piece of plastic on the screen door and goes through the opening.

We attach a steel clip to the rail on the screen door so the plastic cannot be slid.

Luckily we caught Max before he got too far from our trailer; he was bird and squirrel watching.
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Old 06-15-2008, 09:25 AM   #3
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maybe a wire tied to the inside and out? can they untie knots?
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Old 06-15-2008, 09:28 AM   #4
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We had a problem with Gracie (Yellow Lab) going through the screen door. I solved that by putting a door guard over the screen. Now she just pushes it open with her nose. I too am looking for a solution...
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Old 06-15-2008, 09:39 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richinny View Post
maybe a wire tied to the inside and out? can they untie knots?
It will have to be something that is easy to open and close everytime we go in and out, a knot would be a pain. I am thinking maybe a hook on the inside that we can hook and unhook just opening the slider when we enter and leave. Don't know what to do about the slider, he hasn't figured out that yet but it is just a matter of time. This is a cat who figured out how to use the lever door latch on the French doors in the house to let himself out. He might even be able to figure out a knot, we haven't tested him on that yet!

If somebody could come up with a better plan, I would surely appreciate it. I'll be thinking about it too, maybe all our brains working on it can come up with a good solution for everybody!
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Old 06-15-2008, 09:44 AM   #6
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latch

I will post tomorrow, a photo of a screen door latch, that Airstream used many moons ago.

You must release the latch, in order to open the screen door.

Andy
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Old 06-15-2008, 10:38 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In View Post
I will post tomorrow, a photo of a screen door latch, that Airstream used many moons ago.

You must release the latch, in order to open the screen door.

Andy

Thanks, Andy, I'll check that out when we get back. Do you have such a critter in stock that I could order from you?
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Old 06-15-2008, 01:56 PM   #8
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Our Kee Kee has learned to push the slider. Check out the picture of our little escapee on Dave Winick's door guard page (cool stuff.) custom vintage airstream travel trailers

I was thinking strong velcro tab might hold.
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Old 06-15-2008, 02:51 PM   #9
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I was thinking strong velcro tab might hold.
is the velcro for the cat or the door? LoL
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Old 06-16-2008, 01:04 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Isadora View Post
Thanks, Andy, I'll check that out when we get back. Do you have such a critter in stock that I could order from you?
Latch photo as promised.

Part # 18847.

Andy
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Old 06-19-2008, 10:02 PM   #11
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Does that go on the inside or outside of the door? And what does it cost? Because when we are not inside the trailer, or asleep at night, we don't want him escaping if it can't be fastened from the outside and inside as well.
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Old 06-20-2008, 03:22 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wheel interested View Post
Our Kee Kee has learned to push the slider. Check out the picture of our little escapee on Dave Winick's door guard page (cool stuff.) custom vintage airstream travel trailers

I was thinking strong velcro tab might hold.
A small Velcro patch works well on our slider and completely frustrates our Tonkenese. She has yet to try manipulating the door latch shhhhhhh.
HAPPY TRAILS
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Old 06-20-2008, 05:14 AM   #13
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I have the latch on my 1978 Argosy. It's on the inside and works very well. The Sovereign doesn't have one which surprised me, but our little Poms can't push the screen open on the Sovereign, so as long as we push the screen completely shut, we don't have a problem. I think I'll order the latch anyway, since I travel with my husband who sometimes doesn't shut the screen. (Oops did I say that out loud?)
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Old 06-20-2008, 10:08 PM   #14
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We are going to take a good look at the screen door and see what we think will work the best, possibly order that latch from Andy. That cat hasn't tried our slider yet, but I am sure that is only a matter of time so we are going to try to get ahead of him on that one. We will also take a good look at what we can get from the hardware store first, maybe some kind of childproof lock might work also. We'll keep you posted what we find.
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Old 06-21-2008, 12:57 AM   #15
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Hey Andy, how much is that latch before I call to order?
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Old 06-21-2008, 08:42 AM   #16
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Hey Andy, how much is that latch before I call to order?
Guess you gotta call. Sorry. Vendors rules at AIR do not allow quoting of prices. History says this is the best policy.
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Old 06-30-2008, 12:52 PM   #17
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I am looking for info about the screen door latch. When the main door is open, how do you secure the screen door (ONLY) to the frame of the motorhome? I have searched home improvement stores and I can't find anything that will work. They have screen latches but the product doesn't take into consideration that when we do close the main door there is only a small space between the main door and screen door. Help is desperately needed as we leave next week and we do not want to add any mosquitoes as quest!!!:-)))
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Old 06-30-2008, 01:30 PM   #18
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I fixed my problem with a little piece of chain and a hook. My door looks like AZFlycasters (without the big hole in the bottom screen ) I drilled a small hole in the plastic sliding part and attached about 8" of chain so that the sliding plastic cannot be opened wide enough for our cat to slip through but we can still reach the inside screen door latch with our fingers.

The chain is gold, small, and came in a kit with four hooks (actually 25' of chain) from Home Depot. The little bolt is about 1/8" (maybe smaller) with a hex nut.

I hook the hook to the inside "sissy handle" on the left of the entry door.

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Old 06-30-2008, 01:40 PM   #19
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Just to let you know, the hole in the screen has been repaired. I added a shield to prevent it from happening again!
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Old 06-30-2008, 10:39 PM   #20
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The latch for the screen door on our Argosy is on the inside, it is just an ordinary screen door latch that holds it closed but can be pushed upen from the inside. I'll take pictures tomorrow. By the way, I found a screen door fastener that looks just like the one that Andy has, at Home Depot for under $5. We haven't installed it yet but I am sure it will work, I will have to open the mosquito guard to reach inside and open it, but no problem there.

The mosquito guard on our door was long gone, and it is a small size that we can't find at the RV stores, so I made one. Remembering the one on my old Spartan, which was just an aluminum slider, I made one like that out of some left over aluminum flashing, slipped it into the channel and it works fine. If it gets torn up, well, I have a roll of about 5' of flashing and I'll just make another one.
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