Changing a TT Bathroom Door

[anzeline]

On my 23-foot Salem, I have a very poorly-functional, rail-mounted pocket bathroom door which doesn't stay closed most of the time. It frequently falls off the rail and jams, among other frustrations! I would like to change to a regular hinge-mounted open/close door, complete with door knob. I am not sure the thickness of the door frame, if is wood constructed or even if it would support such a door. Also I would like to use the present door, with some size modifications required. Any and all suggestions would greatly appreciated!

anzeline

[myredracer]

Not sure if you could use your existing door or not. For one thing, wouldn't it be a little wider than the opening? You can't make a door narrower in width, but you can cut the bottom off if ever needed. You will need a couple of inches of clearance under the door (at least) for air flow.

The door jambs are typically plastic. They are not standard because wall thicknesses vary. Because you have a pocket door, maybe the thickness of the wall won't match an off-the-shelf RV door jamb.

I would go to a dealer's lot or RV show and get an idea of what is out there. Or go to an independent RV repair/maintenance/parts shop and talk to them.

Without seeing what you've got, I would say go buy a complete RV door and jamb assembly including hardware. If you can't get a stock door jamb width to work, you could always just make one like used in a house, or adapt one. The doors are pretty much residential design except for the plastic door jamb. Our last TT had a 2 1/2" thick interior bathroom wall while our new one has an inch or so thickness. There should be wood framing in your interior wall because that's how screws, nails and staples can be used to fasten things like doors in place. You *could* possibly be faced with not being able to match the same finish color.

The other thing that might work is to use an accordion type door?

Maybe if you posted a pic or two, we'd have a better idea of what you are faced with.

[Arch Hoagland]

On our first trip with our coach that has three sliding doors we forgot to snap one of the door retainers so the door did what yours is doing, jumped the track and I couldn't get it back on.

It was under warranty so, after I messed with it, we took it in.

The snaps are clipped now every morning whether we're going anywhere or not. It's a law we made because it is a total pain to get it back on.

We have several "laws" created because of our learning the hard way.

[dockmaster]

Any good carpenter or cabinet maker can modify the wall and door. You just need a good one who can figure things out as he goes.