Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

We just got back from a 2 week stay in the B.C. Okanagan, (very hot most days), we did however run into some rain for 2 days. every time I opened the rear hatch to cook, rain that had collected at the hinge from hatch & roof would stream down the interior galley walls. do any of you good folks have a simple cure for this?

I am honestly not trying to be a smarty pants, I just can't think of anything else, except you can get a big towel and wipe of the top of the hinge and any other collected water before opening the hatch. Again I apologize if that comes out really dumb sounding but you never know what might help

The problem came about when a heavy down pour started while i was cooking, I could not stop cooking (cold and hungry family staring at me from under a tarp), I rolled up small paper towels and tried to channel water down the outside of galley walls, but a steady trickle continued inside. Has anyone made small deflectors on the ends of the hinge? JIM

I think Mary K did something to direct the water off on her hatch.

Hope this helps.

Mandy

OK So it's happening while the hatch is open, I think the standard idea is unfortunately during the construction phase and they over hang the hinge off the side of the tear slightly. I would think maybe you could make a plastic cover over the hinge that covered the entire length, and then cut it longer than the hinge so it hangs off the side of the tear. Maybe that would work.

If I remember seeing it right, Gary (Rayvillain) used the hurricane hinge on his winter warrior, but needed to do something to keep water from coming in when the "hatch" was opened. I believe he added an aluminum angle parallel to the hinge on the fixed side of the hatch to act as a diverter for the water.

My rain diverters just keep the rain out when the hatch is closed. I haven't had the hatch open while raining.

Can you get us some pictures of your hinge with the hatch open? That might help us answer your question.

Mk

Coudn't you remove the hatch, mount a longer and wider piece of rubber on the left and roght site and screw the hatch back on? I think, when you take rubber about 3"long on both sides, the problem will be solved.

I've not seen a hurricane hinge so what ever I offer take it with a salt of Grain. I do however think he can solve the leaking problem by cutting a rubber strip 3" wide or as wide as it takes to over hang on the lid side of the hinge by couple of inches. On the top side of the hinge, if he was to glue the rubber and screw it down with a 1/2" strip of aluminum where it will not interfere with the lid opening all the way the problem might get solved...... The rubber strip will have to be as long and a bit longer then the width of the lid
Just a thot.

HG.

aggie79 wrote:If I remember seeing it right, Gary (Rayvillain) used the hurricane hinge on his winter warrior, but needed to do something to keep water from coming in when the "hatch" was opened. I believe he added an aluminum angle parallel to the hinge on the fixed side of the hatch to act as a diverter for the water.

I think that will work.....

HG.

Thank you for the replies, I will take some photos tomorrow to show hinge detail. basically it is a standard piano hinge covered by a 3" strip of rubber that is held in place by aluminum carpet edge strips top and bottom. <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/zukamini/pttear.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I like the angle strip idea too. Good one!

here are the photos as promised, I might try inserting a small section of rubber under hinge rubber and test. have a look and I welcome any ideas. JIM <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/zukamini/hingeclosed.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa143/zukamini/hingeopen.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Jim...how about this...

Replace your existing aluminum strips with Grants rain gutter material on both the body side and hatch side. The flanges are wide enough to allow you to catch the rubber under it. Same installation method. Let it hang a little long, (just enough to get the water away from the body) on each side to divert the water. Put a slight downturn on the ends and file/ round off the edges. I think I'd make the rubber a little longer as well. With as slick as your paint is, water ought to flow well off it. It appears that you don't have room to do a flange on the interior walls on the galley so it's just an idea...Doug

Dougs Idea should work Grant should be able to help you out.

HG
Here is a picture of a hurricane hinge I have bought a few of them from Grant, If anyone out there plans on putting one of these on there TD be sure to add aprox a 1/2" overhang on both sides, buy doing this the water will shot right off of the sides and keep it out of your galley.
I wish I would of taken some pictures last week, after we left the IRG2.0 we went to the San Jaun Islands and man did it rain for a couple of days it rained so hard the water was shoting of both ends of my hurricane hinge the water did'nt even hit the side of the TD it shot out about 5 or 6" away from the TD & we did have our galley opened quiet a bit during the rain & the water stayed out of the galley we did have our awning covering the rear hatch & behind the TD.

Here's Grant's website ( www.lilbear.teardrops.net/parts.html )

Ken F