Community Forums

dmckee · 03-11-2020, 01:38 PM

I have a 2005 Tiffin Phaeton and the cargo door opens upward, swinging about 90 degrees. Has anyone seen a replacement hinge that would allow the door to swing 180 degrees? Ordinarily, the slideout is out and would be in the way, but when the slideout is in it would allow easier access.

dmckee · 03-11-2020, 01:40 PM

I see a post from 2017 indicating there is no such thing.

znt1186 · 03-11-2020, 01:46 PM

What stops it at 90 degrees? Had a 2003 Allegro Bus that would swing as far as the struts would allow it to except for a chain that was attached to the ones under the slides. Is it the struts or the chains that stop the swing of the door? Your doors are removed by swinging them up past 90 degrees. You won't get 180 degrees, but you can get them up quite a bit.

mike toon · 03-11-2020, 01:48 PM

On my Fleetwood I bought longer struts and then moved the base pivot point.It opens up quite a bit more.

Rushy · 03-11-2020, 07:36 PM

We did the same, changeds to a slightly longer strut and the doors when from %&#$ head bangers to almost vertical.
Just take a strut off and carefully raise the door to be sure that isn't the way to remove them. If they swing easily measure for a new strut, even if not all the way to vetical another 45 degrees would make access better.

emiddleb · 03-11-2020, 07:47 PM

On mine, the struts on the bay doors under the slideouts spring open to the 90 degree angle and stop there, but when the slide is retracted the bay door can manually be lifted to the 180ish opening. Not sure if this is a special type of strut but am sure you could find similar to fit your opening.

While these are out of stock, this is the type I'm talking about...

https://us.amazon.com/dp/B00ODJ3ITY/..._t3_B00W9ZD9AC

dmckee · 03-12-2020, 06:47 AM

the struts stop the door, there is no chain.

dmckee · 03-12-2020, 06:49 AM

That is just what I am looking for. I will shop around for other vendors of the shocks.

dmckee · 03-12-2020, 06:51 AM

That is a good idea. Thanks for the advice.

Dav L · 03-12-2020, 07:03 AM

On my Newmar, the doors that are limited to 90 degrees are below the slide so that the slide can't hit the doors when the slide opens.
There are also detented lift cylinder tracks that you can move the lift cylinder bottom pivot up to raise the door more fully. And then remember to put them back closed before moving the slides...

dmckee · 03-12-2020, 07:28 AM

I have only owned my motorhome for 6 months so I am still learning, but I don't think the basement doors have struts with two settings. I will be uncovering and opening up the motorhome next week. I will rejoin the thread after that. Thank you all for your advice.

Dutch Star Don · 03-13-2020, 02:05 PM

I would install a longer strut that allows it to open further, then install a limiting chain that you can easily unhook. This way, when the slide is out, the door will be limited. When the slide is in, you can disconnect the chain.

CAUTION.....Before you make any changes, it only takes ONE brain fart to leave the bay door unchained and destroy it while operating the slide.

lockinload · 03-14-2020, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmckee

That is just what I am looking for. I will shop around for other vendors of the shocks.

Make sure that the new shocks have the correct poundage. I want to say the shocks I bought, and did the same thing you are doing, were 75lbs. I had 2 doors that did that and both were restricted because of a slide. One was the propane, which I only open once a year and the other is a bay that I intentionally don't store much in.