Pros/cons about door design in my head

[joeltc]

I keep thinking about how I want to design my weekender. Now I'm onto thinking about my doors. Want one on each side. Tell me what you think about this idea.

I was thinking about putting on a door that opened upward. Not left to right or right to left but from bottom up like a hatchback, fancy sports car, or the rear of a td. It obviously would have hydrolic lifts. The door would be light weight and it's resting state would be in an open position so that lifting it would be easy and would just have to make sure it's closed real good when motoring. I know I'd have to watch my head constantly but it'll help keep the rain out of the inside during the freak AZ storms while getting in and out plus could act as a mini patio cover to sit under and keep me in the shade.

What do you guys/gals think? Impossible? Know someone who tried and failed? Someone do it and love it? Let me know.

[Miriam C.]

A porch is always nice.
You need good latches, bottom and probably sides too. Maybe some trim on the front side to deflect some of the wind. 30" isn't much shade but you could also hang a tarp from it and leave it open (screen insert) for those dressing and other moments.

[mikeschn]

Joel,

I don't know anyone who has tried it. But it should work. You can use standard hinges on the top, and a standard door knob on the bottom. With a gas strut or brass chest hardware to keep it open, it should be very nice.

Go ahead and build it, and share some photos with us!

Mike...

[Endo]

I was thinking about putting on a door that opened upward. Not left to right or right to left but from bottom up like a hatchback, fancy sports car, or the rear of a td.

I have always liked the look of gull-wing doors.



It might not provide much shade but I think it would look cool!

[rbeemer]

The only thing that I can see, that you have not mentioned, that might be problematic is scraping your legs on any hardware as you are getting in and out.

Probably a sketch of what you are thinking will help see if there are any other items that may need to be addressed.

Other than that I say go for it, if it works they will come

[48Rob]

Opening, and raising/lowering the door from the outside should be easy enough, but while inside?

While inside, you'll be on your back/side.
To hold on to the door while it goes through its arc may be difficult.

A strap or rope to hold onto may help.
Sure wouldn't want to just "let it go"!

An electric-hydraulic unit would be cool!

Rob

[angib]

Not quite a teardrop:



That's a Miti-Lite, or just Miti, fiberglass trailer.

Andrew

[M B Hamilton]

Top hinged doors is something I have some experience with, I've built a few of them (23 so far). I've found the "spring pops" for pickup toppers to be excellent supports for the application. Keep a little oil in them and they move freely and aren't too noisy. No annoying gas leaks.

But the mechanism does impinge on the entryway. And that could be significant with a teardrop doorway. Also, it impinges on the interior surfaces when the door is closed. Finally, if the person using the entryway uses the support as a hand-hold they are likely to knock themselves on the head with the door (that, sadly, is experience speaking).

Good things? Lead that list off with "get them out of the way". Also keeps rain off your head when you're under them, but on a teardrop you'd likely need the door to pop well up so that you can get close enough to the trailer to use the entryway without crawling on the ground. That would limit it's rain shielding ability. I've never had to use more than a stainless steel piano hinge, but we've only had to deal with frozen precipitation. You'd need a waterproof solution.

That's all that comes to mind just now.I know the picture is kind of "doggie". Sorry, all my pop-up doors have been for "doggie" persuits. The picture does illustrate what I'm talking about however.

[joeltc]

Thanks for the info all. Gives me something to think about.

[Gerdo]

Just use "Huricane Hinges" and gas struts. The door opening would have to be wider to compensate for the strut in the opening. If you have not open past horizontal the rain will fall away from the TD. You will probably have to stoop down to get under the door. Watch your head walking arount with the doors open (just like a garage door that wasn't raised all the way up, blind spot height)