Cost of building vs. buying doors, and window questions

[Little Foot]

Hi guys! I'm in the planning stages of my first build, I just received my Northern Tools Ironton 5x8 foot trailer kit, and I'm looking to solidify the rest of my plan. I know from searching that some of my questions about building vs. buying doors has been asked and answered, but I'm posting today to try to get the most up to date information. My biggest question is should I build or buy my doors? I know that many here have successfully built their own leakproof and fully functional doors, and I agree there's a great amount of esthetic value in building unique doors that go with the design of your camper. However, I'm pretty sure those that have built their own doors have suggested that by the time the bought the window, latches, hinges, trim, and weather stripping they spent about as much as it would cost to get prebuilt doors. I'd like to ask if this is really true, please. I quite like the contemporary look of some of the prebuilt doors I've seen, but what holds me back is what appears to be a high price tag. I've also heard that these prebuilt doors can feel cold if you roll into them on the inside while you're sleeping, could anyone please comment on the cost of building LEAKPROOF doors vs. buying them? And where is "the best" place to buy doors these days?

Additionally, I'd like to add as much glass and as many ventilation options to my build as possible because my wife doesn't really like small, confined places, so we'd like as many windows as would be pratical and affordable. I am tentatively toying with the idea of using the Generic Benroy type profile with its flat front or leading edge, and then putting a small 10"x20" window or two in the middle of the front of the camper. I'm thinking about a small cabinet area right behind the head of the mattress with a shelf on top of that, and the windows behind that shelf, then more cabinets above the shelf and windows. I think this setup would be great to have in camp, but I'm worried that the windows might crack or break in tow. I'm concerned that a rock or other object might hit these front windows in tow and break them. So I would like to know if putting windows in the front of our camper is a good idea, or if that's just asking for trouble?

I want to say thanks in advance for considering these questions, and for any help or advice anyone can offer me. I very much appreciate it!!

[dales133]

If you live down under youd be mad to build your own doors .
youd never do it cheaper than importing them

[tony.latham]

I think you're spot on about breaking a forward facing window. If you look at the commercial campers with 90º facing windows, they either don't have 'em or have a cover that folds down.

I'm happy with my commercial doors.

T

[Roly Nelson]

14 years ago, I constructed my 1/2 Nelson Woody, and I made all of the doors and frames out of wood, includng the curved front window. None of them leak, even though being subjected to 3 hours of driving rain over the high mountain passes. One time during a snow storm in Arizona, there was a 2 inch build up of slush and snow on the front window, but presented no problem. After about 35,000 miles on the road, no broken front window, so far. Only a bit of wooden fender damage from an 'alligator' tire tread, thrown up by a semi. All of my window and door openings have weather stripping all around them, but the tear is always garaged when not in use, I suppose that helps. Bottom line, I know it is much cheaper making them out of wood, just some clear pine and a bit of plexiglas plus weatherstriping. Oh yes, and countless hours in the wood shop, sawing, routing, sanding, varnishing and cussing.
So Cal Woody guy.....Roly~~

[halfdome, Danny]

In my opinion, commercial made doors lack the personality & cohesiveness that a well crafted, traditional teardrop door has.
As you pointed out the window extends down to the bedding vs a home built door with the window well above the bedding.
When you cut out the opening for a commercial built door you're throwing out the main component for a home built door .
I always make my own as their really not that difficult to construct.
Danny

[Vedette]

Sorry, I can't help you with your "Door" question.
But Windows! We have window on all four sides of both of our Teardrops.
In Miss Piggy the front window is flat and at 90 degrees to the ground.
We Love it! And after 34,000 miles of towing (including hundreds of miles on fresh seal coat over the past 3 years) we have yet to chip, crack or break any of our glass!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[doris s.]

Well, making your own doors is a bit more labor intensive but I love the look of homemade doors better than bought ones. We have crank out windows in the doors and they have been great to have open when it's raining. We didn't put windows in the front, stones from our vehicle would only break them. I would advise to put in a vent with a fan. We don't have air conditioning in our teardrop and we really don't need it with the fan. Good luck with your build.

Doris

[booyah]

So, I can only speak for having bought commercial doors. I looked at building my own, but it wasnt where I wanted to be.

Recommendations I read that concerned me:
Its good to double or triple the seals. Include drains to prevent water build up
Use at least 3/4" birch plywood to prevent warping (didnt leave me much thickness to insulate on walls that were 1.25" thick after insulation.)
use trailer specific door handles and hardware (I looked at using a normal door knob to save $$$)
The added time taken in the shop, when I started mine in April, and wanted to have it out by August

Add in that if you don't fully seal the wood of the doors, they can swell and shrink as weather changes, and it makes it hard to do (at least with my limited skills) and ensure a water tight door.

I bought mine. Foam core, so they are insulated. Windows were set up a bit in the door so it doesn't go below the mattress, and the price was reasonable.

I got mine form vintage technologies for $289 each
http://teardroptrailerparts.com/26x36_F ... _Door.html
When I build my next tear, I think I'm doing the same. The aluminum trim around the door gets cold, the window in it can get cold (but its a single pane glass window, which is at least recessed so you don't generally roll against it) and the trim around the window gets cold. The "meat" of the door though doesn't.

Its been through torrential rains while driving down the road (kids called it the hurricane simulator) without leaks, and its stored outside in Michigan without issues (I do have it tarped right now to keep water out so I dont have a freeze/thaw effect on the seals, and to keep melting snow from coming over the fantastic fan vent in the roof)

I've had no reason to regret that decision.

[aggie79]

In my opinion, commercial made doors lack the personality & cohesiveness that a well crafted, traditional teardrop door has. I always make my own as their really not that difficult to construct.
Danny

I agree on both points. While doors are not too difficult to construct - once you get your mind around how to build them - they do take a considerable amount of time in fitting the door to opening, trim work, seals, hinges, locksets, etc.











Like Danny, I think the work is worth the effort provided you can allocate the amount of time to construct the doors.

[rowerwet]

I built my own doors and windows, with no expensive trim or hardware. The classic tear door latches are about the most expensive part of my whole tear.
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=57192
I also did them in foam on my latest tear build.
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a ... 212&type=3
My foamie also has forward facing windows, with covers for travel. Link in signature.

[Little Foot]

Hello everyone!! Thank you so much for all the great info and advice, I really appreciate it! I'm sorry about the late reply, and for not addressing each of you individually, but silly me forgot to subscribe to my own thread, so I didn't realize I had some many replies... Oops!

I'm definitely still torn on this door thing, as I see benefits to both building and buying doors. Let me ask a couple follow up questions, please, just so I can make a better decision. First, is Vintage Technologies "the best" place to buy doors from? I've read about other options, but so far I think VT is the most popular. Do the sliding windows in their doors allow rain to come inside the camper when left open during storms? That is one possible negative I have read about with these types of doors. And my tentative plan for walls so far would be to use the 3/4" frame method with insulation, then covered on both sides with 1/8" Baltic Birch. The Baltic Birch is slightly less than 1/8" thick, so my finished wall with be slightly less than 1" thick. Would the 3/4" Vin. Tech. door frames work in this application, or would I need to ask for the 1" frames, which come at an additional cost? Or maybe the 1" frames wouldn't even deal well? Does anyone know about this, or maybe this is a question I should ask the good folks at VT directly?

And as far as the front windows, I think I'm inclined to try them. We want as much glass as we can have, and I'm thinking if I crack one I can replace it, and/or I could just make a panel that covers the windows during towing.

Again, I can't say enough how much I appreciate everyone's help with this! Thank you again for considering my questions and offering your experience and advice!

[Little Foot]

[accidental post, please ignore or mods can delete. Darn iPhone!]

[booyah]

On VT, I don't know about best, or most popular, but for me it was an easy call. They had what I wanted, and were driving distance away (I live in Lansing Michigan, they are in Union City Mi, about a 45 minute drive).
Got to check out all their floor models, see the shop, had an excellent time. Also bought my fantastic fan, and hurricane hinge from them as they had excellent prices on each. Super nice folks, give them a call with any questions.

As far as can the windows let water in during a storm, yes they can. We were in a good solid blowing rain last year. We closed the window on the side where the wind was blowing, and opened the other side a crack and had the vent open a few inches and we had no issues. With the fan running though, you're either sucking rain in the top, or sucking it in the windows depending on the direction of air flow. During a rain, the fan just isn't a great option on these types of windows as your just moving too much air.

I should add, when they are closed up, they are pretty dang solid. No issues storing or camping with em closed through SEVERAL heavy storms

[rowerwet]

The wiley window doesn't leak, ever, I store tow and camp with them open. Sliders also block most of the window opening when fully open. Wiley windows can open 100%

[daveesl77]

I built my own doors and all four windows are "wiley windows". For the doors, they are solid core plywood, while most of the rest of the trailer is a hybrid with wood framing, foam fill, very thin plywood sheathing. My rear window area was also made the same way.

The plywood was 3/4" AB exterior grade that had been sitting in my garage for 8 years, so it had no curves, bends, bows and had completely acclimated. I live in Florida so very hot summers, humid all the time and cold (sometimes) in the winter. When I built my wall sections, I just incorporated the ply into the walls and marked exactly where it was located with framing members on all sides. Built the walls completely, then cut out the doors. Same with the rear side windows. I made poplar interior lips on the door sections. I cut the door windows out of the solid doors.

My wiley windows have never leaked a drop, the doors don't leak and when you close them it is like closing a bank vault. With that all said, I am not certain you could do the same with off the shelf ply, but could definitely go to a real lumber yard and get stabilized ply if you wanted.

dave