Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I was looking at 41willy's side door:



and I was thinking -- if the side door in most CTs is just solid wood or a lauan/insulation sandwich, it would be really easy to cut a window-sized hole it in and mount a window. My trailer has a piano-hinged door, so I don't have to worry about the usual door straps getting in the way. What do you think?

Well then get out the ole hack saw and start cuttin' However, if your door is hallow, you may have to slip in a few strips of wood around the permiter of the cut out to give some support for the window. I don't see the need to take whole door apart to istall just the window

Im not sure exactly whats in the door but judging by its weight it must be insulation due to its incredably lite weight. Insulation would also be the cheepist construction method so that also leads me to believe that.
41Willys

starleen2 wrote:Well then get out the ole hack saw and start cuttin'.

Umm, that would be my problem, right there. I'm terrified of making a mess of my new, expensive trailer...

Not yet!!

Well then get out the ole hack saw and start cuttin'

Just obtain the window first.

If it is new, call the mfgr and ask......

I might do that, or I might just drill a few holes for the jig saw and start cutting. I can't believe it is too complicated.

My door had a vertical metal stud mounted vertically right in the middle of the dobor. I saw this when I removed the covering to install insulation. Steve

If its still that new, talk to the mfr about how the door is made. Is there are structure to the door? Find out what the cost would be if they were to do it with your supplied window or theirs? Is there a way to take off the paneling (in or out) of the door to see the structure? If you do it to the side door, why not also the rear doors as well?

I called Pace American (talked to Brandon). The side door is a sandwich of lauan, polystyrene and the outer aluminum shell. He said there is no support in the door for a window. He suggested if I were creative, I could carefully tear the door apart ad rebuild it inside the metal frame with support for a window. Alternately I could order another door and frame combo with the window already installed, but the cost of that would about $567 for a 32" door. Too much!

But at least we know what's in the door now.

Sounds like there's not much structure to the door except around the perimeter (hinge and edge metal), so I'd just install the window, making sure to use the matching metal trim ring/clamp ring on the inside. It's important to get the correct depth of trim ring for your particular application so that it's truly a clamp, providing a good seal, rigidity and strength.

Happy installation,

Prem

digimark wrote:I called Pace American (talked to Brandon). Alternately I could order another door and frame combo with the window already installed, but the cost of that would about $567 for a 32" door. Too much!

But at least we know what's in the door now.

Looks to me like they're trying to scare you away for the idea; so they can sell you another door; it should be fine as per Prems instructions.

"They're" not "there"

And, once again, it's PREM.