Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi
Has anyone any (useable) comments or criticisms about using top hinged side doors? I quite fancy using double glazing friction hinges on the door to give me a small sheltered area and a better sealing door.

First off you have to get out of the way when opening them. Artistically, the can be beautiful and everyone will love the looks...

After opening them 20 times in one day (which you WILL do when camping, you will question your decision. They have to be open all the way to get in and out easily. If you are parked near anything that hinders the opening, it will be a pain.

There is a reason they are not used more commonly....

Hi Arne
The camping is always at competitions the day before the event and generally speaking the doors of my tent tend to be open all the day so that wouldn’t cause me much of a problem. Getting in and out may be the main problem as I am quite tall so I think I will try and mock something up to see how much of a problem it may be.

Thanks for taking the time to answer.

Och, but I love the idea myself. Haven't figured out how to seal them properly. What are these double-glazing hinges of which you speak?

Hi
These friction hinges are used a great deal in the U.K. on u.p.v.c. replacement windows, and they can be used top and bottom or side to side. The seal is on the lip of the window that runs all the way around the edge. As the hinge opens it brings the window edge in by about 2” and out away from the frame so that when it closes the frame sits square on the window frame. The hinges I am looking at are 90 degree side fitting fire escape hinges. I haven't given it a great deal of thought yet but they may work on the back hatch and I wouldn’t have to use a stay to keep it up or a waterproof piano hinge.
One slight draw back is that you will lose about 2” in the overall opening height of the door but I mocked up a door yesterday to that height and I found it no great problem.
If you email me I will send you photo to show it better.

One of my favorite Teardrop pictures had gull wing doors, I figured I would walk into them when ever they were opened, so I opted for the Normal type of door,

I thought they would make a great little shelter too, but had never thought about how many times I would be opening and closing them. Can you send us a link to these "frictions hinges" you mention

John

jdarkoregon wrote:One of my favorite Teardrop pictures had gull wing doors, I figured I would walk into them when ever they were opened, so I opted for the Normal type of door,

I thought they would make a great little shelter too, but had never thought about how many times I would be opening and closing them. Can you send us a link to these "frictions hinges" you mention

John

John,

Gotta link for you. Friction hinge

Hi
These are ones I am going to use. I am still trying to post some pictures, watch this space.

http://www.opus-windows.co.uk/security.htm


http://www.handlestore.com/frictionhing ... n%20hinges%