Door latch help

Anything to do with mechanical, construction etc

Door latch help

Postby dancam » Fri Sep 01, 2017 12:16 am

Hi, I thought finding door latches for my trailer would be easy but I am having a really tough time. I am making my own doors, Its double doors and the gap between the 2 doors is 1.7inches and that moves a bit ( pop-up trailer) when driving or lifting the upper half, so the handle needs to stick out from the door less than 1.5inch for sure, 1inch or less is ideal.
this would be easy except I have to be able to open it from the inside! and most latches I have found that would work for size either do not lock or do not open from the inside.
What do you guys use for low profile door latches? Thanks

This is my gap:
Image

This is my doorway openings: Image

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
dancam
500 Club
 
Posts: 586
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:27 am
Location: Edmonton Alberta Canada

Re: Door latch help

Postby lfhoward » Fri Sep 01, 2017 9:04 am

It's not a vintage look, but you could use something like this:

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Doors/Global-Link/295-000019.html

Image
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
User avatar
lfhoward
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1369
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:10 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

Re: Door latch help

Postby dancam » Fri Sep 01, 2017 2:36 pm

lfhoward wrote:It's not a vintage look, but you could use something like this:

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Doors/Global-Link/295-000019.html

Image

An rv latch, lol. Sometimes im not thinking. Been to every box store i can think of and found nothing, never tried a trailer or rv store.
That looks like it would work perfect cept i would need 4 which is $100 plus shipping :/
I will try and find a local rv place that sells parts.
Will these handle a fair bit of stress or are they pretty flimsy? Have you used one?
Thanks a lot by the way!

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
dancam
500 Club
 
Posts: 586
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:27 am
Location: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Top

Re: Door latch help

Postby dancam » Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:24 pm

Solved! Thanks. Local places have those for $60 and i can get the ones in your link ordered for $33 if shipped to the boarder first, then put on a bus here. I was going to put 2 on each door, but because of price i may go with one in the middle and something like a ball catch on the top and bottom. Wanted over centre lever latches but they are like $60+!!!

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
dancam
500 Club
 
Posts: 586
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:27 am
Location: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Top

Re: Door latch help

Postby lfhoward » Fri Sep 01, 2017 10:10 pm

They are pretty strong and work well. I have a chrome one on the door of my trailer, which is something like 40" wide x 44" tall x 1-1/4" thick (although the latch can accommodate different door thicknesses if yours is different). My door is homemade and is on the rear of my square back trailer.
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
User avatar
lfhoward
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1369
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:10 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Top

Re: Door latch help

Postby lfhoward » Fri Sep 01, 2017 10:14 pm

Before cutting into your homemade door to install, I recommend making a mockup of your door using scrap wood and working on that as a first draft. You'll be glad you did because you'll make your mistakes on your door model and then know exactly what you need to do to make a clean installation of the latch on the actual door.
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
User avatar
lfhoward
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1369
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:10 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Top

Re: Door latch help

Postby dancam » Fri Sep 01, 2017 10:28 pm

lfhoward wrote:They are pretty strong and work well. I have a chrome one on the door of my trailer, which is something like 40" wide x 44" tall x 1-1/4" thick (although the latch can accommodate different door thicknesses if yours is different). My door is homemade and is on the rear of my square back trailer.



lfhoward wrote:Before cutting into your homemade door to install, I recommend making a mockup of your door using scrap wood and working on that as a first draft. You'll be glad you did because you'll make your mistakes on your door model and then know exactly what you need to do to make a clean installation of the latch on the actual door.

Nice! I havent made the door yet, wanted to make it for whatever latch i got. I think im going to order these online, im having trouble finding a data sheet or spec drawing of this latch so i can start on the door before they get here...
Need to figure out how far from the edge of the door to make the big hole and what size of passage the deadbolt and catch part needs :/

Did yours come with a drawing?

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
dancam
500 Club
 
Posts: 586
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:27 am
Location: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Top

Re: Door latch help

Postby lfhoward » Sat Sep 02, 2017 6:23 am

No, I don't think it came with a drawing. I remember measuring all the dimensions of the latch myself. It's not a regular rectangular hole you need to make in the door, as I remember. The inside and outside panels of the door had different shaped holes, at least the way I did it. I wouldn't do any cutting until you have the latch there in front of you and make specific plans to fit.
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
User avatar
lfhoward
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1369
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:10 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Top

Re: Door latch help

Postby lfhoward » Sat Sep 02, 2017 7:20 am

Here are some pics from my door latch install.

Mockup installed (outer view):
Image

Mockup installed (inner view):
Image

Installed in the door:
Image

Final install (protective plastic coating on aluminum not yet peeled off):
Image

Inside of door showing latch:
Image
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
User avatar
lfhoward
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1369
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:10 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Top

Re: Door latch help

Postby dancam » Sat Sep 09, 2017 10:44 am

Thanks a lot. Ended up ordering 2 of those latches online. Got drawings off the manufacturers site and after watching some youtube videos of them being installed i think i understand it well enough to build the door before they arrive. Thanks again! :)

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
dancam
500 Club
 
Posts: 586
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:27 am
Location: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Top


Return to Teardrop Construction Tips & Techniques

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 1 guest

cron