Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi all,

I know that most of us use a nylon strap as a way to keep our doors from swinging around and slamming against the side of the trailer. I was trying to figure out where to get the nylon strap when it occurred to me that a car seat belt would work perfectly. They come in a variety of colors so you can color coordinate to your trailer. They are quite strong, have a nice weave, and every junkyard has hundreds of them to choose from.

For those of you building multiple tears, one seatbelt will do a bunch of trailers!

I had a friend pick up a tan seatbelt out of the junkyard when he was there. (They didn't even charge him for the piece) I cut off a few feet and threw it in the washing machine to clean it up. Once dry, I cut one piece for each door. I folded each end over for a double thickness where the screws go through. A big squirt of hot glue held it folded over while I finished the strap. Next I heated a piece of clothes hanger over the stove and burned two screw holes in each end. Lastly, I used some stainless steel screws and upholstery washers to hold it in place.



Just one way to do it.

Joanne

Joanne,
thanks, this is going to solve my problem. Great idea, love it.

Joanne wrote:Hi all,

I know that most of us use a nylon strap as a way to keep our doors from swinging around and slamming against the side of the trailer. I was trying to figure out where to get the nylon strap when it occurred to me that a car seat belt would work perfectly. They come in a variety of colors so you can color coordinate to your trailer. They are quite strong, have a nice weave, and every junkyard has hundreds of them to choose from.

For those of you building multiple tears, one seatbelt will do a bunch of trailers!

I had a friend pick up a tan seatbelt out of the junkyard when he was there. (They didn't even charge him for the piece) I cut off a few feet and threw it in the washing machine to clean it up. Once dry, I cut one piece for each door. I folded each end over for a double thickness where the screws go through. A big squirt of hot glue held it folded over while I finished the strap. Next I heated a piece of clothes hanger over the stove and burned two screw holes in each end. Lastly, I used some stainless steel screws and upholstery washers to hold it in place.



Just one way to do it.

Joanne

You come up with the best ideas! Thanks

Hi Auntie M!!

What made me think of it was that I wanted something that would match my interior colors. Then it occurred to me that the seatbelts come in so many colors.

After all, it's all about looking good.

Joanne

joanne,
great solution....................thanks for sharing.
Barb

Joanne wrote:Next I heated a piece of clothes hanger over the stove and burned two screw holes in each end.

An excellent technique used by the pros to put the holes in dinghy toe-straps, which are almost identical. It's the preferred method for almost any thermoplastic as the melted edge of the hole is stronger than if you'd drilled it.

But you didn't mention that there's an important tradition to maintain of putting down the hot clothes hanger wire without enough care, so that either it pierces its way through something plastic on the workbench, or you leave it long enough to forget it's hot, but not long enough for it to cool.

Go on, ask me how I know this.......

Andrew

angib wrote: <snip>
But you didn't mention that there's an important tradition to maintain of putting down the hot clothes hanger wire without enough care, so that either it pierces its way through something plastic on the workbench, or you leave it long enough to forget it's hot, but not long enough for it to cool.

Go on, ask me how I know this.......

Andrew

Let's see. Which could it be?

A. - I've watched the safety videos at work and thought to myself, "Do they think we are that dumb??"

B. - I've watched my bonehead co-worker dance around the shop shaking his hand and hoping that the molten plastic would somehow be dislodged from his finger?

C. - Been there. Done that. Have the scars to prove it!


I don't mean to impune your reputation but I'm going to have to guess "C"....

I was the role model for answer "B" when I melted the end of some nylon rope then promptly stuck it to the back of my finger. I felt too stupid to post pictures of that one. That one hurt for days.


Joanne

Joanne,

Great recycling idea. I shortened my nylon ratcheting hold-down straps a few inches for my door stops and used your prescribed method for attchment holes.