Hinges

[Boanerges4]

When you want to run an aluminum trim strip around the exterior of your entrance door, what is the best hinge to use so that it will open properly. I plan to use 1 1/2 to 2 inch trim strip on all four sides, Thanks Dennis

[aggie79]

Dennis,

If you're going to run trim on the hinge side of a door, where the trim overlaps the door opening, you need to be careful of the hinge location. Normally the hinge axis is centered on the gap between the door and the door jamb, but this won't work with the trim. What you need to do is offset the hinge axis so that it is beyond the outside edge of your trim.

Here is a (very poor quality) sketch I made of what I was trying to say above.



This is a picture of the hinge that I used:



This picture also shows how the hinge axis is offset to be outside of the edge of the trim:



If you plan to use a weather seal on the trim, you also need to offset the plane of the door so that you leave a gap for the weather seal. This is how I sealed my door:



To get the gap, I made 1/8" thick spacers to be used under the sidewall side of the door hinge:



I hope this helps. I know for me, it took me a long time to get my head around how everything on the door works.

Take care,
Tom

[grant whipp]

Hey, Tom!

You probably mentioned it in your build thread, but, where did you get those hinges? Very cool, and very appropriate for teardrops ... ...

CHEERS!

Grant

[gregp136]

We used Stainless steel piano hinges on both doors with no problem.

Greg(and Laurie)

[bonnie]

Tom, thank you for posting this. I saved it to reference later.

[Glenn Quarles]

Anybody have a place to buy hinges kinda like the ones Tom is showing?

Glenn

[oregonguy]

We use very similar ones to what Tom has, we get them from Austen Hardware.

[DMcCam]

We got ours at Compact Camping Concepts: http://www.compactcampingconcepts.com/trailerparts.htm From ordering to delivery they did a fine job.

Cheers,

Dave

[aggie79]

I purchased the hinges from McMaster Carr. The ones I used were stainless steel. At the time I bought them they were about $20 each but are almost $35 now.

In hindsight, the chrome-plated diecast hinges would be more than plenty strong for a teardrop door. Also, I originally ordered four hinges - two per door - but decided a third hinge look better on each door. Two hinges would be sufficient for the door.