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Old 08-12-2015, 05:04 PM   #1
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adding an Inside door handle-Suggestions

I have a Escape 21, one issue I am trying to resolve is closing the door, and getting it to latch, from inside the trailer. The door is aligned. ok, and shuts fine but getting it to latch is a real struggle. We have to pull it tight and manipulate the release handle to get it to latch. I would like to add a pull handle to the inside of the door. I don't have alot of faith in the grab piece on the locking mech., I am afraid that will break from the flex from pulling eventually.
Has anyone else felt this was an issue and fixed it? if so how?
Has anyone attached and inside handle to the door for ease of operation?
I figure a handle with a couple of screws would work, but I would have to have backing plates so they don't pull out of the fiberglass
Any ideas
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Old 08-12-2015, 05:48 PM   #2
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Though the door alignment may be fine, I would bet if you did some tweaking with the latch alignment you could eliminate the need to pull hard to engage the latch. On my now older Escape, I pull with minimal effort to latch the door. I would look into this before putting on some kinda pull.

Maybe others have had this same issue?
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Old 08-12-2015, 06:31 PM   #3
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Mine's the same, keep thinking I'm going to break it as it's just plastic.
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Old 08-12-2015, 08:13 PM   #4
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Go to Lowe's. In the bathroom/shower area buy a suction cup grab bar made by Moen. Two sizes. Buy the shorter, about $20. It fits on the inside of the door. Mine has not loosened since I installed it and it provides plenty of pull to close the door. It's one of my best additions, but I have to give credit to Leon and Lindy. They showed us theirs at Osoyoos.
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Old 08-12-2015, 08:58 PM   #5
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and you may want to change your trailer info, it shows a Casita
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Old 08-13-2015, 06:14 PM   #6
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Jim thanks the Casita has been gone since last summer. I did try the suction door handle, so far so good. The door closes fine except that last little bit, maybe the door insulation needs to soften up from wear. I am going to play with the leveling a bit, until than the suction door handle does the trick. Long story short, when I had the Escape delivered the driver had the wrong master key, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a locksmith in Atlanta to open a trailer. So Reese had to send me a complete new lock set, I installed it, I will pull it apart again to see if there is any adjustment, but it is kind of a straight pull the old one out put the new one in . How do you get to be a senior member and what does that mean? Thanks All for the help.
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Old 08-13-2015, 06:16 PM   #7
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You have to remove the interior over for the s/n on the lock. I had to remove the hinges to get inside my unit when the lock went kaput.
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Old 08-14-2015, 02:54 PM   #8
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Eureka! I tried adjusting the stablizers for the door issue with no luck, than when we were backing to leave I took the stabilizers up and just left it level with the front crank and wheels - the door worked fine. Somehow the stabilizers are causing a flex in the body. Next i will try screw jacks under the the long sides of the frame, see how that works. We got the Escape last Nov but do to becoming a caregiver for a family member this was the first time we have had the opportunity to actually use it.
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Old 08-14-2015, 09:31 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by bjp447 View Post
Eureka! I tried adjusting the stablizers for the door issue with no luck, than when we were backing to leave I took the stabilizers up and just left it level with the front crank and wheels - the door worked fine. Somehow the stabilizers are causing a flex in the body. Next i will try screw jacks under the the long sides of the frame, see how that works. We got the Escape last Nov but do to becoming a caregiver for a family member this was the first time we have had the opportunity to actually use it.
Perhaps you are cranking the stabilizers down to much. They are not intended to level the trailer from side to side; they are intended to reduce/eliminate shake when someone moves around on the inside. I had an Aliner that had door problems when the stabilizers were cranked down too much.
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Old 08-14-2015, 09:56 PM   #10
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I picked up the small suction cup handle yesterday at Lowes for $15. Seems to work quite well.
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Old 08-14-2015, 10:28 PM   #11
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I might try one of those also. It's not that I have a hard time getting the door to latch but when I'm carrying something I find that small handle hard to grab and sometimes if it's windy I can't grab it fast enough and door swings back out.

For that price it seems worth a try.

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Old 08-15-2015, 04:48 PM   #12
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Just another idea I've played with…

Using two IKEA suction hooks, remove the hook, choose a handle of your choice (I tried a barn handle in black from Lowes and a "free" handle that came on a box I received; one of those thin plastic handles) I enlarged the holes to 1/2 inch. and placed them over the threaded rods and cinched them down. They don't take up as much room as the Moen handles from Lowes. Pics below:
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_4366.jpg   IMG_4364.jpg   IMG_4367.jpg   IMG_4365.jpg  
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Old 08-15-2015, 05:14 PM   #13
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Just another idea I've played with…

Using two IKEA suction hooks, remove the hook, choose a handle of your choice (I tried a barn handle in black from Lowes and a "free" handle that came on a box I received; one of those thin plastic handles) I enlarged the holes to 1/2 inch. and placed them over the threaded rods and cinched them down. They don't take up as much room as the Moen handles from Lowes. Pics below:
Very nifty idea , think I will borrow it . Pat
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Old 10-13-2015, 12:47 PM   #14
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I had the same problem with getting the lock to latch plus I wanted something more intuitive to grab when the wind caught the door upon opening. This is slick and I thank Carl for the suggestion: Amazon.com: Moen LR2308W Home Care 12-Inch Suction Balance Assist Bath Grip, Glacier: Home Improvement

And sometimes my pics post sideways although I always post from my computer.


I fixed it... Donna D.
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Old 10-13-2015, 12:56 PM   #15
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Karen,
I thought the trailer blew over and you use the handle to pick it back up.

I like that a lot, will be curious if the suction performs over the years as haven't had much luck with suction shower items staying on the wall.
May try this one though, looks great.
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Old 10-13-2015, 12:59 PM   #16
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I had the same problem with getting the lock to latch plus I wanted something more intuitive to grab when the wind caught the door upon opening. This is slick and I thank Carl for the suggestion: Amazon.com: Moen LR2308W Home Care 12-Inch Suction Balance Assist Bath Grip, Glacier: Home Improvement

And sometimes my pics post sideways although I always post from my computer.
Thanks, Carl; thanks, Karen. This has been a concern of mine with our new 17. I've been grabbing the latch lever instead of the handle adjacent to it. Even then, they seem to be thin enough that I'll eventually break it, so the suction grab is indeed THE solution.

Karen, as I've explained before, your pics come out sideways if you're above the 45th parallel, and the software re-adjusts it to a more equatorial axis.
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Old 10-13-2015, 03:11 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by techfan View Post
Just another idea I've played with…

Using two IKEA suction hooks, remove the hook, choose a handle of your choice (I tried a barn handle in black from Lowes and a "free" handle that came on a box I received; one of those thin plastic handles) I enlarged the holes to 1/2 inch. and placed them over the threaded rods and cinched them down. They don't take up as much room as the Moen handles from Lowes. Pics below:
Love your idea ! Pat
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Old 10-13-2015, 03:12 PM   #18
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I had the same problem with getting the lock to latch plus I wanted something more intuitive to grab when the wind caught the door upon opening. This is slick and I thank Carl for the suggestion: Amazon.com: Moen LR2308W Home Care 12-Inch Suction Balance Assist Bath Grip, Glacier: Home Improvement

And sometimes my pics post sideways although I always post from my computer.
Great idea too Karen . Need to do something before we get the winds and it grabs my door before I get a chance to hold it . Pat
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Old 10-13-2015, 04:00 PM   #19
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Got the Moen handle at Lowes and works great.
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Old 10-13-2015, 04:05 PM   #20
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Got the Moen handle at Lowes and works great.
Picture please?
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