Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

After reading some of the posts here I thought I'd try the plastic piano hinge for the hatch. I tried a quick test on some end cuts and I'm worried that it is too flimsy. Can someone please reassure me or warn me before I get too far into this - it just seems weak. Below is a picture of my test it didn't actually rip but certainly discolored at the bend and I think I could rip it if I tried harder.

Two questions are people having problems with this that they can comment on and secondly, I'm planning a relatively big hatch (picture of ribs below) will this distort under weight with time?

John

I'm not sure if I would use the plastic hinge , repeated opening and closing I think will cause failure in a pretty short time. it would be a shame to put all that hard work into a nice hatch and have it possibly break away going down the road. JIM

I hope it will hold up, I just installed them in my doors but not the hatch.

What's the worst that could happen?

You might have to replace the hinge after every couple thousand openings . . . . maybe once every 5 years or so?

Don

dont living hinges have something inside them to prevent ripping? something like metal webbing?

I used them on my Gen BenRoy.

McMaster Carr rates them at 100,000 flexes. I won't ever live to see that many.

Just make sure you get the Harsh Environment -- It's UV resistant.



If they fail it's a much easy fix.

g

We used to plastic hinge on our 3rd build. The hatch was rather heavy but we would not have thought the plastic hinge would tear before we even went camping. We pulled it off and put paino hinge with rubber covering the whole thing.
We plan to cut off the torn end and use the paino hinge on our current build as it is small and the hatch should ot weigh hardly anything.

good luck

Linda

JohnB,

Not all plastic hinges are of the quality needed for our application. Mine is rated for harsh environments and came from McMaster.com and is available from several other sources as well. I was one of the first few guys to use them on a hatch a few years ago amid much nay-saying. I even put web safety straps inside my hatch in case the plastic hinge failed. Well, over two years and about a thousand hatch openings later my hinge still looks like it did when I installed it.

JB, like Steve, I have had no problems...my question to you is...exactly what did you buy and from who...the "harsh" environment hinge fro McMasters and the "living" plastic hinged from Monroe engineering are what you want...not just any plastic piano hinge.....
http://www.monroeengineering.com/hinges ... -hinge.htm
madjack

Are you guys using a sealer of some kind under the plastic hinge to keep water from rolling under it?

Mark Freedom wrote:Are you guys using a sealer of some kind under the plastic hinge to keep water from rolling under it?

We use a urethane based sealer...think auto windshield sealer...you will probably want something over the top of the hinge such as a thin wood or aluminum strip to keep the hinge from "puckering" between screws......
madjack

Mark Freedom wrote:Are you guys using a sealer of some kind under the plastic hinge to keep water from rolling under it?

Butyl putty tape has a proven track record. A strip of AL bar on top keeps the hinge from rippling.

G
Edited:
OOPS! 3 min apart on the posts.

I use Butyl putty 'cause I usually have to take mine apart twice

You know, "The Village Idiot"

g

Geron wrote:

Mark Freedom wrote:Are you guys using a sealer of some kind under the plastic hinge to keep water from rolling under it?

Butyl putty tape has a proven track record. A strip of AL bar on top keeps the hinge from rippling.

G
Edited:
OOPS! 3 min apart on the posts.

I use Butyl putty 'cause I usually have to take mine apart twice

You know, "The Village Idiot"

g

Sounds like a plan.
I'll be moving back to your neck of the woods if I ever get my house sold here.
Was kind of looking at the banks county area, seems to be more tax friendly.
Lived in Dawsonville from 86 through 98.

Thanks for the tips guys.

There are thousands of products out there with living hinges. Your biggest enemy will the sun. If it has a UV stabilizer added, it should last several years. However, think of how many plastic product you know that live outdoors, and what they look and feel like after mother nature has had some time to work on them.

Just my opinion.

Wolfgang92025 wrote:There are thousands of products out there with living hinges. Your biggest enemy will the sun. If it has a UV stabilizer added, it should last several years. However, think of how many plastic product you know that live outdoors, and what they look and feel like after mother nature has had some time to work on them.

Just my opinion.

Good opinion. Make absolutely you get the "Harsh Environment" hinge. It is UV protected.

g