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Moflash · 07-23-2012, 03:41 PM

Has anybody got a clue why Airstream engineers decided to make their entry doors swing from right to left?
If it opened from left to right it could not accidentally blow open and rip the side of the trailer off at 60 mph.
You could also open the window next to the door without worry of breaking it.

There must be a reason for this but for the life of me I cannot think of one

**Janet H** · 07-23-2012, 03:44 PM

Door opening direction has changed over and over again through they years. I think that awning arm placement usually drive the door hinge placement. If the awning is out and the door opens in the sensible direction, it wacks into the awning arm.

dznf0g · 07-23-2012, 03:45 PM

Also, opening direction is set so as not to cover any windows when the door is open, I believe.

Ridgerunner3 · 07-23-2012, 03:50 PM

Another possible problem that my AS has is that the door covers the heater vent when the door is wide open. Door should not be standing wide open when the heat is on but it can happen and end up damaging the door.

SeeMore · 07-23-2012, 04:00 PM

Oh contraire dznf0g, my door opens to the left and covers both the heater outlet and the kitchen window. If it opened to the right, it would also cover the other window but miss hitting the awning arm. The next year model, same size and layout, had the curb side kitchen window moved aft 2' and clear of the door but that put the window behind the stovetop. I wonder if they got negative customer feedback and acted upon the insight.

dznf0g · 07-23-2012, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeeMore

Oh contraire dznf0g, my door opens to the left and covers both the heater outlet and the kitchen window. If it opened to the right, it would also cover the other window but miss hitting the awning arm. The next year model, same size and layout, had the curb side kitchen window moved aft 2' and clear of the door but that put the window behind the stovetop. I wonder if they got negative customer feedback and acted upon the insight.

Huh, that's what I was told, but obviously not. Mine is a suicide door, opens away from the awning, doesn't cover any window...but does cover the furnace vent. I did accidentally have my door open when testing my furnace operation on my old SOB once. Caught it before there was any coating damage, but it did heat up a spot to the point that it dished in till it cooled down.

dkottum · 07-23-2012, 04:10 PM

Ours is front entry door, opens back to clear awning. I took a standard rubber doorstop and put a little cord on it to hang it through the outside grab handle. When moving I stick it through the grab handle, bump it snug, and the door cannot open. When in camp I take it off. Part of my checklist.

The furnace on this model would vent onto an open door, but as said would not normally run furnace with door open. However I know this can happen. Just haven't thought of a fail-safe for it yet. Anyone?

doug k

dznf0g · 07-23-2012, 04:12 PM

This post from 2003 is where I read it, I think.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f48/...ards-8203.html

overlander63 · 07-23-2012, 05:09 PM

For those with a mid-size 2012 or so center dinette trailer: Please pretend the window over the dinette that is closest to the door does not open! If it is open, and a gust of wind blows the door out of your hands, it WILL break that window.