Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I haven't even finished the hatch yet and I'm worrying about the doors.

I'm seriously considering using two large black tee hinges for each of my doors, like Gipsie did. I think they would look cool with my theme, and it looks like an easier install.

Okay--now tell me why I'm nuts. (About this subject, anyway.)

One advantage to a piano hinge is that it helps to keep the door from warping. Two seperate hinges may allow the door to warp at the top and bottom.

JunkMan wrote: Two seperate hinges may allow the door to warp at the top and bottom.

and in the middle too!

Mike...

What if I used three hinges? Would look ridiculous?

If the door sagged even a little, your going to have problems shutting the door down the road

IraRat wrote:What if I used three hinges? Would look ridiculous?

It would ruin the look you are trying to achieve...

Just save up and buy a ss piano hinge. You'll be glad you did!

Mike...

I would be concearned about the warpage and sealing with those.

Okay. You win.

But I'm afraid--very afraid.

Actually, I think I may be able to still put those hinges on there for the decoration aspect only.

And as an update to my porthole woes, I just ordered two larger ones for those doors. Same semi-cheap stuff, only larger.

Seems our quick visitor with those HOBBIT windows never followed up with us.

And Mike, I was going to buy brass to match the hatch hinge. May I?

Ira,

I could not remember if he gave his website, so here it is:

http://www.dmtears.com/

Kerry

toypusher wrote:Ira,

I could not remember if he gave his website, so here it is:

http://www.dmtears.com/

Kerry

Thanks. Kerry--I didn't want to bug him, so I just ordered two larger portholes for the doors. It's not going to be the perfect solution, but I'll make it work.

I'm just going to frame the door around the edges--nothing special for the window. So if the windows stink, I can rip them out and do something different later. They're 15" portholes, with like 10" glass that I'll replace with Lexan.

IraRat wrote:And Mike, I was going to buy brass to match the hatch hinge. May I?

Well gee, I don't know... brass is kinda soft compared to stainless steel. It might wear out faster...

You can buy gold if you want... then when we go into hyperinflation like they did in Germany in the early 20's, you can always sell your hinge to put food on the table!!!

Mike...

Ira....you might want to consider the offset hinges that Grant has...I used them, bagged the piano hinge idea...The extra break in the metal makes them really rigid...a big plus when installing the door. I opted for them as the installation is a lot easier, all the screws can be shot in from the interior of the trailer, not into the door jam face, also the screws will hold better....Doug

Tear trailer doors are funny in that they are almost square, so the aspect ratio of H x W is close to 1, while a house door would be 2.5.... That puts a lot of stress on hinges. Piano hinges spread out the load. A tee hinge will tend to sag unless properly installed into good wood. You also get into shear loads vs. tension loads (in this case, shear loads are more critical). The spacing for my doors was created by cutting the door out of the wall, so is slightly over 1/16". That goes away real quick with any door misallignment.

I also like piano hinges because they interrupt the water flow in a driving rain and while driving in the rain. The front of the door will be the most likely leak point when the relative water flow is from the front.

doug hodder wrote:I opted for them as the installation is a lot easier

You said the magic words.

I'm getting ready to order my hatch hinge and door hinges. I'm not clear on whether I should order the offset hinges or...? Since I haven't even got the sides cut yet, I'm pretty sure I could build to suit whatever hinges I get. What are the advantages/disavantages of the offset vs. non offset. I'm ordering now because of the lead time it takes to get them from http://teardrops.net/lilbear/parts.html#hinges.

I'm building a woodie style tear with 1/4" HW plywood outside.