Exterior Door Obstruction

Has anyone ever attempted to modify their exterior door so that it doesn't hit the awning when it's extended? I'm tired of having the awning almost vertical in order to clear the door. Maybe cutting the corner at a 45 degree angle and then remounting the corner to the frame, adding rubber gasket material, etc. I know that sounds radical but it's a nuisance as it is. Any ideas anyone?

[ShrimpBurrito]

Originally Posted by ZZfrog

Has anyone ever attempted to modify their exterior door so that it doesn't hit the awning when it's extended? I'm tired of having the awning almost vertical in order to clear the door. Maybe cutting the corner at a 45 degree angle and then remounting the corner to the frame, adding rubber gasket material, etc. I know that sounds radical but it's a nuisance as it is. Any ideas anyone?

Sounds like your awning isn't raised up high enough. When I set mine up, it usually barely touches the awning. Extend those poles out more -- if you're at the end of them and still having this problem, you might have too much awning rolled out.

Dave

[tentcamper]

Under stand what your saying. I have to rise mine way up there. We have a wheel on the comer of the door so the wheel rolls when the door would have touched the awning.

[Bill]

It is expected that the door will touch the awning, but the little wheel on the door is expected to roll across the fabric, and make sure the corner of the door doesn't actually scrape the fabric. This is common to most all RVs.

Bill

I said 'vertical' but I meant horizontal. Yes, the roller wheel would help just a little. Still not happy with suggestions though. I prefer to have my awning at a nice angle to keep the sun off. If I ever decide to do something about this I'll send pics. A nice semi-rounded door top would help a lot. Maybe TM should sell a retrofit like that or something. In a holding pattern for now!

[marmotsgrl]

I agree it is really annoying that you can't use the awing at a lower angle to keep the sun off. If we come up with anything this year we will be sure to post it.

I find it really annoying. Wish there was a better design.

[Padgett]

Are any number of possibilities. Easiest is just a slice out of the top and a hinge. Or a shorter door and a frame flap like on a 56 Oldsmobile.

Wouldn't be an OTS door any more though.

[Redtail Cruiser]

We also found that using the awning was limited to having it fully upright, which doesn't always give you the shade you want. We do a lot of beach camping and windy conditions have also limited our awning use.

Our solution has been to use a shade shelter, which has proven to be the right solution for us. I purchased a Coleman 13' x 13' camp shelter on eBay for $125. It only takes three to five minutes to setup and take down, provides more than twice the shade and is more durable than our fragile awning. We can put it up and not worry that a gust of wind will damage or destroy it. If the wind did kick up enough to damage it, I'm only out $125, instead of the $850 to replace the awning. We have camped for two years now with it, in winds of 20 to 25 MPH, successfully.

[LoveToCamp]

I agree with the canopy. I got one when we got our first TM, as I didn't want to spend $1,000 for an awning. Much more convenient to move it around to where it is best-suited at any campsite.