Leveling

Sounds like you may have a shell out of adjustment that is a tad too high or low and causing the door to rub. Where is the contact point that will not allow your door to close? Tom, upper side, lower side or bottom. Each has a slightly different fix, non of them hard.

[rvcycleguy]

I believe there were some photos offered some months ago. If memory serves, this has been an ongoing issue if it's the same TM door that has been posted about.

I did some snooping but not sure if I saw pictures of the correct one, but the one I did see shows that the rear shell is about an 1/8th inch low and is binding at the connection point. Very simple to loosen the bolts that tighten the shell lifting arm from the torsion rod (with a jack supporting it) and raise it up and re-tighten. Of course I may be looking at the wrong pictures and won't even make believe I know what the ongoing problem is without seeing it, and then maybe not. Heh, I am just another guy trying to help.

[mjlaupp]

Originally Posted by Scottie Dogs

Hi-

We just got back from Payson AZ. from a one week trip today. We had our TM for one year now, and I swear we have the worst entry door ever made. It takes two hands to close it from the outside and I have to pull so hard to close it from the inside. We are perfectly level at all times. This has been going on for 13 trips and I have READ every little trick here on the search forum. I spent so much time here (search) to correct this problem and no luck at all. I think it is time for a 5th wheel... We are going to Show Low AZ. for two months in July and I just can’t take this no longer. This is our 5th trailer in our life and NEVER had a door problem they all closed just like my home doors.

Again My leveling is perfect!
Dave

Try this: If the door won't close after your leveling, first raise the rear curbside jack by about 1 inch and then make sure the rear roadside jack is firm to the ground. I think that some TM's sag a little causing the described door closing problem and this procedure seems to correct for it. I had to do this one one of my 2720's and now on the 3326.

Originally Posted by clown9644

Sounds like you may have a shell out of adjustment that is a tad too high or low and causing the door to rub. Where is the contact point that will not allow your door to close? Tom, upper side, lower side or bottom. Each has a slightly different fix, non of them hard.

I tried Mike’s solution on raising that corner by 1 inch and it did not correct it. I am so confused on this door, if you have any solution on the shell adjustment and which shell to adjust that would be great I just hate to make things worst.

Thanks all for the help guys.

Dave

Dave,
Before I have you doing anything I would like to see pictures of the sides where it is binding. If what I saw on the picture I THINK was yours from a previous thread then it is the post directly to the left of your door as you are looking at it. If I can see a pic (or a link to the ones on line) I can be more comfortable about suggestions.

Set up camper- level and all that.

IF I am right and was looking at the right pictures, then all you need is a 2x4 a few inches long that will match your jack (floor or bottle or scissors-my favorite) and put pressure on the bottom of the white casing around the torsion rod that goes up its center. Be careful to not be supporting that round black portion as you are attempting to change the point they are meeting. With the pressure on the casing to support it, loosen the 4 bolts that are about 6 inches from the bottom, now raise the jack just a tiny bit (just enough to remove the stress point you door is experiencing and of course you can test this as you are adjusting) until the door is happy. Re-tighten the bolts, remove jack. You may need to do the same on the opposite side to keep the camper opening level.

Originally Posted by clown9644

Dave,
Before I have you doing anything I would like to see pictures of the sides where it is binding. If what I saw on the picture I THINK was yours from a previous thread then it is the post directly to the left of your door as you are looking at it. If I can see a pic (or a link to the ones on line) I can be more comfortable about suggestions.

Set up camper- level and all that.

IF I am right and was looking at the right pictures, then all you need is a 2x4 a few inches long that will match your jack (floor or bottle or scissors-my favorite) and put pressure on the bottom of the white casing around the torsion rod that goes up its center. Be careful to not be supporting that round black portion as you are attempting to change the point they are meeting. With the pressure on the casing to support it, loosen the 4 bolts that are about 6 inches from the bottom, now raise the jack just a tiny bit (just enough to remove the stress point you door is experiencing and of course you can test this as you are adjusting) until the door is happy. Re-tighten the bolts, remove jack. You may need to do the same on the opposite side to keep the camper opening level.

Hi -

What is happening is I don’t get a square closure. The bottom corner hits first then as you look up the side I gain space and finally at the top I have 1/4 of an inch. Even after I get the door to catch to stay closed I still have space at the top.

I imagine the adjustment you are saying will be on plumbing side to get that one shell up a bit so the whole door hits at the same time, so I don’t have to do the push deal to get the door lock to set in the hole.

I have 2 Scotties and if the door is not caught properly they could push it open.

As far as a picture goes it is closed up now in the garage and I am looking for a vinyl skirt for the toilet I think it is shot, problems with that too...

What I want to do before our next long trip soon is put the TM on the street 5 days before we leave and get these things corrected. I hate to mess around at the camp ground when I can do it at home.

Your help is very much appreciated, and I think you know now what the door problem is, the door does not hit square like your front door at home.

If by chance you have a picture of the placement of the 2x4 and jack that would be wonderful and what side I will need to put it on.

Dave

[rvcycleguy]

I would ask if you are having closure issues with the bottom half? Have you determined if the bottom of the Dutch door will open and close with ease? Or does the door only bind with both halves fastened together? Wondering if the issue can be related to the double hinge action of the lower door frame and pinning it to the side walls? If I don't get both sides pinned properly, the door frame is not square. I have to use a graphic spray to get the pins to slide in and lock.

Originally Posted by rvcycleguy

I would ask if you are having closure issues with the bottom half? Have you determined if the bottom of the Dutch door will open and close with ease? Or does the door only bind with both halves fastened together? Wondering if the issue can be related to the double hinge action of the lower door frame and pinning it to the side walls? If I don't get both sides pinned properly, the door frame is not square. I have to use a graphic spray to get the pins to slide in and lock.

Hi -

I have the same problem when the top half is open also it really does not matter. Either way I have to do the push thing. The whole door is out of square.

Thanks, Dave

For clarification- You said "What is happening is I don’t get a square closure. The bottom corner hits first then as you look up the side I gain space and finally at the top I have 1/4 of an inch. Even after I get the door to catch to stay closed I still have space at the top."
Am I reading this that the top corner is AWAY from the camper 1/4 inch leaning out over the step
or
The door is flush with the sides of the camper but the left hand corner is 1/4 inch towards the front of the camper?
I am gong to pull my camper out and open it, I will take some measurements, and pictures. I am going to ask you to take some measurements and use a level and square, if you have one, even a triangle will get the job done. I will try to make my camper door act like yours so you can identify the issue, then I will know what needs to be nudged where (hopefully), or if you have a problem beyond me. More tomorrow evening.