Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **rlnl99** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:56 am

Will somebody please tell me why tears don't have "suicide doors"? If you look at the teardrop from the side, it looks soooooo much better with the rounded portion of the door facing the rounded portion of the front of the teardrop. I spent all night making a new templete looking at the door one way (conventional), and then looking at the door the other way (suicide). In the end, I thought "there must be a reason why you have to have that 90 degree angle at the front of the tear". So..........I ended up making another template the same old way. I still don't like it!

by **Gage** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:12 am

rlnl99 wrote:So..........I ended up making another template the same old way. I still don't like it!

Well when you weight all the pro & cons, it's just not practical. But beings how you feel the way you do, go for it. It's your teardrop and nothing is holding you back from doing what you want with it. Who cares what anyone else thinks. It's not their teardrop. :thinking:

by **rlnl99** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:20 am

Well........, tell me what's the "pros and cons"? Surely, there must be a reason.

by **cuyeda** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:26 am

What if your door comes ajar, or you forget to close it tightly. All it takes is one Oopps! the door is open, while going down the road. The wind will tweak that door in a hurry, if your not picking it up off the road side. On the other hand won't need air conditioning if it happens. :lol:

by **rlnl99** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:33 am

Well, true. But besides that, are there other reasons why? I'm thinking there's a rule that says you just don't do it!

by **madjack** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:37 am

I think Cliff just gave you the "reason"...another would be it openning up against the fender...but as Gage sez(basically)...Iff'n ya wanna, then doit....................
madjack

by **rlnl99** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:53 am

Ok. Thanks so much for your input! I just thought I was crossing the lines of teardrop design by even contemplating the "suicide door" idea.

by **Wimperdink** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:08 am

I would expect with the door not opening all the way because of the fender would make it that much more difficult to swing your legs inside, unless of course your crawling in head first.

I can't think of any pro's except maybe the original look.

by **cuyeda** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:37 am

Like they said, if you want to build it, you have to live with it. If you want to be different, why not make gull wing doors, and put a remote actuator on it. Ready for take off!

by **rlnl99** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:39 am

Both of you have a good point! I was just wondering. Thanks

by **john warren** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:21 am

mine are mounted suicide style. other then checking to make sure its closed and locked when i tow,,,no problems with it.
the fender thing is an important consideration, but with my setup i jafe a couple inches clearance on the fenders. :thumbsup:

by **vreihen** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 7:56 am

Having the hinge as the "leading edge" of the door when driving in the rain might be the reason. If you mount it the other way, then you're counting on the door seal on the leading edge to be water-tight in almost hurricane-force winds as you drive. Probably nothing that a vertical drip edge gutter/lip/extrusion couldn't fix, though.....

by **robfisher** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:32 am

Also, just ease of use. Typically you do a lot more living at the back of your teardrop then at the front. With the door open the travel difference although it seems small will bug you. Also If I'm in a typical campground situation I back in and the door offers me a bit more privacy from the walkers-by out front. Gives me a place to stand up and slip my jeans back on in the morning.

The door coming open during travel is a major issue with suicide doors. In one of my 60 year old trailers on rough road the door has come open twice and I was very glad it was not a suicide door.

by **doug hodder** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:27 pm

I've got a suicide door on my standy...but it lays flat to the wall when open. Scotties had them and that's what I cloned. It has a steel jamb though and I always make sure it latches and gets locked when I travel. I think if you put one on a tear...you would find yourself thinking down the road...."why the hell did I do this?" for all the above reasons. Doug

by **oz97tj** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:44 pm

There is nothing holding you back from cutting the hole the way you want, but still putting the hinge at the front either.

The hinge wouldn't go all the way to the top of the door, but considering the weight of the door, that shouldn't be an issue.

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Suicide doors. They look better! Why not?

Suicide doors. They look better! Why not?

Re: Suicide doors. They look better! Why not?

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