Entry Door Issue

[wbmiller3]

We have a 2619 and on bumpy roads our door often swings open. Fortunately the hinge is forward so it isn't a "suicide door" but when I find a stop sign I see it swinging open in my mirror :mad: I tried extending the latch with a piece of tubing, which worked for one or two trips, but on arrival home last trip I found it open again. Anyone had this problem and found a good fix?

[Bill]

Check out this thread

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1925

My 2002 TM started doing this just before we traded it in. This is NOT a good situation, since the door swings open when you slow down. I had visions of slowing down to enter a construction zone, and having the door swing open just in time to catch a signpost - or, God forbid, a construction worker in the head.

The problem seems to happen because the foam weatherstrip that lines the door opening gets permanently compressed. I replaced the foam, but probably with something too soft, since the problem didn't fully go away.

I don't like the idea of duct tape or drilling holes for outboard latches. And tightening the latch screw didn't do anything for it. There was at least one good idea in the thread I mentioned. I think it involved replacing the latch turnbutton with a larger one, like the one inside that holds the door halves together. But whatever you do, you need to do it pronto.

Bill

[ripp1202]

Has anyone put a dead bolt on the top door like the bottom one ? Any pictures? Thanks The Rip :new_evil:

[fcatwo]

We (like others) put a slide bolt latch on the inside of the upper door to keep it closed tighter during cool weather. We also reach under and engage it when we close down for the reason (problem) described above. Removing the outside latch and using the inside latch only will also prevent the situation someone described here of the wind (or a kid) engaging the outside lock while they were inside.

[Freedom]

Here's what I did to remedy the situation - works great! Make sure you only rotate the latch clock-wise or the screw loosens. http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?p=19058#post19058

[evans27292]

I HAVE a 2005 tm 3023 ,pulled by 2005 chevy crew cab 5.3 v8 avg. 17.2-17.3 mpg. while pulling. i had the same problem, called ed at tm and ordered two nylon turn knobs,replaced the 1st one with silicone in the hole and a larger screw. put 2nd one above it equal distance between top of door with silicone and larger screw.works great !

[Magdefrau]

From the first trip home I have struggled with the door coming open in flight. We had read of this before our purchase and really didn't realize what folks were trying to get across. The lock on the TM seems like it should work. I suppose the positive slant of being a lite weight finds its way to the wrong side of the road once. The door needs a secure lock for road use. I have purchase a locking latch that looks alot like the four corner latches. I'm going to instale it before the next trip. How do folks put pictures on these threads? I'll figure it out on my own soon and show it off to yall.. I figure the factory guys and gals have it this way so us want-to-be mechanics have a project to keep us busy after work. Its neat to work out problems.

[PopBeavers]

We took delivery of our 2005 2720 last March. If my latch was any tighter I would not be able to turn it. Someone with arthritis would not like mine at all.

I wonder what the difference is?

[wbmiller3]

I think I'll go with the larger "turn handle".

My guess is that this problem is bad on the 2619 because there is only a tiny strip of the top shell aft of the door, hence adding extra flexibility.

'Preciate all the help!

[91whitetc]

Has anyone put a dead bolt on the top door like the bottom one ? Any pictures? Thanks The Rip :new_evil:
I just purchased a 2001SL so am new to the TM. This weekend I installed a deadbolt lock in the upper door. Adds security and prevents the door from opening while driving. As soon as I can find a silver single sided deadbolt I am going to install that to hold the doors together. Can't believe the plastic thing they use to latch the two doors together.

[ripp1202]

Any picture????

[2bcs1jrt]

I am going to install that to hold the doors together. Can't believe the plastic thing they use to latch the two doors together.I wonder if a rigid deadbolt to hold the upper and lower half of the door together would be problematic due to any shifting when opening and closing if everything isn't lined up perfectly.
Cheri

[fcatwo]

I wasn't the first to think of this but keep in mind that any lock on the outside of the top door can be activated by a prankster and you'll have to go out the emergency exit under the bed of rip the door open to get out. An inside lock on the upper door can serve the same purpose by just reaching under and engaging it when shutting down.

[91whitetc]

Same could be said about anything on the TM. When set up and level the single sided deadbolt would line up and keep the doors together when opened and closed. If anything it would aid in keeping the doors aligned. Will let you know after I install it. Right now the plastic catch is the problem.

[91whitetc]

Deadbolt on top door is key activated just like the doorknob on the bottom. One key is used to unlock both the doorknob and the deadbolt. How does the prankster do any more with the top door than they would with the bottom?

[fcatwo]

Good point. If you can unlock it on the inside it doesn't matter what someone does on the outside.

[schmidch]

We (like others) put a slide bolt latch on the inside of the upper door to keep it closed tighter during cool weather. We also reach under and engage it when we close down for the reason (problem) described above. Removing the outside latch and using the inside latch only will also prevent the situation someone described here of the wind (or a kid) engaging the outside lock while they were inside.

We are having the same problem in our 2020 2720 TM. Door opens unexpectedly because of cheap latch held on with single pop rivet. We are planning to install a slide bolt as you did on the inside of upper door. One question I have, does it interfere with the RV's gaskets when closing or opening? Seems there is enough room but would hate to scratch the outer surface of the rear section's surface. Thank you for providing a solution. Were you satisfied with this solution?
Charles Schmid
[email protected]

[Bill]

This worked out well.

https://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/album.php?albumid=8&pictureid=1910

Bill

[mickmanor]

When we bought our 2720, the former owner told me that I should replace
the turnbutton for the door. It was working and keeping the door shut, but
was obviously barely latching the door.

After 8 years of some use, some things just wear out. :eek:

The existing rivet was likely slightly bent backwards from the pressure of
the door when the camper was down, and the contact area of the rivet in
the wall was also slightly distorted from the turnbutton in use pressure.
To explain my thinking better, the expanded part of the rivet, inside the wall,
created a torque effect that slightly bent the metal around the hole so that
the initially perpendicular rivet was angled backwards slightly. What I am
saying is that simply adding a new turnbutton may not result in a return
of the perpendicular turnbutton angle due to the slightly distorted wall
where the rivet mounts.

Rather than try and correct the distortion, and maybe really make things
worse, I opted to try some compensation to make things work better.

I used a standard turnbutton with 2 small nuts and 1 small flat washer as
spacers. I also used a wood screw to mount all in place. To compensate
for the distortion, I filed an angle on one side of the nut that goes against
the camper wall. I put the nut into a small vise and filed 1/16" from one
side towards the outside center of the nut. If you look closely at the inside
nut in the picture, you will see that the side of the inside nut that is towards
the door is narrower than the back side by about 1/16". That is my guess
about the distortion from use, and the result is that the new
turnbutton is again perpendicular to the door. This means more bite to keep
the door closed. I used a screw with loctite, but believe in clockwise rotation only,
as somebody already posted.

Ok, you can also see that I added a small grab bar. That is added insurance
that the door will stay in the closed position. That idea was formerly posted,
and I shortened the bottom mount screws so as to not interfere with any
motion inside the wall. It is slightly higher than most grab bars, but still works fine.

So far, so good. ;) Happy camping! :)

[JohnMD]

Hi all,

I've been reading this thread with interest. My turn bottom attaches with a screw and seems to work well -- just tight enough. However, I also maintain a fear that it will break on the road and the door will go flying open. I am thinking about ordering a few extra matching turn buttons from the factory, installing a second one as a backup in case one breaks, and then having a few extras on hand as replacements.

John

[schmidch]

Thanks MickManor for your input. By you filing of the rear of first nut you have kept the screw perpendicular to the RV's side wall which gives the turnbutton improved strength. I still want to go with an inside slidebolt. I feel the two piece slidebolt which attaches with 5 screws will greatly improve the strength, keeping door more secure than just a single screw.

[schmidch]

This worked out well.

https://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/album.php?albumid=8&pictureid=1910

Bill

Bill, I tried to get to the link you posted but got a message that my membership may not have privelges to access it.

[Bill]

I tried to get to the link you posted but got a message that my membership may not have priveleges to access it. Forum membership works this way. When you joined the Forum, you were given 30 days of full access to the entire Forum, to see if you liked it. At the end of the 30 days, you had to make a choice. If you liked the Forum, you could become a Sponsor, for $12 a year. The other option was to become a Registered Guest, losing access to almost the entire Forum. You did not elect to become a Sponsor, became a Registered Guest, and lost access to almost everything. You may have noticed that when you signed up, you could see some 30 specific forums on lots of topic areas. Lately, the list of forums visible to you has shrunk to maybe 6.

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