Lower door swap from out-swing to in-swing - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

jimmy1 · 08-27-2015, 03:11 PM

One of the first things that hit me when I got my 25' 85 Classic Voyager was the limited swing of the lower door and the catching on the upper door as the top went up or down. Figured if I made the lower door swing inward it would eliminate the conflict with the upper door/screen door. Was able to remove the lower door frame and reverse same with hinge on opposite side and opening inward. Had just enough room to mount the framing from the inside. Works great as is completely out of the way now raising/lowering or going in/out.

Next mod in same area will be to move the raise/lower switch and safety bar release cable up and closer to the outside so I am not forced to bend over and reach so far in when raising/lowering.

jimmy1

Luckydog671 · 08-27-2015, 04:04 PM

Hi Jimmy,

For what it's worth, my manual states (or perhaps it is in the video?) to latch the upper door and screen open, and to hold the lower door at 90 degrees in the open position while raising and lowering the top half.

sam · 08-27-2015, 10:06 PM

Can you post a picture?

jimmy1 · 08-27-2015, 10:48 PM

DSC00719.JPGGreg Yes that is one of the problems I have with the HiLo raising/lowering procedure, I don't like my fingers anywhere near the passing of the upper and lower door and would not have ever let my little women operate the raising/lowering while holding the lower door at 90 degrees. Now my door is velcro'd open completely out of the way to operate the switch/release-cable and allowing close attention to the movement of the top.

Sam Yes will take some pictures and post them. Have to get the camera out to take some pictures for J&R to see if they can help with replacement screen door hinges.

Adamstone487 · 08-30-2015, 11:05 PM

Nice mod on flipping door but now how do you lock the bottom door so someone can't just push it in from outside

RichR · 08-31-2015, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamstone487

Nice mod on flipping door but now how do you lock the bottom door so someone can't just push it in from outside

Yes, same question. You will need some type of lock to keep the door from pushing in, both when you're inside and when you are away. The open out prevented that from happening.

renoites · 08-31-2015, 12:00 PM

We live and camp in bear country for many of our outings.
I was curious about this mod when you first posted.

Well done and ingenious.

Bears are a very curious lot and this mod will not work for me due animal entry.

Thinking outside of the box. Yes, that pun was intentional!

RichR · 08-31-2015, 01:23 PM

Because of bears many houses in Alaska have doors that open out. Bears don't have thumbs but they can force doors in with no trouble.

jimmy1 · 08-31-2015, 02:15 PM

yes I plan on putting a latch at the upper inside right corner.

will also have to watch for rain entry at the bottom, will probably try a shield attached at the bottom outside.

so far have raised and lowered the top several times and been in and out enough to believe I really like this arrangement.