Hatch Building Help

[Burro]

Hey everyone,

I am clipping along fairly well with my build and now I am running into a road block. I am starting my hatch build. I have read a lot and I am still clueless of where to begin.
Are there any good threads to read on step by step directions. I don't want an offset. I would like to use a hinge without an offset, but they are sooo expensive. I found a great looking hinge from Appalachia tears but it is $100. That is crazy. I bought a similar hatch a few years ago for my ARB topper and it was only $30.00.

I also need help with trim, molding, latches, and any other tips. I am hoping to order all my trim this week so I am trying to figure out what moldings, trim, gaskets, latches, and hinges I need so I can get it all at once.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks,

[CARS]

I find most of my info at sdtripper2's Index http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=12276

The Search function works too, but it also pulls up anything with the word hatch in a thread.

Just reading through all the build journals gets some great ideas, but not much in a step-by-step process.

I was searching for the same info last week and there is one thread that asks if it is better to have 3, 5, (8?) supports. Lots of good pics and thoughts thrown around.

Good luck!

[planovet]

Here is how I built mine: LINK

[Miriam C.]

I put a very large, stainless steel piano hinge that I got from a local Nut and Screw place. Careful of the shipping. I can easily cost as much as the hinge. I also caulked the hinge and put a piece of pond liner over it. Some Aluminum flat bar over the seal and it is screwed down..

Cost=almost as much as a hurricane hinge from Grant at Lil Bear...with the shipping. Of course mine is longer so the cost was higher. Just be sure you are getting a bargain.

The trim starts here:
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... &start=120

and the hinge, before the clean up: Be careful using silicone as nothing will ever stick to it again.

[wannabefree]

Use Grant's hinge. It seems expensive, until you count the cost of the alternatives.

Build the frame. Mine consists of 4 ribs made from baltic birch with occasional spars.

Mount the frame on the trailer. This is important to ensure it fits. Using Grant's hinge, you will need to leave a gap between the top of the frame and the lip that hangs over the skinned hatch. Use a scrap or skin material as a spacer while you screw the hinge in place on the hatch. Then mate the hatch half of the hinge with the trailer half.

Skin the hatch in place on the trailer. Otherwise things will shift and it won't fit when you put it on.

Resist the urge to take if off and skin the inside. I did and it warped the hatch enough that I spend a Saturday making it fit acceptably. I'm not happy with it, but it works.

Grant also sells weatherstripping and latches. You can also get them from McMaster-Carr.