Those D___ Sliding Glass Closet Doors!

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Gene

Steve, why don't you just send your money to me and I'll send you some photos of Colorado. Think how much you'll save on gas.

Gene

Oh I couldn't do that, Gene, because there would be way too many happy Coloradoans. Besides, I use Diesel.

And then, while we were there it seemed like I saw at least 10 to 1 Texas license plates to Colorado plates, so that's where my peeps are. The majority of the businesses there are run by Texans, so when we go there we are supporting both Colorado and Texas. What could be better?

Oh, and I'd bet I already have more pictures of Colorado than you.

[Gene]

Steve,

Another place you can see 90% Texas plates is Red River, NM and they have square dancing. Or Ruidoso, NM and horse racing. These appear to be attempts to colonize and establish a Lone Star Empire. We are watching.

As a show of good faith, here's a photo of Colorado —my batteries newly installed in Colorado. Please send the money and I may be able to have you meet a Nigerian Prince.

Gene

[SteveH]

Nice batteries. Did the Nigerian Prince like them?

[PhilipKS]

Originally Posted by Gene

Steve,

Another place you can see 90% Texas plates is Red River, NM and they have square dancing. Or Ruidoso, NM and horse racing. These appear to be attempts to colonize and establish a Lone Star Empire. We are watching.

As a show of good faith, here's a photo of Colorado —my batteries newly installed in Colorado. Please send the money and I may be able to have you meet a Nigerian Prince.

Gene

Yes, the Lubbock crowd hangs out at Ruidoso, and the Midland/Odessa crowd goes to Cloudcroft. Folk from El Paso split between the two, I guess, but with the majority going to Ruidoso to drop a dollar or three at the Casino or the Downs. I've heard that a Solicitor from London hangs out in Ruidoso waiting to give people their inheritance from Nigeria. Not sure if I should believe that one.

Philip

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Gene

Steve,

Another place you can see 90% Texas plates is Red River, NM and they have square dancing. Or Ruidoso, NM and horse racing. These appear to be attempts to colonize and establish a Lone Star Empire. We are watching.

Gene

Now you've gone and exposed our long term operating plan. I sure hate it that you've made this public. Guess I'll just have to turn you in as a enemy informant.

Please don't pay any attention to the black Suburbans with the strange looking turrets on the roof cruising around your neighborhood.

[cwf]

Originally Posted by SteveH

Now you've gone and exposed our long term operating plan. I sure hate it that you've made this public. Guess I'll just have to turn you in as a enemy informant.

Please don't pay any attention to the black Suburbans with the strange looking turrets on the roof cruising around your neighborhood.

Resistance is futile, but fun to watch...

[Gene]

Steve, your plans are well afoot as I suspected. But remember the good times we had at the balloons? Maybe you be able to make me governor (dictator) of western Colorado.

The Nigerian Prince did like the Colorado photo which includes the batteries and is sending me $1,000,000. I can help you with His Excellency, the Prince.

Gene

[wrochdvm]

OK, I think I have found a simple and elegant solution (we're back on topic here). The problem with the doors is that they depend on some wimpy plastic spring like contraptions on the top of the door adjacent to each wheel that rides in the J shaped track. Those springs are just not up to the task of keeping the wheels in the track.

Preventing the wheels from jumping out of the track can be accomplished by putting a pin through the inverted U-shaped aluminum that conceals the tracks capturing the top of the frame. I plan on using four pins, two for each end of each door.

The restraining piece I will use is a readily available self retaining pin used on boats. It has a small spring loaded ball bearing captured at one end that keeps in in position, but is easily removed by pulling the ring on the opposite end. The ring will also be used to attach a "keeper", a small line that will let the pin be placed on the small shelf above the doors and not get lost.

Here is a link to my source for the pins: Schaefer 316 SS Quick Release Pins

The hole that is drilled in the face must be just the size of the pin and the one through the door frame can be just slightly larger to make aligning the three holes a little easier.

I'll let you know how it works.

[sojendyk]

We just took possession of a 2011 Classic 31---with Walmart curtains hanging where the doors used to be. Since we currently don't have any closet doors, has anybody come up with a workable substitute for the mirror doors? Could a cabinet-maker make something that would do the trick and be sturdier---and cheaper? The replacement cost is something like $450.

[SteveH]

The problem, as I see it, is they are so big they almost have to slide. I think earlier models had three regular opening doors, and they worked well, but I guess they decided to "improve" things. To convert to three opening doors would take some work from a cabinet shop, but certainly could be done.

I've not had any trouble with ours since my last modification, and we've taken a 1000+ mile trip since the mod.

See my post #26 on page 2 of this thread.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Sheila O

We just took possession of a 2011 Classic 31---with Walmart curtains hanging where the doors used to be. Since we currently don't have any closet doors, has anybody come up with a workable substitute for the mirror doors? Could a cabinet-maker make something that would do the trick and be sturdier---and cheaper? The replacement cost is something like $450.

Basically they work on the same principle as sliding closet doors in a home. The difference is that everything is done on the cheap (or perhaps light). Things that would be sturdy metal in a home are light grade plastic on the mirror doors. In my opinion, home closet doors would be too bulky and heavy. However, since sliding doors are used in cabinetry, I'm sure a skilled cabinet maker could easily design and make something to your taste. Personally, I would buy replacement original mirrored doors and take care to mount them with sturdier hardware. I have upgraded both mounting screws and latching hardware on mine. Every once in a while one jumps off track. However it only takes about ten seconds to place it back on again. I like the mirrored doors, because they make the hallway seem brighter. My wife likes them because she can see the back of her hair reflected in the closet doors when looking in the mirror in the bathroom.

We have 5 closets with sliding doors in our home and every once in while one of them will jump off the track. Getting them back on track takes just a few seconds, but is harder work, because they weigh much more.

If you are looking for any Airstream replacement parts. look around at various sources. I have had good luck with prices here:

Out-of-Doors Mart

However, I would check pricing at a few other places before I decided.

There are a few places that part out damaged airstreams. I don't have a list, but I am sure others here do.


Ken

[casarodante]

It appears that Airstream has got the message. I was looking around at the Airstream in Fairfield (CA) website, the 2014's now have doors on hinges. Maybe I can Airstream to retrofit mine?

The first two show a 30' and the second two show a 31'.

[wrochdvm]

Here is my "solution". I posted it to my blog so that I could easily share it with others who may not check this thread out, particularly the WBCCI and Airstream Adventures Facebook pages.

I left out some important details relating to adjusting the bottom tabs and the need to remove handles and latches to make the job easier.

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

Here is the link to the blog entry about securing the doors.

Tin Wheeler Adventures: Those D****d sliding glass doors

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by wrochdvm

Here is my "solution". I posted it to my blog so that I could easily share it with others who may not check this thread out, particularly the WBCCI and Airstream Adventures Facebook pages.

I left out some important details relating to adjusting the bottom tabs and the need to remove handles and latches to make the job easier.

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

Here is the link to the blog entry about securing the doors.

Tin Wheeler Adventures: Those D****d sliding glass doors

Thanks. that's looks like something worth doing. worth doing...

Ken

[wrochdvm]

Sad to say, my modification did not work. The doors still came out at the bottom and now the glass is broken near the latch on one of the doors. I was speaking with another AS owner in the campground who said AS now has replacement doors for our trailers. I'll confirm once I am someplace with cell service. Fortunately, we still have six months left on our warranty.

[SteveH]

We recently traded our 31' trailer with the sliding mirrored glass doors for a 34' SO trailer, and guess what.....the 34' it has the same sliding mirrored glass doors.

So, one of the first things I did on the 34' after getting it home was the same mod to the doors as I did on the 31' and posted pictures of in post #26, and like on the first trailer, I have not had any trouble with the doors coming off track while traveling.

The key to the success of the mod is the operation of the latch on the rear door. If that latch fails, or for whatever reason lets the door slide forward, the rear door will come off the track, but only at the rear wheel.

The mod takes some fabrication of parts, but is a relatively easy job.

I'd be very interested in seeing what Airstream has done with the new doors to solve this problem.

[casarodante]

Look back at post #52 in this thread. It appears they have gone away from the sliding doors. They now swing out on hinges.

[sojendyk]

Has anybody had an experience using some type of tension rod to hold the closet doors in place?