New screen door coming!

[Bill]

Many of you know that I have been part of the Trail Manor Owner’s forum since 2001, when I bought my first TM. It has always struck me as puzzling that in that time, no one, including the factory engineers, was able to develop a satisfactory screen door for the trailer. I consider myself reasonably handy, so a year ago, I decided to invent one and make it available to all TM owners. I drew dozens of sketches of concepts, graduated to engineering drawings, made a first prototype, improved it with a second, and then a third. When I felt I had a good design, I tried it out on a couple carefully-selected TM owners, who agreed that it works well, is easy to use, and solved the problems seen in earlier doors. Like Den-and-Sue before me, I applied for a patent, and my wife and I invited Bob and Cleo Eickhoff, owners of the TM company, to our home to see what they thought. They spent half a day with us, agreed that it was a needed and very welcome step up from what existed, and immediately expressed a desire to include it in all future-production TMs. We are now working out the details of how to do that.

Realizing that owners of existing TMs (not just new ones) might want to add a good screen door to their rigs, I designed a retrofit kit that can be built and installed by nearly any owner. This kit was likewise sent out for small-group controlled evaluation, and the results were just what was hoped for. The current plan is for the first release of the retrofit kits to a larger group of owners to happen in early fall. If the results in this test market are what I expect, we will go big time.

It has been a long and paintaking process - that is how engineers do things - but I will keep you all up to date as things progress. I hope and expect that there will be great interest in this door, and we can all be breezy and insect-free soon.

Bill

[Michoshisho]

I can't wait for these to come out! I just pulled the trigger today on my first TM. A new 2013 2720. She makes her way to her new home in 2 weeks. She definitely needs a screen!

[Kidkraz]

I look forward to seeing all that's involved. My manor has gotten a few minor mods and I have a couple waiting in the wings, or rather in my garage.

[Sterman]

That's great news, Bill.
Keep the innovations coming!
I'm a new TM convert.

[LoveToCamp]

Bill, thanks for taking time to make something that can fit all (at least Classic size) TMs!

Question, since I just finished making my first screen door last weekend: can your design stay on all the time, or is a removable screen? And, can the door be opened with the screen in place, as one unit, as can the solid door?

If "yes" to both of those questions, that should be a standard feature in future models. Mine is not quite that simple to use, and the DW will complain about it each trip, I imagine, even though we will have a screen to use.

Good luck, and kudos on your efforts. May you realize some gain for your work.

[Bailey'sMom]

Congrats Bill!

So is this a half screen like the D&S was or is it a full screen door?

I am actually hoping its half door screen. Unless there is a really good way to secure it ...... Don't want my dog to be able to push it open when she gets excited.

Excellent.
How can we get in on the next trial ?

[Bill]

I've received a number of inquiries about how to join the initial test group of owners who will be evaluating the retrofit kit. I'm gratified by the interest - I think we really have something going here. I should have mentioned, though, that the test group is being assembled in a relatively small geographic area, so that one of the individual builder/evaluators mentioned earlier can oversee the group, conduct the test, and spot any shortcomings. Since I have a vested interest in how this goes, I have detached myself from this process, but we will report as soon as we have results. Be assured that we do plan to make these doors available as soon as possible.

As far as the specific design features of the door(s), it is appropriate for me to let Bob and Cleo make the announcement.

Again, thanks for the interest and the positive feedback.

Bill

[Philip]

Bill,

You are to be congratulated on your ingenuity and perseverance. I have a patent and I know how much effort is involved in development, money and time.

I hope it all works out for you and all TM owners.

Take care,

Phil Friess

[TMkev10]

Bill, looking forward to production. Thanks for all your work on this.