Bathroom Door Entry Modification?

[Dog Lady]

Has anyone modified the bathroom door entry so that a tall person doesn't bump their head when entering the bathroom?
We are trying to figure out a good way to eliminate that cross bar so that we can go all the way to the ceiling with a brace for the bathroom walls.

Any suggestions?

Dog Lady

 

[PopBeavers]

My son is the tallest. He is only 6 foot 4, so we have had no problem to solve.

Unless I do not understand the question.

 

[hillbillyhotel]

i agree, i am tired of hitting my head,
i would like to see a mod on that , this has not changed in all the yrs, still the same hight on that crossbar/ wood frame,

 

[Dog Lady]

Husband is 6'2"

He hits his head at least once every day partially because once his back is sore it isn't as flexible.

I want him to be able to stand up and walk into the bathroom like I do.

If anyone has idea's to modify please share.

Dog Lady

 

[klv5920]

If you could make some kind of pressure bar to go on each side of the door up to the ceiling so that your wall was anchored, the cross bar could be removed. Something like a shower rod that uses a spring to keep in place. Maybe something could be cut off to fit that space and place it on top of the wall and against the ceiling. Or something like the table leg that would fold down to the wall but also fold up to the ceiling with a rubber tip on it to keep it in place?
Just thinking out loud here. Might jog your creativity.

Karen

 

[thewayneo]

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?p=96554&highlight=thetford#post96554

See the 3rd description and pic.

 

[Dog Lady]

I've thought about cutting the header bar off, BUT

WE have an over the wall cabinet hanging on the bathroom wall over the kitchen sink.
It has 2 shelves on it and holds our paper towels, coffee, creamer, tea, etc.
Stuff we use more than once a day so I have to come up with a brace before cutting it off.

I just can't believe that TM hasn't in all these years modified that door entry.

Dog Lady

 

[thewayneo]

I have a 22" LCD TV hanging on the kitchen side of the wall, and hangers for bath towels on the bathroom side. You might try the same test I did: camp with the latch unlatched and see it anything bad happens. Before this test, I thot up all kinds of ways to re-brace the wall but after the test and a few camping trips later I haven't done anything else. I had a plan to also remove and re-do the vinyl skirt from over the door but hitting my head on the vinyl isn't that bad. If I get un-lazy I might still do something there. My TM dealer checked it out, wiggled the walls, said "nope, they can't go anywhere", and seemed to liked it (he was taller than me).

I have the older style bathroom door that does not close flush with the walls, it closes on the OUTSIDE of the walls. If you have the newer style flush closing doors then I don't know 'nuttin!

wayne

 

[ELM-JLM]

Hey Wayne,
What did you use to cut it? It appears you got a nice clean cut!

 

[thewayneo]

I did that about a year ago and was kinda nervous about wrecking it, but it did come out nice and smooth. I used a very fine tooth jig saw blade and went slow. You can see the bare wood where the 1-1/2" inch header was cut off. You could use the cut-off piece plastic trim to patch that area if you wanted to. Luckily the bare wood and plastic trim are about the same color and nobody has noticed it.

I better say: I think you should do the "unlatched test" just to be sure that you think it's OK to cut the header off. When I did the test, I even slid the latch end of the header away from the hallway wall and wiggled, pushed, pulled to make sure nothing bad happened. I've camped several times now, and with several different rowdy non-RV friends and it seems like this is just how it should have been convenience wise. Maybe TM thinks it looks better to have a header there?

I ALSO BETTER SAY: I have the older style bathroom door that does not close flush with the walls, it closes on the OUTSIDE of the walls. If you have the newer style flush closing doors then I don't know 'nuttin!
wayne

 

[ThePair]

If you keep the door pieces latched together all the time, I doubt it'll ever make a big difference to keep or lose the header.

I think I am one of the very few who routinely unlatch the bathroom door, and for me the header will make sure the top & bottom halves remain aligned. But, outside of that circumstance, I can't see what difference it should make.

 

[ELM-JLM]

What an easy mod and funtional!

I did that about a year ago and was kinda nervous about wrecking it, but it did come out nice and smooth. I used a very fine tooth jig saw blade and went slow. You can see the bare wood where the 1-1/2" inch header was cut off. You could use the cut-off piece plastic trim to patch that area if you wanted to. Luckily the bare wood and plastic trim are about the same color and nobody has noticed it.

I better say: I think you should do the "unlatched test" just to be sure that you think it's OK to cut the header off. When I did the test, I even slid the latch end of the header away from the hallway wall and wiggled, pushed, pulled to make sure nothing bad happened. I've camped several times now, and with several different rowdy non-RV friends and it seems like this is just how it should have been convenience wise. Maybe TM thinks it looks better to have a header there?

I ALSO BETTER SAY: I have the older style bathroom door that does not close flush with the walls, it closes on the OUTSIDE of the walls. If you have the newer style flush closing doors then I don't know 'nuttin!
wayne

Thanks for the quick response Wayne! I did all the testing and decided I had scraped my head for the very last time! With a hacksaw and a razor knife I went at it! The seam was perfectly anigned with the door jamb so measuring wasn't necessary! The saw cut easily and very straight! I used the trim as you suggested for a nice finished look! Also, I used the top latch on the outer seam of the folding wall! Throwing stuff away just kills me! LOL! Here is the finished product! Cleanup took longer than the mod.

 

[thewayneo]

Perfected!

Earl---That looks factory perfect!!! Now I'm gonna have to go fix that spot! I love the re-use of the latch, I saved mine for something and that looks like a good use. And since your door is the newer flush-fit style, I think we can say this works with both styles of bathroom door.


NOTE TO DOG LADY--does this seem to solve your problem good unuf? Or is the vinyl skirt still going to be a problem?

wayne