The door

[Mike Lewis]

I was going to add this to an existing thread about door seals, but I can't find it, so I'm starting a new one. I, too, see gaps around my door. I haven't thought much of it, but as an RV newbie I've been observing other RVs at campsites I've stayed in. With the exception of Airstream, all the other brands have flat doors. Big 5th wheels with slides, motorhomes, "stickie" trailers, even molded fiberglass Casitas have a flat door. Airstream has a contoured aluminum door, but even it has a flat screen door inside of it. In fact, the doors seem so similar that there might be one OEM door supplier to the RV industry.

Although Escape's contoured door makes the trailer look cool ("like a spaceship", a friend of mine said) I'm wondering if the door's shape makes it harder to seal. Then of course if we have problems with the door, there is only once source for a replacement. Just an observation.

[Donna D.]

And here I was thinking the Escape door is flat... compared to my Scamp! I love the hidden screen door on Ten Forward. Actually prefer that over a flat screen door or the bi-fold on the Scamp, which always seems to be in the way...

[yardsale]

There are gaps in the door of our 17B as well. I have thought about approaching Escape about it but have decided against it as these gaps supply low level air inlets that are good for moisture control in the winter. If we get mosquitos entering through the gaps this summer I may change my mind.

[cpaharley2008]

What Escape does is place some foam rubber weatherstripping behind that rubber seal on the door and it eliminates the gaps, try it. If the door has not been used in awhile, the rubber becomes compressed.

[Vermilye]

What I've done is to go to a local hardware store, purchase a roll of 5/8" "Backer Rod" (a flexible ethylene foam rod used as filler in joints prior to caulking) and stuff sections of it behind the door side gasket where needed.

[padlin]

That Jon mentions must be what ETI used on my door, roughly 1/2" thick.

[markvt]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

What Escape does is place some foam rubber weatherstripping behind that rubber seal on the door and it eliminates the gaps, try it. If the door has not been used in awhile, the rubber becomes compressed.

Thanks Jim for this information I to have some pretty good gaps around my door that I need to take care of. I have to say that I was kind of disappointed when I first noticed the gaps last year when I received my trailer.

[gbaglo]

I've had a couple small gaps at the bottom of the door for years. I consider it a safety device to allow heavier than air gases to escape.

[float5]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I've had a couple small gaps at the bottom of the door for years. I consider it a safety device to allow heavier than air gases to escape.

That must have been our thinking, too!

[rvomaha]

Originally Posted by yardsale

There are gaps in the door of our 17B as well. I have thought about approaching Escape about it but have decided against it as these gaps supply low level air inlets that are good for moisture control in the winter. If we get mosquitos entering through the gaps this summer I may change my mind.

We have gaps very similar to those in your picture. When the season is buggy, we often have to keep both our fiberglas door and our sliding screen door shut while we are inside the camper.

[Slickheadhunter]

This would be a very easy fix for escape to address, simply use thicker gaskets from the beginning. It would cost very little for them and us on the other end but would eliminate any criticism some people may have and boost the build quality at the same time. It wouldn't add anything to the building process.

[Mike Lewis]

To me the existing gasket material seems too stiff as well, so it doesn't expand to fill the gaps. I have to say, though, that this is something I know nothing about, so I have no idea what to do about it other than add weatherstripping as some have done.

[markvt]

The thing I worried about the most at first with these gaps around the door was water coming into to the trailer well driving down the road in a rain storm. But I have to say in all the rain that I have towed my trailer in I have never got water into the trailer. Because of that fact the gaps around the door are not a big deal to me.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Slickheadhunter

This would be a very easy fix for escape to address, simply use thicker gaskets from the beginning. .

If it were that easy, they would have done it long ago. And if it were that easy, Reace wouldn't have been walking around the Osoyoos rally a couple years ago with a roll of weatherstripping foam.
I think they should just eliminate the door.

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

If it were that easy, they would have done it long ago. And if it were that easy, Reace wouldn't have been walking around the Osoyoos rally a couple years ago with a roll of weatherstripping foam.
I think they should just eliminate the door.

That raises the question: At the end of the build, how does the last ETI worker get out?

[yardsale]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I've had a couple small gaps at the bottom of the door for years. I consider it a safety device to allow heavier than air gases to escape.

Good point.

[Donna D.]

I seem to remember, several years back, ETI did change the door gasket... or at least part of it (bottom?) which helped to address the gap issue... so, if you have an older trailer, maybe it's time to change the gasket. One of those maintenance issues...

[yardsale]

Mine, at least, is less than a year old.

I didn't add that the gap is worse in the winter as the door and/or the gasket must deform somehow with cold temps. Perhaps Escape designed it that way. "Open" in the winter when you need ventilation, "closed" in the summer to keep bugs at bay. (I seem to have too much time on my hands this morning.)

[cpaharley2008]

Gaskets have to "seat" so that when new the door is hard to close and when old one has gaps. If you make it too thick then door lock issues will present itself. Some locks are adjustable, as on automobiles. Has anyone noticed the gap around their car doors? This issue is prevalent in a lot of places where new rubber is installed. Easily fixed though.

[Slickheadhunter]

I've never had a vehicle door with air gaps