Community Forums

C5c5 · 03-23-2020, 07:50 PM

Greetings!

Has anyone replaced their Class A side door with a stix & brix door? Was it worth it?

TomAndPeg · 03-24-2020, 06:19 AM

Not sure anyone has done a mod like that, but we'd love to see a picture.

Gary RVRoamer · 03-24-2020, 09:50 AM

I'm not even clear on how you might do that. The door frame and hinge arrangement is typically much different. Nor do I see any advantage except that maybe you cannot obtain the original type door nowadays.

Are you talking about using the existing frame and hinges and essentially building a new door panel, perhaps using a solid wood exterior door for the main section? And cutting it to size (standard residential doors are sized differently than most any RV I've seen).

twinboat · 03-24-2020, 10:47 AM

I could see trying to fit a mobil home type door in an RV but a standard residental outside entrance door would be a challenge.

C5c5 · 03-24-2020, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

Are you talking about using the existing frame and hinges and essentially building a new door panel, perhaps using a solid wood exterior door for the main section? And cutting it to size (standard residential doors are sized differently than most any RV I've seen).

Hi Gary!

Either way. I'm exploring if it has been done before and if it was worth it.

C5c5 · 03-24-2020, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

I could see trying to fit a mobil home type door in an RV but a standard residental outside entrance door would be a challenge.

Hello Twinboat!

It has been a few years since I've been in a mobile home. Are the doors made to be more secure than the typical RV door?

FIRE UP · 03-24-2020, 11:29 AM

May I ask WHY you'd want to do this?
Scott

RI Expat · 03-24-2020, 12:49 PM

I see a couple of major challenges. First, residential doors swing in and RV doors swing out. If you mount a residential door to just swing out, then the hinges would be exposed and a security vulnerability.

Second, an RV door is integral to the shape of the RV. A residential door would potentially be an aerodynamic problem, especially one with raised panel designs. You would probably 'roar' going down the road.

If you are just looking to cut down a residential door to fit your current opening and reuse the existing hinges, then your final challenge would be mounting the magnetic reed switches that operate the steps. Unlike traditional window alarm reed switches, RV door switches have less tolerance for clearances.

RV doors latch with a capture arrangement like a car door. This is required by code. You won't be able to simply use residential door knobs. Residential deadbolts are a common addition on RVs, however.

Not sure what the look you might be going for, but it does not seem like something I would enjoy. If you do it, post some pics and maybe change some minds.

Milford 47 · 03-24-2020, 01:19 PM

It would never pass most inspections and the insurance would be a problem as well

Has to be fire resistant as well so what are you goning to use?

doesnt sound like a good idea to me

LETMGROW · 03-24-2020, 02:06 PM

I wouldn't do it unless I could put a 10'X5' picture window in near it so the residential door didn't look out of place.
Lynn

C5c5 · 03-25-2020, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

May I ask WHY you'd want to do this?

Scott

I do not like how the RV door opens & operates from the inside. The handle is very low and inconvient for me to operate when I'm positioned on the stairs ready to exit.

twinboat · 03-25-2020, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C5c5

Hello Twinboat!

It has been a few years since I've been in a mobile home. Are the doors made to be more secure than the typical RV door?

They are thinner then house doors and may come with a aluminum frame with a mounting flange.

RI Expat · 03-25-2020, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C5c5

I do not like how the RV door opens & operates from the inside. The handle is very low and inconvient for me to operate when I'm positioned on the stairs ready to exit.

If this is the major factor in trying to adapt some other door arrangement, then I would recommend some sort of door handle extension bar that would give you a second handgrip mounted higher on the interior without defeating the existing hardware. Simply moving the whole latching mechanism up would make it too high to reach conveniently from the outside.

I envision a lever connected to a rod that fits behind the existing handle that will push the handle out when you pull on the additional lever mounted at a height more convenient to you.

Good luck with your project and post some pics on whatever solution you come up with.

C5c5 · 03-25-2020, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RI Expat

If this is the major factor in trying to adapt some other door arrangement, then I would recommend some sort of door handle extension bar that would give you a second handgrip mounted higher on the interior without defeating the existing hardware. Simply moving the whole latching mechanism up would make it too high to reach conveniently from the outside.

I envision a lever connected to a rod that fits behind the existing handle that will push the handle out when you pull on the additional lever mounted at a height more convenient to you.

Good luck with your project and post some pics on whatever solution you come up with.

Thank you for the idea.