Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

This may not work for everybody, but it did for my situation. I found my manufactured doors banging my front clearance lights in the glass area of the doors on my first camping trip. I really didn't want to install a strap like some have done so I came up with this simple tennis ball doorstop. A stainless cup hook holds very tightly when screwed into a tennis ball. I didn't want any holes or hardware messing up the lines on the weekender so I drilled a small hole in the edge of the vinyl part of my edge trim all they way through to the wood. I then took a syringe and filled the hole with CPES until it overflowed and then stuck the cup hook into the hole. After the CPES dried, the cup hook pulled out easily and now it's just a matter of popping it in place when we go camping. I store the tennis balls in the galley cabinet when they are not in use.

I have been mulling over how to solve the same problem and that is a great solution, except that I don't have trim on the front of my trailer to hook onto. I wonder if the little hooks that have suction cups on them would work. Stick the hook into the tennis ball and then put the suction cup on the side of the trailer

That tennis ball is a nice solution Les

For a more "factory" approach, these baggage door catches are readily available and work very well too.



http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/squared-baggage-door-catch-stainless-steel/49563

Oldragbaggers wrote:I have been mulling over how to solve the same problem and that is a great solution, except that I don't have trim on the front of my trailer to hook onto. I wonder if the little hooks that have suction cups on them would work. Stick the hook into the tennis ball and then put the suction cup on the side of the trailer

Suction cups would probably work or you might drill the hole in your door and let the ball hang from the door. It could also hang somewhere down around the latch handle or even near the bottom.
BTW - your build is really looking great. Have you camped yet?

absolutsnwbrdr wrote:That tennis ball is a nice solution Les

For a more "factory" approach, these baggage door catches are readily available and work very well too.



http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/squared-baggage-door-catch-stainless-steel/49563

I considered those after some friends pointed them out on their popup. I just didn't want to add any more hardware to the outside lines. Also, the front clearance light is mounted on the side and keeps the door from coming close enough to the side to make them work without shimming them up a good bit.

Thanks Zach. I had no idea such a thing existed but I will have to get a couple of those.

We have the same issue. Our jalousie windows crank out at an angle, and that sharp corner can really mar the aluminum if we aren't careful when we open the doors while they're open.

Liking the tennis ball idea...perfect example of the K.I.S.S. principle. Don't really want to add any more hardware to the side, like Les mentioned. Will do something similar, though will paint our tennis ball silver so as to be all slick 'n stuff.

A small eye screw could also be used to hook the ball.

I got my baggage door clips and put them on last weekend. It was only $5 for a package of two. They look nice and work great.

Oldragbaggers wrote:I got my baggage door clips and put them on last weekend. It was only $5 for a package of two. They look nice and work great.

Becky,
Where did you install the clips? Do you have a pic?
Thanks,
Larry S.

I do have a pic at home. Will post it this evening when I get home from work.

Pictures as promised.

They are very small and unobtrusive on the front of the teardrop.



But hold the door open and in place very nicely.





A very cheap and effective solution. I'm glad I got them.

Since I made my own door I was able to use a door stop like this one.



I had to crank my window out all the way and bend the door stop to the right shape to keep the window from hitting the sidewall.

Oldragbaggers wrote:Pictures as promised.

They are very small and unobtrusive on the front of the teardrop.

Thanks, Becky
I ordered mine today.
Larry S.