Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi I am Joe Maxwell I am new to this forum.
I caught the teardrop virus so I am planning on building my own.

I was wondering if it would be wise to suicide (have the doors hinges on the left side of the door) the doors on my future teardrop. I think it would be unique. The only con would be if they opened while going 75 mph down I-80 then no more doors!!

Thanks,
Joe Maxwell

joeinthejungle wrote: The only con would be if they opened while going 75 mph down I-80 then no more doors!!

Thanks,
Joe Maxwell

Someone brought this up before, and doors becoming unlatched in transit was the biggest concern. I guess having your door prcatically ripped off isn't a fun prospect.

I used to own a fiat with 'wrong-way' doors.... not terribly exciting.

I suspect one reason I would not like them, is that I am not used to doors opening the other way. Just thinking about it doesn't excite me. just my take.

Is there a good reason?

Oh, also, many are getting into bed when they open the door. If you use suicide doors, I think you will be facing the wrong way.... hmm

Joe,
The doors on my Merc are suicide, and while everyone thinks it's cool, as well as myself, it is a consant concern when driving. I have safety latches, like little dead bolts that are in place when driving, so if the reg door latch releases the safety latch will hold. It's a very unique concept just make sure you have a good latching system. Teardrops like streetrods are built to our own personal taste, anything is OK as long as you make SAFETY most important.

Welcome to the board

Good Luck, Frank

I believe Serro Scotty trailers have suicide doors - I know my '70 does. Lock 'em and don't worry about it.

Joseph

Hi, Joe.
You might only be able to open your doors 90 degrees because the fenders will be in the way. Other than that just lock them up.

Thanks Guys
I might think twice before I try to suicide the doors.
Anyhow I am still in the planning stage. I dont plan to start the build untill I see your guys teardrops at the ITG in Minden for even better ideas.

Last year in Los Angeles I had to make an emergency stop. Even though the doors were locked with a key the right one opened. Was a freaky thing but something slipped from the top/rear shelf and hit the inside door handle on the way down. Thankfully someone honked to let me know before things started falling out.

Denny

Some friends of mine had a camper with a feature where the whole back wall could be unlatched so you could put in stuff that was too big to fit through the camper door. They were driving their camper up the Alcan highway a bunch of years ago (like 25) when those latches came unlatched. They didn't notice it until they stopped for the night. Half their stuff was spread out along miles of gravel highway. Bummer.

I was sort of thinking of putting little alarm switches in all the TD doors, and running a few extra wires back to the car. Hook 'em up to a dashboard display.

The idea being that if a door rattled loose & came open I'd know about it right away. Maybe also monitor the trailer interior lights as well, to make sure we're not running down the battery as we run down the road.

Joseph wrote:I believe Serro Scotty trailers have suicide doors - I know my '70 does. Lock 'em and don't worry about it.
Joseph

My Dalton is like that. One time doing about 65mph up I-5, the door decided to come open, and it was locked. Now I have a dent in the side of the trailer where the door handle tried to go through. You'll find that trailers flex more than cars or trucks and that our HWY's are not smooth. Now when ever I take the Dalton out, there is a bungee around the door handle. The Scotsman has the hinges in front and there is never a worry about the doors coming open when I'm out on the road or off road.

Have a good day,
Gage
P.S. Dave Nathanson - got your email-answer coming tonight.

Here's one with suicide doors.



It has a certain appeal since you can mimick the curve of the front with the door.

Nick.

the doors really look nice suicidideded like that.
Thanks for the picture


Joe Maxwell

Nick Taylor wrote:Here's one with suicide doors.

It has a certain appeal since you can mimick the curve of the front with the door.
Nick.

Nick, they also had one open and come off last Feb coming to Sweetwater from New Mexico. He would also like to turn the door around some how but won't because of the teardrop being the only one of it's kind still on the road (that he knows of) and mostly original.

Have a good day,
Gage

Nick Taylor - Wow, that does look really nice with the door lines following the camper lines like that.

Steve

I guess the trick is to have really good latches like the bear claw latches used on streetrods.

I had a door open on my old Benroy when I was pulling up to a light. Luckily I saw it in the mirror and nothing fell out. Don't think anything hit the inside latch. After that I would just hook a bungee cord from one inside door handle to the other. Didn't need to be too tight, just enough so it wouldn't fall off when the doors were shut.

Nick.