Doors, to be square or not, that is the question.

[dt400]

What are your thoughts on door shape. As in to have square or rounded lower door corners.
Full foamie with 2" XPS and fiberglass in and out. This will spend most of it's time on 4wd trails, washboard roads so durability is a main concern.
I want it to be at floor level (sit on the floor with no sidewall under it) so I can sit in the door opening and don't have to deal with smacking my shins getting in. I like the full width flat of the square doors but am wondering about the square corners being a stress point and cracking. I would definitely use an extra layer of glass to reinforce the corners.

Thought? Ideas? Anyone ever had one with problems?

Thanks
Darrell

 

[KCStudly]

Think about how the seal needs to go to keep water out of your bedding. I chose to use a trimlok bulb seal; a foam bulb that has channel trim that locks onto a flange that extends into the door frame opening, with the foam bulb pushing onto the inside surface of the door. By making the door and door frame with radii large enough for the trimlok to follow around without kinking, I can use a single piece of door seal with just one butt joint to seal at the bottom. If the butt joint isn't perfect, it will hopefully drain out, not in.

If you make your corners square you will likely have to miter your seals, introducing more chances for leaks, and also higher up on the door where there would be a greater likelihood of water dripping in.

 

[halfdome Danny]

Square corners are not friendly to body parts. All the furniture I’ve built for our home have corners that are not square. Looks better and they occasionally get bumped by a leg. Look at the door corner in my signature picture.
Danny

 

[dt400]

Think about how the seal needs to go to keep water out of your bedding. I chose to use a trimlok bulb seal; a foam bulb that has channel trim that locks onto a flange that extends into the door frame opening, with the foam bulb pushing onto the inside surface of the door. By making the door and door frame with radii large enough for the trimlok to follow around without kinking, I can use a single piece of door seal with just one butt joint to seal at the bottom. If the butt joint isn't perfect, it will hopefully drain out, not in.

If you make your corners square you will likely have to miter your seals, introducing more chances for leaks, and also higher up on the door where there would be a greater likelihood of water dripping in.

Hadn't thought about the seals. I would "assume" the manufacturer would have properly installed the seals before they send a door....no require me to fit and trim it.

Darrell

 

[dt400]

Square corners are not friendly to body parts. All the furniture I’ve built for our home have corners that are not square. Looks better and they occasionally get bumped by a leg. Look at the door corner in my signature picture.
Danny

Hadn't thought about the "human" factor.
I've never had a problem with any of my truck doors square corners, but my dog could run into the campers door if it stayed open so that is something to think about.

Thanks
Darrell

 

[Tony Latham]

I use Trim-Lock bulb seals, and they need a curve to be continuous; otherwise, you'll need to cut them.

Tony

 

[dt400]

I use Trim-Lock bulb seals, and they need a curve to be continuous; otherwise, you'll need to cut them.

Tony

Thanks.
I was asking about manufactured doors not homemade but I wasn't clear.

Darrell

 

[KCStudly]

Rounded corners eliminate stress risers in the wall. Bouncing down the highway, country lane or rough forest access road introduces stress loads. Just saying, round corners are worth the effort either way, IMHO.