Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am planning on using h molding for an interior door seal. I want to use these hinges

http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Dog-Line-Hatch-Stainless/dp/B000R3PC1W/ref=sr_1_31?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1374289920&sr=1-31&keywords=marine+hinges

But, do I need the long reach ones like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Dog-Line-Stainless-Reach/dp/B000Y87MIG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2

Any opinion on if those will work good? Anybody have a better source for them?

Oh, come on guys, I need some input before I splash out $80 for these hinges. I have seen some similar around here...

Not that I use them but they are listed as a hatch hinge. Will they be strong enough to support your door 24/7?

Cheers
Paul

If the longer ones are rated higher than your expected door load, then why not just choose those? If that is the style of hinge that you like, even if they don't clear the trim ...and the longer ones have a better chance of doing so... you will be no worse off than many before you that have had to make spacers or cut out little recesses in the trim.

Of course, with very little info provided on the trim (what does it look like and what size is it?), your door fit (how much gap did you leave?), or the hinges (what are the different reaches on them... doesn't seem to be listed from the provider you linked to), it's no wonder you have gotten few responses.

Do the work and check these things out; see if it will work. Pick up the phone and call and ask the providers. If they can't tell you, or they don't sound like they know what they are talking about, find another provider. Some of the providers that I have dealt with said, "hang on", and they went and pulled the item out of stock and measured for me. If they can't do that for you it means that they are either tell-a-marketing from their living room, or they are just a middle man flipping orders. Even if it costs a buck or two more, I would much rather deal with a provider that has the part in hand and is willing to provide true customer support. Not saying that your link can't do this for you (I haven't bothered to call them either), just saying...

Before you whine, drop a dime or look online.

Here's half of the equation.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sea-Dog-2052851-Long-Reach-Hatch-Hinge-/271216375144#vi-content

Uh, er, duh, I see now that those dimensions don't actually show the gap between the bases. Oops.

I'd call Sea Dog (Ph. 425-252-2148) and if they can provide the info, buy direct. Looks like they have chrome plated brass and 316 SS versions. Should be a big difference in price.

Also, they look like the hinge pins are either quick release or easy to remove. Not very secure... easy to break in.

Before you order these, you may want to check out this thread:

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=30078

Thomas (2bits) used these hinges, but he had to "re-engineer" them with nylon bushings to take out the "slop". They did work well after this modification.

aggie79 wrote:Before you order these, you may want to check out this thread:

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=30078

Thomas (2bits) used these hinges, but he had to "re-engineer" them with nylon bushings to take out the "slop". They did work well after this modification.

Thanks! That is exactly the advice I was looking for, real teardrop installation experience. It looks like he went with the long reach hinge to clear the T molding seal. Adding a nylon bushing is an easy fix.

So is this how a piano hinge teardrop door is supposed to go together?

You have the T molding on the "wrong" side (according to the sketches I've seen and plan to follow). The T-molding should go around the three non-hinge sides of the door on the outside, with a gasket adhered to the inside of the T-molding. On the hinge side, I am planning to use some sort of edge molding under the hinge on both the door and the wall side - to hold the aluminum siding down in my case. Then pre-bent hinge works as in your diagram, possible with a gasket inside the hinge.

markhusbands wrote:You have the T molding on the "wrong" side (according to the sketches I've seen and plan to follow). The T-molding should go around the three non-hinge sides of the door on the outside, with a gasket adhered to the inside of the T-molding. On the hinge side, I am planning to use some sort of edge molding under the hinge on both the door and the wall side - to hold the aluminum siding down in my case. Then pre-bent hinge works as in your diagram, possible with a gasket inside the hinge.

Got it, thanks. T molding on three sides, not the hinge side. It can either be mounted to the door on the outside for an exterior seal, or to the inside wall for an interior seal. But it can not go on the piano hinge side or it interferes with the hinge. Hmmm, I am trying to decide if I go classic with the piano hinge or with some marine hinges I found where you can use the T molding on all sides, and even inside and out for a double seal! I just have to figure out if it is worth the extra $80 for the marine hinges... Probably not since I already have the piano hinges. Thanks for the reply.

Personally, I think the pre-bent piano hinge is worth it. And if you put the T molding on the inside, you'll be crawling over the molding to get in and out. Sounds uncomfortable, and would probably get bent.

I am going to put it around the door, personally, on the top, bottom, and latch side. I'm going to put edge molding on the hinge side, and mount the hinge over that. Then I'm going to put edge molding all the way around the door jamb, which should hold the aluminum skin down and create a smooth threshold to crawl over.

I'll be tackling some of this stuff this weekend.