Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:29 pm**

I'm ready to install my hurricane hinge.

Can you share your technique for installing........meaning what are you using for the exposed strip with all the screw holes? Butyl tape, rv tape, sealant??

Any suggestions would be apprecaited.

Thanks in advance,
Barb

ps.gotta love the long holiday weekend. The td was not ready to camp in yet so it left lots of time to keep working and of course having fun doing it.

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:09 pm**

Barb,
I haven't permanately installed my hinge, but when I do, i'll put some caulking under the forward part and screw through it.

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:46 pm**

Barb::)

You asked wrote:Can you share your technique for installing........meaning what are you using for the exposed strip with all the screw holes? Butyl tape, rv tape, sealant??

The short answer:
Rubber or silicone seems to be the seal of choice for Hurricane hinges.

The threads that follow are from all pages as of 9/4/06 on the Teardrop Construction Tips & Techniques pages.
I haven't see as many shotgun Hurricane hinge and hatch threads in one spot and this all but complete. I know there
is much here but this should get you started. Ask more specific questions and they will be answered.

Mike wrote:The most common way to seal a hatch is to use a Hurricane Hinge, weather stripping where the hatch hits the sidewall, and angle to act as a sort of a protector..

Mike wrote:Getting the hatch watertight is easy. Use Grant's hurricane hinge, and extend it over the edge an inch on each side. Then use as much foam weatherstripping on the side edges and it takes to fill the gap. And finally, build a rigid frame for the hatch, and draw it up tight with latches.

There's a lot of material in the forum on this... just do a search. If you have a problem finding a specific detail, just holler... we'll help you find it...

mike...

P.S. Here is a starting point...
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... hatch#3980

Here's my hatch...
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... atch#17302

And here is how Bev fixed a leaky hatch...
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... hatch#7083

Dave Nathanson wrote:Have you tried calling Grant Whipp; Lil Bear in Redding, CA? That's where I got mine. I think you can ask for any length. 530-275-6728. Or web:
http://teardrops.net/lilbear/parts.html

Oh yeah, if you look at that web page, it says any size up to 8 feet. There you go!

BE SURE TO INSTALL THE HINGE FACING THE RIGHT WAY. There is a front & a back! The front side is the solid side. (I learned that the hard way!)

Also remember to ask for your hinge material to be a tiny bit longer than the width of your trailer. Then keep the front piece longer than the back (underside) piece. So when it does rain, the front piece sticks out and the water drops off, instead of running into the lower piece of the hinge tube. Mike S has a nice rainy day photo of that posted here somewhere. Search for "hurricane hinge" and you'll find it, and my tale of woe as I found out that mine was on backwards.

Oh & BTW, I saw that some people will shorten the back (lower) hinge piece even 1.5" more & then screw a screw into the top (front) hinge piece just a 1/2" from each edge. This will keep the top hinge (attached to the galley lid) from sliding left or right. I have a photo I can post if you need to see that.
_________________
Dave Nathanson
http://td.roughwheelers.com/

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:51 pm**

Barb, please let us know how it works.

I still have a weeks work to go before I get there.

Steve, :applause:

Boy am I glad you got back and decide to post all those informative stuff. Saved me a days worth of looking. :twisted:

Posted: **Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:43 am**

Anti M and for anyone else that stumbles on to this thread:

I have uPdated the above post to reflect all the threads
of consequence on hatch, hinge, sealant, and struts.
This is a start at least.

That is all the information on the 46 pages I went through
and I gleaned most of what was pertinent for threads on
the subject.

Someone just starting a hatch or hurricane hinge could read
the above post and get the combined knowledge of this forum.

At least if they read that hellacious posting of threads they
most likely wouldn't make mistakes and could then ask
new questions that might stimulate new conversation.

I think it is a keeper.

Posted: **Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:21 am**

b.bodemer wrote:I'm ready to install my hurricane hinge.

Can you share your technique for installing........meaning what are you using for the exposed strip with all the screw holes? Butyl tape, rv tape, sealant??

Any suggestions would be apprecaited.

Thanks in advance,
Barb

ps.gotta love the long holiday weekend. The td was not ready to camp in yet so it left lots of time to keep working and of course having fun doing it.

Barb,
Here is the raincap that fits in the moulding.
http://www.rvpartscenter.com/prodselect ... 12&CID=495

Posted: **Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:55 am**

I just caulked under the hinge , then installed some of the molding insert that sonetpro has shown. It works great i think and no screw heads showing......NUB.....

Posted: **Tue Sep 05, 2006 5:44 am**

Id like to know as to what kind of a gap size would you need so it dont rub into the side walls?

And is it gapped with spacers all the way around... top and bottom as well.

Classic Finn

Posted: **Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:28 am**

Steve,
Thanks for all the links regarding installation...........

Steve T,
Thanks for the link to the molding............

It's just very exciting to get to this point in the project.

Well.........I'm off to work on the td!!!!!
Barb

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Ready for hurricane hinge installation...........

Ready for hurricane hinge installation...........

Hurricane hinge A-Z

Re: Ready for hurricane hinge installation...........