Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

To keep my doors on the Road Foamie from flying open and closed and slamming into the body and stressing the hinges, I want to anchor them with 5# sandbags. I'd tether the doors to the bag with a strap or rope and I have enough canvas to make the bags and enough sand to fill them. So here's where I need your thoughts. I can't sew the seams since our sewing machine isn't heavy duty enough especially once they're filled. I was thinking about gluing the seams. What kind of glue should I use? I doubt that TB2 or GG would hold a 5# bag closed. Maybe there's a better method I didn't think of... Thoughts?

Trying to figure out what you’ve proposed here .... sand bags ... ?? Hot glue might work ...

i'm trying to figure out why your doors would fly open and closed? is this when you are parked and you just want to have the doors open? couldn't you just use a bungee cord? attach one end to door latch and one end to the frame?
do you mean fly open and closed when the camper is moving, traveling down the road? can't you put a door lock/latch in?

ok, i know its early.

atahoekid wrote:To keep my doors on the Road Foamie from flying open and closed and slamming into the body and stressing the hinges, I want to anchor them with 5# sandbags. I'd tether the doors to the bag with a strap or rope and I have enough canvas to make the bags and enough sand to fill them. So here's where I need your thoughts. I can't sew the seams since our sewing machine isn't heavy duty enough especially once they're filled. I was thinking about gluing the seams. What kind of glue should I use? I doubt that TB2 or GG would hold a 5# bag closed. Maybe there's a better method I didn't think of... Thoughts?

my suggestion would be make the sandbags and sew french seams. You would sew extra fabric depth on one side of the seam. That then becomes the fold over and under portion of the french seam. You can then sew it along both sides and the seam area is automatically stronger.

Then, if you want, I'd put TBII along the seam to strengthen it. Wouldn't need to, necessarily, but it couldn't hurt.

Cheers

Mel , you can buy spring hinges that keep the door closed automatically ... or how about an old screen door hook and eye?
I’m still trying to figure out the sand bag proposal ...
Bonnie , French seam ... that’s brilliant !! We’ve long thought of covering a Foamie with a tight fitting sewn fabric cover ... with a nice uniform seam for the “finished” edges... That would work and look Great huh ??
BTW , How’s Bub ?

GPW wrote: I’m still trying to figure out the sand bag proposal ...

Maybe he's sandbagging us?

Cheers, Gus

must..... not..... boo...

Mel, I have no idea why/how you plan on using sand bags; but, couldn't you just go to your local fire station and get a couple already made ones? During flood season, they give them away for free. Or, you might be able to get a couple empty bags at the local hardware store.

To keep your doors closed, you'll need to latch them with some sort of latch. Anything less than that may be suicide on the roads.

I'm with the others on this one. A lot better and lighter ways to hold a door open or closed than dead weight.

But there is a great thrifty way to sew heavy fabrics http://www.speedystitcher.com/ ($10.99 at Campmor). Doesn't take long to get the hang of it. Not nearly as expensive, nor does it take up as much room as an industrial sewing machine, but is slower. Not a problem for small jobs.

You can buy ready-made sand bags at any photo, cine, or theatrical lighting supply store. Or you can make your own such as these
http://www.johndcorson.com/blog/2010/03 ... -sandbags/

I made a couple of those and they're great. My sewing machine is the lightest duty possible, but I was able to make three of those.

<Chas>

I guess I didn't really explain the situation too well. My rear doors are like cargo trailer doors. Because of the way I designed the trim at the bottom the doors will only open to 90 degrees to the body. If they folded flush against the body, I could use a hook and eye but I also want to be able to open those doors and hold them in whatever position I choose, depending on the campsite I find myself in. The door acts as a windbreak for the propane stove. Sandbags sound like they will hold the door in position. I've already had to fix my side doors too. They are so heavy, when a gust of wind caught them while they were only partly open, the doors got slammed against the body and partially pulled out the screws in one of the hinges. Again weighting the doors with sandbags will help hold them in place. Hope that clarifies my dilemma.

Thanks KC. That would definitely work.

GuitarPhotog wrote:You can buy ready-made sand bags at any photo, cine, or theatrical lighting supply store. Or you can make your own such as these
http://www.johndcorson.com/blog/2010/03 ... -sandbags/

I made a couple of those and they're great. My sewing machine is the lightest duty possible, but I was able to make three of those.

<Chas>

HMMM. Maybe our sewing machine is up to the task. A definite consideration.

atahoekid wrote: My rear doors are like cargo trailer doors. Because of the way I designed the trim at the bottom the doors will only open to 90 degrees to the body. If they folded flush against the body, I could use a hook and eye but I also want to be able to open those doors and hold them in whatever position I choose, depending on the campsite I find myself in. The door acts as a windbreak for the propane stove. .

This is what I used for my galley doors - they are 2 foot wide and 4 foot tall.
http://sell.lulusoso.com/selling-leads/1543904/Folding-lid-support.html

You can find heavier duty versions
http://www.thehardwarehut.com/catalog-product.php?p_ref=17981

and also ones that can lock at various angles besides 90 degrees:
http://www.vandykes.com/adjustable-trunk-stay-brass-pltd-steel/p/210302/

Okay, for the cargo doors, if the best solution is to tether the doors to the ground, I would consider tent stakes rather than sand bags. They are lighter and easier to stow than sandbags, and, IMO, would provide a more secure anchorage, assuming most compatible soil conditions.

M C Toyer wrote:

atahoekid wrote: My rear doors are like cargo trailer doors. Because of the way I designed the trim at the bottom the doors will only open to 90 degrees to the body. If they folded flush against the body, I could use a hook and eye but I also want to be able to open those doors and hold them in whatever position I choose, depending on the campsite I find myself in. The door acts as a windbreak for the propane stove. .

This is what I used for my galley doors - they are 2 foot wide and 4 foot tall.
http://sell.lulusoso.com/selling-leads/1543904/Folding-lid-support.html

You can find heavier duty versions
http://www.thehardwarehut.com/catalog-product.php?p_ref=17981

and also ones that can lock at various angles besides 90 degrees:
http://www.vandykes.com/adjustable-trunk-stay-brass-pltd-steel/p/210302/

I was thinking about that today. Might work well

KCStudly wrote:Okay, for the cargo doors, if the best solution is to tether the doors to the ground, I would consider tent stakes rather than sand bags. They are lighter and easier to stow than sandbags, and, IMO, would provide a more secure anchorage, assuming most compatible soil conditions.

I too would prefer tent stakes but as you mentioned soil conditions might preclude that. A lot of campgrounds have paved driveways and aprons