How to best hang a sign on exterior door?

[jennakrack]

My parents are finally fulfilling their dream and getting an Airstream! My dad remembers camping with his grandparents in their Airstream as a kid in the Appalachian mountains. He told me he loved seeing the signs that people would hang on their Airstreams with their family name. It made it a little easier to introduce yourself to your campground neighbors and get to know one another.

To celebrate my parents' new trailer, I’m making a sign with our family name that they can hang on their Airstream. I’m planning on making it out of a small slab of wood and painting our family name on it. I’m curious if anyone has a recommendation on how to fix the sign to the exterior of the Airstream door. How would you design the hanging hardware so it won’t scratch the door when the door opens and closes?

Thank you, all!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Since the doors are aluminum things like magnets really don't do the trick. There are several approaches with signs:

1) Mount then to the hitch area of the trailer on a pole. Flagpole mounts are often used
2) Hang then from the awning (only works if the awning is out and it will not always be out
3) Mount then on a stick in the ground pole

This all assumes that the sign is taken down when the trailer is in motion.

If you want the sign permanently on the trailer, first consider how durable it is. 60 MPH dirt / rain / grit are what it will see a lot of. If it will take that (and sun and heat and freezing ...) then VHB tape will quite solidly stick it on the trailer.

Bob

[Piggy Bank]

Or could it hang on the screen door when set up at camp

[VeloBuckeye]

Consider strong suction cups -- if the location can be to the side of the open door, on the outside wall of the AS. Easy to mount/remove with no damage or scratching.

[Rich W]

We found someone on Etsy who makes signs. We post ours somewhere near the hitch. It seems to do the trick, people will stop if we are sitting outside.

This is the mock up we emailed to them, but the sign is exactly like this. It comes apart for storage when traveling.

[Silver.Sanctuary]

Originally Posted by jennakrack

My parents are finally fulfilling their dream and getting an Airstream! My dad remembers camping with his grandparents in their Airstream as a kid in the Appalachian mountains. He told me he loved seeing the signs that people would hang on their Airstreams with their family name. It made it a little easier to introduce yourself to your campground neighbors and get to know one another.

To celebrate my parents' new trailer, I’m making a sign with our family name that they can hang on their Airstream. I’m planning on making it out of a small slab of wood and painting our family name on it. I’m curious if anyone has a recommendation on how to fix the sign to the exterior of the Airstream door. How would you design the hanging hardware so it won’t scratch the door when the door opens and closes?

Thank you, all!

Use suction cups and put it on the front window.

[PatLee]

There is a couple in NC (?) who make the most awesome customized signs stenciled out of aluminum that replaces the screen door shield (at least the one in my Airstream). It shows up well when main door is open and screen door shut; and surprisingly well when both door are shut and interior lights are on. I will look up name and get back to you- they had a kiosk at the Salem international rally in 2018. I believe he or she is a veteran. We went back and forth over several days with different designs until I saw the perfect one. I really hope they’re still in business because I’ve changed my mind about what I’ve named my AS. Ha!

[Nomad518]

Put a small easel back on the sign and set it on top of the propane tank cover at the front of the trailer.

[rucos]

we hang from our front window rock guard when its open....if they have a rock gard

[cwf]

If they have a flagpole mount on the AS, it can hang from that.. they can remove or leave when traveling.. the way the mount is made, there is a flat face facing forward where you could hang or wire tie or screw down..

Any movement on the aluminum will chafe the finish... won't be a happy thing.

[Dan and Liz]

Look online. We got an Airstream silhouette decal with family name that goes on inside of window. I’d send a picture but we’re not home ...

[3wd67rg]

I would epoxy two or four magnets on the back of the sign, with two or four corresponding steel washers epoxied on the screen door. This way it can be removed as necessary.

[MetalMissile]

If you really want to blow your parent's mind, have it "wrapped" with your family name in 36 inch letters so the entire coach is emblazoned with your family name. Do it at an angle for art's sake.

Just slightly but not entirely kidding. the creative options are endless.

The other end of that spectrum is a vinyl sticker the size of a bumper sticker or smaller that can be placed near the door. Easily removed without marring the aluminum or the finish, won't interfere with door operation and don't need to make holes or mess with magnets. Have several printed to when one fades, another one is placed fresh.

Many graphic design and print shops can make your selected graphic design in vinyl, from small to huge, and can make several if you want the name front and back.

metalmissile.