These doors have been a pain!!!

[larryl]

We are building the Cubby. I thought the hatch was going to be difficult, but that was a piece of cake compared to installing the side doors. If I was able going to build another TD I would purchase ready made doors.

One problem I encountered, the right side wall,hinge side, is slightly out of plumb. That really makes it difficult for the lock side to close properly against the jamb.

Any tips from you experienced builders?

LarryL

[James (tinbender)]

I had the same time with my cubby.the hatch was a piece of cake the doors were a big pain in the neck

[doug hodder]

I don't want to even hear about this stuff. I just started my doors tonight. I'm already having to deal with a cupped door. I guess I'll know what the scoop is by Sat. PM. they will be solved as I committed to the Minden trip..... doug hodder

[Guy]

Dear All,

Something I have never understood all this time is the typical plans say to put the doors on after you have placed the sides up and the spars on the roof etc. There are too many chances, as you attach the sides to the frames, the spars and the roof and all the movement that ensues, to throw in a little twist. It is so much easier to place the doors in, at least temporarily, to limit such movement. Remeber this is not similar to a house frame where you get to shim the door frame and then place moulding around hiding all the shims.

[larryl]

Gentlemen:

I think your are all right one. I will make final comments on this build once complete, but if I could make a suggestion for current anf future builders, build and and temp. your doors befors you set the sides on the floor, very little tolerance to shim afterwards. My business partner used to work in an exterior door shop. Gave me some tips to help the doors close. I have one closing OK. I will work more on them this coming week.

Larry

[TomS]

Dear All,

Something I have never understood all this time is the typical plans say to put the doors on after you have placed the sides up and the spars on the roof etc. There are too many chances, as you attach the sides to the frames, the spars and the roof and all the movement that ensues, to throw in a little twist. It is so much easier to place the doors in, at least temporarily, to limit such movement. Remeber this is not similar to a house frame where you get to shim the door frame and then place moulding around hiding all the shims.

This thread has got me worrying about my doors. Right now, I've got my sides and bulhead walls installed. I'm currently installing the interior wall framing. Do yo think that I should install the doors before I attach the roof spars?

[toypusher]

Tom,

According to Kevin, you have to have the door opening trimmed in aluminum before sizing the door properly or it will not fit right. Just something to keep in mind.

Kerry

[beverlyt]

LarryL,
We had a bit of a good time getting our doors to fit also...

If I recall correctly, we pretty much beat them into submission:)

We really like the doors though and glad we went with them.... after the fact.

Bev

[Geron]

Ya'll really got me sittin' and thinkin' ag'in. I was planning to put the hinge on the inside of the door and then fasten the trailer side of the hinge to the face of the trailer door frame (aesthetics) sp? This hides the hinge.

Now it appears to me from a practical standpoint if the frame side of the hinge is attached to the side of the trailer (outside the door frame) , the door can be "shimmed" or spaced with chips for a perfect (near perfect) fit - the hinge then marked and mounted (from the side of the trailer not from the face of the door frame).

If the hinge is mounted to the face of the door frame and the inside of the door edge there appears to be no way of positioning the door before mounting the hinge. EVERYTHING will be guess work as far a WHERE to attach the hinge in relation to the door position. Errors and misalignment would be very easy to accomplish.

Furthermore, weatherstripping between the hinge side of the door and trailer door frame would be easier to accomplish.

Just thinkin'

Geron

[larryl]

The ironic thing is, when I cut the sides and doors, I stacked all of the plywood and cut everything at once. The right side has been a struggle, the left door fit fine. It must have been the inside and outside aluminum trim on the side frame that was off. Also, I think one of the doors has a slight bow in it.

I saw in a post somewhere, where the door hinge has been covered in black webbing or rubber or something. I was going to use that technique since the beginning because I was concerned about driving rain penetrating through the hinge.

I am also using a continuous aluminum hinge on the galley and was going to cover that hinge in the same fashion.

I have also planned on using two different types of w/stripping on the doors since the planning stage. Many residential windows and doors use two or more pieces of w/stripping to seal them properly.

I believe when the doors are complete, cosmetically they are going to look
OK,

Larry

[bdosborn]

Tom,

According to Kevin, you have to have the door opening trimmed in aluminum before sizing the door properly or it will not fit right. Just something to keep in mind.

Kerry

I just did that Saturday and I'm skinnning the doors now. Make sure you get someone to hold the door up while tracing the opening instead of trying to do it yourself. And wear shoes. Because you'll end up dropping the door on your foot if you do it yourself. Here's a tip: If you get the window and trim ring from TJ trailers, make sure you frame the opening for the window to the trim ring instead of the window. You'll find out that the trim ring is a little bigger than the window.
Bruce

[larryl]

Have both doors mounted. They work and lock. Need to slightly adjust the alum. trim that is mounted on the doors to have a proper reveal shown next to the wall trim.

I installed black radius cornered windows from TJ Trailers. The space between the window and inside skin was covered with black vinyl baseboard. It's normally used on a wall after tile or sheetgoods are installed. I think it turned out nice.

I will be cutting out the inside trim piece from birch plywood to finish off the windows.

Larry

[bdosborn]

I installed black radius cornered windows from TJ Trailers. The space between the window and inside skin was covered with black vinyl baseboard. It's normally used on a wall after tile or sheetgoods are installed. I think it turned out nice.

Larry

Boy, I'd sure like to see a picture of that before I commit to the trim rings.
Bruce

[mikeschn]

I've got that window. Steve put the trim ring on it too. I'll get a photo of it this afternoon!

Mike...

[mikeschn]

Okay, I finally got that photo of the trim ring!



Mike...