Community Forums

pthomann · 08-01-2013, 06:47 PM

This has probably been brought up a thousand times before, but I am looking for a simple fix for opening the screen door on my RV from the inside without having to open the slide and use the handle. I know about the little gadget that you drill a hole thru the slide - they work ok, but only part of the time at best and are very difficult for kids to use. Just wondering what others have found to work that might be better?

ctpres · 08-01-2013, 10:29 PM

Here is my solution - works and is great conversation piece.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/mods-...ml#post1051502

ReelTime · 08-02-2013, 05:07 AM

Ctpres, That is the best door opener mod I have seen and I second your thinking on why this is the way to go.

I am sold and I hope I can "borrow" the idea, you get all the credit when someone asks.

nosticks · 08-02-2013, 06:45 AM

Great idea, so off to Home Depot I go.

Chillbilly · 08-02-2013, 07:47 AM

I also had this frustration. I ended up disabling the latch by adjusting it to where it wouldn't catch - just is there. Then I mounted magnets to the door frame at the top and bottom. Then I mounted a small metal rectangle to the top and bottom of the door to catch the magnets. I also added the push bar, available from Camping World. Now I simply have to push lightly on the door to open from the inside, or pull slightly to open the door from the outside. The magnets hold the door shut securely. Works great when going outside with your hands full, such as carrying grilling items out to the grill, etc. I never have to have a hand free to open the door, just a slight body push on the push bar.

pthomann · 08-02-2013, 08:38 AM

Thanks all for the great ideas - think I will go with the magnet idea that Chillbilly has for simplicities sake and the ability to use "no hands" opening and closing.

Lit · 08-02-2013, 08:18 PM

ctpres says; Here is my solution - works and is great conversation piece.
Mods to RVs

I've been looking for a mod for my screen door when I click on the link, it takes me to page 8, I don't see any mod for the screen door. I'm missing something here :{

glarnold · 08-03-2013, 08:32 AM

See post #108 on that page.

GL Arnold

glarnold · 08-03-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pthomann

Thanks all for the great ideas - think I will go with the magnet idea that Chillbilly has for simplicities sake and the ability to use "no hands" opening and closing.

Just be aware that the no hands solution could be a problem if you have pets or kids visiting.

GL Arnold

wa8yxm · 08-03-2013, 11:02 AM

My problem was not opening the door, it was keeping it closed. The standard door latch on this house would not stand up to a cat attack from Kitty 1 or 2.

So I modified things a bit Removed the latch (Striker palte) so it's no longer effective at all, added a "pin" to the slide that so that when the slide is closed the door is LOCKED (Deadbolted) Kitties have not figured out how to slide the slide yet.

The hard part was getting the slide to depress the handle when closed so it did not lock to the other door when slide closed.

two2go · 08-03-2013, 02:02 PM

I have done this on my last 3 RVs. I buy a roller latch (push-spring catch with metal plate) at the hardware store. On this RV, I removed the plastic latch assembly completely and installed the roller latch (outlined in pink). I fashioned a pull handle out of a cut-down steel outlet cover installed in the position of the old latch. I screwed two strong round magnets to the door and shimmed the handle to just contact the magnets when the outer door is closed. Now, it is simple to just push from the inside and pull from the outside. The magnets are strong enough to pull and hold the screen against the exterior door (you can see the place where they contact the handle plate. The roller latch is strong enough to keep the screen closed under normal conditions. Our cat opened the screen door once when she got excited about a bird on the patio, but she was so confused once outside that she immediately wanted back in. If I needed to, I could put a simple auxiliary latch on, like a hook and eye or similar. One could simply drill a hole through the screen door frame from the opening into the door frame and use a nail or something a little more elegant, and just slide the pin through the hole into the door frame. That would keep it from opening and be easy to access from either side.

pthomann · 08-20-2013, 08:13 PM

My niece has a roller but instead of attaching on the outside, it attaches to the inside and it's spring loaded so it holds the door against the inner door frame. They installed a door handle on the inner and outer section of the slide and it works fine. The dog can open to if he puts his feet up on the door, but other than that it stays closed when closed properly. I am going to try this and will post pics when done.