Hang onto your doors!

[ThomB87]

Traveling from New Mexico to Amarillo in the wild west Texas wind. It was blowing 30 mph with gusts to 60! Since it was a tail wind I was getting the best gas mileage ever. We pulled over into a parking area off the I40 for a pit stop. As my wife was exiting the trailer a gust hit, jerked the door from her hand and slammed against the rubber stopper. The good news was no damage to the exterior fiberglass or frame. The bad news was the pressure against the door was strong enough to crack the interior panel. The same result is we need a new door. In the meantime I found some white duck tape to cover the cracks. 

I know I am not the first to have an issue with the door in a windstorm. So a reminder to be careful out there. 

Now a question. Anyone who has had to overnight at the mothership while they work on their trailer, have recommendations for a place to stay that will allow a dog? 

Thanks

[MAX Burner]

 

14 minutes ago, ThomB87 said:

The bad news was the pressure against the door was strong enough to crack the interior panel. The same result is we need a new door.

For the exact reason you've described above, we installed Lippert "Controlled Motion" Hinges last April from eTrailer:

We've logged in excess of 7,500 miles since then during much of our windy springtime season and this simple upgrade has saved the bacon on several occasions.  The 2 additional hinges make the door "stiff" to open but makes it stay where you want it - we've not used the exterior door latch at the bottom of the door since installing them.  For us - this was a simple fix for a condition that literally can come out of nowhere...

Cheers!

[rich.dev]

On 11/10/2023 at 12:38 PM, MAX Burner said:

For the exact reason you've described above, we installed Lippert "Controlled Motion" Hinges

What @MAX Burner said, we love our friction hinge assy. from Lippert. You can also get it here on Amazon.

Edited November 15, 2023 by rich.dev
Correct link for friction hinge kit

[John Dorrer]

34 minutes ago, ThomB87 said:

Traveling from New Mexico to Amarillo in the wild west Texas wind. It was blowing 30 mph with gusts to 60! Since it was a tail wind I was getting the best gas mileage ever. We pulled over into a parking area off the I40 for a pit stop. As my wife was exiting the trailer a gust hit, jerked the door from her hand and slammed against the rubber stopper. The good news was no damage to the exterior fiberglass or frame. The bad news was the pressure against the door was strong enough to crack the interior panel. The same result is we need a new door. In the meantime I found some white duck tape to cover the cracks. 

I know I am not the first to have an issue with the door in a windstorm. So a reminder to be careful out there. 

Now a question. Anyone who has had to overnight at the mothership while they work on their trailer, have recommendations for a place to stay that will allow a dog? 

Thanks

Commodore Hotel, Linden just West of Hohenwald on 412

[Patriot]

Bill,

I highly recommend you stay here -https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/hohenwald-bedandbreakfasts/meriwethersretreat.html

Melissa is the owner and it’s one of the nicest B&B’s we have ever stayed at. It’s fairly close to the service center, very clean and she is the best hostess. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

By the way it was nice meeting you and your bride at the Big Texan RV Resort during our return trip from CO. Rest assured, Oliver Service will surely get you taken care of.

Patriot🇺🇸

[Patriot]

1 hour ago, rich.dev said:

What @MAX Burner said, we love our friction hinge assy. from Lippert. You can also get it here on Amazon.

@rich.dev

Wow a lot cheaper on Amazon vs etrailer! Did you install just one or multiple?

[Geronimo John]

OOPS for sure. 

Glad nobody hurt.

GJ

[rich.dev]

On 11/10/2023 at 2:02 PM, Patriot said:

Did you install just one or multiple?

Yes 2 sets of the Lippert hinges, the door comes std with 3 non friction sets, I installed 2 of the Lippert sets in between (top and bottom of the stock middle set). I couldn't find the 2 pack on the Amazon.com site, bought mine from the Canadian site here 

***Edit 15 Nov 2023 - and from US site here

Edited November 15, 2023 by rich.dev
Included link to US site

[Steph and Dud B]

We added a strap to help hang onto the door on windy days.

[Patriot]

4 minutes ago, rich.dev said:

Yes 2 sets of the Lippert hinges, the door comes std with 3 non friction sets, I installed 2 of the Lippert sets in between (top and bottom of the stock middle set). I couldn't find the 2 pack on the Amazon.com site, bought mine of off the Canadian site here 

Awesome, thank you!

[Geronimo John]

1 hour ago, ThomB87 said:

Anyone who has had to overnight at the mothership while they work on their trailer, have recommendations for a place to stay that will allow a dog? 

I have heard that some owners have been allowed to use their trailer at night at the camp spaces on OTT property.  That would of course be for repairs that are suitable for relocation and occupancy.  Yours would seem to fit the bill.  Worth a call.

If an option, a simple heavy cardboard temp door duct taped on the hinge side could suffice for an evening or two.  Maybe add a string and paperweight on the counter of the microwave to hold it closed. 

Lots of fun places to explore in the Hohenwald area to keep you and family busy for a day or two for sure.

GJ   

[Ronbrink]

21 hours ago, rich.dev said:

You can also get it here on Amazon.

20 hours ago, Patriot said:

Wow a lot cheaper on Amazon vs etrailer! Did you install just one or multiple?

I went “here” and found these to be ‘non-friction hinges’, thus possibly the disparity in price Patriot noted. However, Amazon.us does offer a ‘friction hinge kit’ consisting of a pair. They appear to be the same as those rich.dev purchased from the Amazon.ca site, based on the compatible Lippert door Series listed in the product Description. 

[rich.dev]

7 hours ago, Ronbrink said:

I went “here” and found these to be ‘non-friction hinges’

Oops good catch, and good find! Still a lot cheaper vs etrailer! I really love these friction hinges!

[Ronbrink]

3 hours ago, rich.dev said:

Oops good catch, and good find! Still a lot cheaper vs etrailer! I really love these friction hinges!

You and others have convinced me it would be money well spent! Thanks

[rich.dev]

12 minutes ago, Ronbrink said:

You and others have convinced me it would be money well spent! Thanks

Yes, I like it a lot, works wonderfully, I don’t have to use the latch, I can leave the door open when there is a breeze and the door stays where I leave it….and no more fly away door!😊 

[MAX Burner]

On 11/10/2023 at 12:02 PM, Patriot said:

Did you install just one or multiple?

We used 2 Lippert friction hinges on our door - wonderful!

[Jason Foster]

I will be adding these to mine.  Thank for the link.

[Gliddenwoods]

On 11/10/2023 at 11:47 AM, rich.dev said:

What @MAX Burner said, we love our friction hinge assy. from Lippert. You can also get it here on Amazon.

Amazon link is to the wrong "non-friction" hinge.

[Bobby and Nadine]

Great Idea! I'll order these today.

[rich.dev]

35 minutes ago, Gliddenwoods said:

Amazon link is to the wrong "non-friction" hinge.

Yup sorry already pointed out to me, I edited my original post with correct link........this one 

[Gliddenwoods]

On 11/15/2023 at 10:39 AM, rich.dev said:

Yup sorry already pointed out to me, I edited my original post with correct link........this one 

Sorry, didn't mean to pile on. 

Thanks for a lead on the concept.

[Gliddenwoods]

On 11/10/2023 at 1:17 PM, rich.dev said:

Yes 2 sets of the Lippert hinges, the door comes std with 3 non friction sets, I installed 2 of the Lippert sets in between (top and bottom of the stock middle set). I couldn't find the 2 pack on the Amazon.com site, bought mine from the Canadian site here 

***Edit 15 Nov 2023 - and from US site here

Just curious; how did/does Oliver Inc attach the hinges to the trailer? No screw heads show.

[rich.dev]

21 minutes ago, Gliddenwoods said:

Just curious; how did/does Oliver Inc attach the hinges to the trailer? No screw heads show

Yah definitely not screws, they look like rivets but I don’t think they are rivets…..or not rivets that I’m familiar with.
 

Here’s a pic of my door before I installed the friction hinges, should be the same on your 2022.

 

and here’s a pic of my door with the friction hinge.