Installing factory doors (Frank Bear style)

[tony.latham]

a couple of questions for those that have installed these doors.

1. The doors come with a rubber seal. I'm assuming it's recommended to use some type of sealant also?
2. Mine didn't come with screws. I've read that self-tapping screws should be used. I've got some 8-18 self drilling screws with sheep metal thread. Should I be using these, or a self tapping screw with machine thread?

Thanks,

Tony Latham

[linuxmanxxx]

Self drilling work much better.

[les45]

I didn't use any sealant on mine. Just tightened them down good on a painted sidewall surface. No leaks whatsoever and I've tested them thoroughly.
Frank Bear will send you the proper screws if they didn't come with your doors. I would recommend using them.

[tony.latham]

Les45:

Thanks for the answer. I called Frank this morning and he said the same thing on the sealant. They also said the screws shoulda been in the box and perhaps they were. They use #8 3/4" self drilling screws and I've got 'em in stainless anyway so I declined their offer to send them.

Tony

[Campin' Texan]

I just took my doors from Frank off of my trailer today to find a leak. Last week I drove through some rain for the first time and my mattress ended up a little wet. Took the trailer to the car wash and had my wife spray it while I was inside. A small amount of water came in through the bottom when she was spraying from the side. After removing the doors, I think I've found the problem. The seal is one piece, looped around. But where the two ends of the seal come together, there is a small gap. The gap is on both doors and about half way up. I'm pretty sure water got through the gap, ran down the inside of the door frame, out the bottom, and into the cabin. I've filled the gap with silicone, and will put some butyl tape on it as well before re-installing. Hopefully this will stop the leaks.

This is them with the gaps filled with silicone:

[Campin' Texan]

Also there is a seam in the metal frame of the doors in the same place as the gap in the seal. I found a pic I took during my build that kinda shows the gap. You can see the seam in the frame and a little indention where the gap in the seal is. I made sure I put silicone in the metal seam as well.

[tony.latham]

Timely post. I'll take a look at mine.

[linuxmanxxx]

The piercing screws #8 work much better and far easier to start than the self taping kind. The tap is larger than the Groove and takes some serious oompf to get started. I've installed 4 sets of these trust me the others from Lowes work far better. No leaks on any of mine no sealant at all.

[tony.latham]

I just took my doors from Frank off of my trailer today to find a leak. Last week I drove through some rain for the first time and my mattress ended up a little wet. Took the trailer to the car wash and had my wife spray it while I was inside. A small amount of water came in through the bottom when she was spraying from the side. After removing the doors, I think I've found the problem. The seal is one piece, looped around. But where the two ends of the seal come together, there is a small gap. The gap is on both doors and about half way up. I'm pretty sure water got through the gap, ran down the inside of the door frame, out the bottom, and into the cabin. I've filled the gap with silicone, and will put some butyl tape on it as well before re-installing. Hopefully this will stop the leaks.

This is them with the gaps filled with silicone:

Tex:

Mine too have that 1/4" rubber seal gap. I'll grab a tube of Silicone II and do your fix.

Thanks a bunch.

Tony

[Campin' Texan]

Glad I just happened to log on when I did. Hopefully this works for both of us and stops any leaks.

[KCStudly]

I wonder if the gap is due to shrinkage ("I was in the pool!" - George Costanza, 4 min Seinfeld video here).

How is the seal attached to the door, does it slide into a slot or over an edge? I wonder If it could be massaged back into position to glue the ends together with black weather strip adhesive. Might be a little tidier than the silicon.

[Campin' Texan]

I don't think it's due to shrinkage. My trailer is only two months old and kept indoors. I can see the gap in pictures from when I first installed them. I re-installed mine today. The silicone is inside the door frame and can't be seen once the doors are hung. I also put a small piece of butyl tape over the silicone as well. Now that my doors are back on, you can't tell I've done anything unless you look very closely. The gap is filled and should be water right now. I'll take back to the car wash soon and retest them.

[KCStudly]

Ah, I get it now. Thanks for the explanation.

[Campin' Texan]

Tested my fix today at the car wash. No leaks! The gap in the seal was the issue.

[tony.latham]

Again, timely. At least one of my doors will go on tomorrow with your fix. :-)

Thanks

TL