Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I installed my hatch yesterday and it sticks out funny on the bottom. I think the skin made the hatch stretch back some. any advise on how to deal with this. I need help.

Thanks guys.

I was hoping this thread would get some good replies because I think that was part of our problem with our hatch. I'm not sure how to fix it so we were just going to scrap it and build a new hatch. We used 2 pieces of 3/4" particle board laminated together for the side ribs, I thought that would be plenty strong to hold the bend in the luan we used. Since our hatch is 6 feet long we ran the luan horizontal and bent it against the grain. This time we are thinking of running the luan vertical and having a vertical seam down the middle in the hopes that it will bend easier that way and might not pull the hatch ribs out of shape. Thanks for posting the thread, I'll keep my eye on it for suggestions or any updates from you on how you fixed yours. Or I'll come back with (hopefully) a new and functional hatch.

I had spring back on my first hatch and now build all my hatches out of 1" steel tubing.

DudKC wrote:I was hoping this thread would get some good replies because I think that was part of our problem with our hatch. I'm not sure how to fix it so we were just going to scrap it and build a new hatch. We used 2 pieces of 3/4" particle board laminated together for the side ribs, I thought that would be plenty strong to hold the bend in the luan we used. Since our hatch is 6 feet long we ran the luan horizontal and bent it against the grain. This time we are thinking of running the luan vertical and having a vertical seam down the middle in the hopes that it will bend easier that way and might not pull the hatch ribs out of shape. Thanks for posting the thread, I'll keep my eye on it for suggestions or any updates from you on how you fixed yours. Or I'll come back with (hopefully) a new and functional hatch.

I was thinking lag bolts through the structure to pull the bow out.

Can you make some relief cuts in the ribs and pull it back into the proper curve? You could then sister up some new ribs along side of the existing ones to hold it in shape

DudKC wrote:I was hoping this thread would get some good replies because I think that was part of our problem with our hatch. I'll keep my eye on it for suggestions or any updates from you on how you fixed yours. Or I'll come back with (hopefully) a new and functional hatch.

This same question was addressed in the 'GENERAL' section with qualified answers. This thread needs to be locked up so as not to cause any confusion.

Gage wrote:

DudKC wrote:I was hoping this thread would get some good replies because I think that was part of our problem with our hatch. I'll keep my eye on it for suggestions or any updates from you on how you fixed yours. Or I'll come back with (hopefully) a new and functional hatch.

This same question was addressed in the 'GENERAL' section with qualified answers. This thread needs to be locked up so as not to cause any confusion.

I posted it in two places so I would get some replies.

I solved the "Spring back" problem by using materials that don't Spring Back!

Kind of a "Homer Simpson" approach. Doah!

FRP and Aluminum...don't spring back!

Happy Trails

Len

CarlLaFong wrote:Can you make some relief cuts in the ribs and pull it back into the proper curve? You could then sister up some new ribs along side of the existing ones to hold it in shape

We tried this today. The last post in my build thread has some pictures.

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=42426

I'll come back tomorrow or the next day with an update on whether or not it held up.