Shrunken bathroom door (no kidding!)

[Greggo]

I've been on a trip the last 3 weeks and have been surprised to find that my bathroom door has warped and actually shrunk. Lock no longer contacts the plastic latch gizmo on the door frame! I normally hang out closer to the coast. It's been hot and very dry here in Utah. Weather a factor

Very strange indeed!

Greg

[ChuckS]

Your 19ft was built where their is humidity in the air year around. The door would shrink because it no longer has moisture around it. You should talk to Reace on this problem.

[gbaglo]

On the other hand, I believe the ply that is used comes from Alberta. Curious.

[Burloak]

We're sure the the door hinges haven't been bent by accidentally leaving the door unlatched even once during your travels?

I can remember Dave at Escape cautioning me on that point during his excellent pre delivery walk through. I can't remember his fix for the sprung hinges but it seemed simple enough.

[jcrob]

Originally Posted by Burloak

We're sure the the door hinges haven't been bent by accidentally leaving the door unlatched even once during your travels?

I can remember Dave at Escape cautioning me on that point during his excellent pre delivery walk through. I can't remember his fix for the sprung hinges but it seemed simple enough.

We got the same advice. I think the fix was to put a block of wood against the hinge and tap it lightly to bend it back towards the latch. He said this would work a couple of times.

[Greggo]

I just looked at the top hinge. It might have bent out which certainly could cause the problem.

Thanks!

[dave macrae]

I had to move the stricker on our bathroom door about a month after we picked it up last summer for the same reason, It was fine when we picked it up but then it stopped staying shut and I found the stricker was no where close, I suspect the door might have changed shape a bit as it dried out

[Donna D.]

Folks that live in really dry heat, often times put 5 gallon bucks full of water in areas around the inside of their homes to put moisture back in. They don't want their homes to turn to dust.

We often worry about leaks from snow/rain/ice... but there are times NOT enough moisture can cause problems.

I own a Scamp deluxe... all wood interior. During the low-humidty/high-heat (sounds strange since I live in the Pacific NorthWET) a couple of times, I've actually put open glasses of water inside my trailer. Warped wood, isn't fun... anymore than wet wood.

[Greggo]

Thanks all. The block and hammer trick worked. Door is still warped. Hopefully a return to the coast tomorrow will help. BTW, the hinge probably wont survive another episode.

Greg

[Parker]

Originally Posted by Greggo

BTW, the hinge probably wont survive another episode.

Greg

You can find them at Lowes. You'll have to put them in a vice to put the little bend in them the way Escape does (to clear the trim on the door), but otherwise they're an almost exact replacement.

[CADreamin]

In reading through the posts on the humidity and the Escape ... Is this a common problem when moving the trailer from a high humidity area to a low humidity area? Or even camping in a dry area for any length of time?

[gbaglo]

I am suspect of the humidity theory. The panels are a plywood and plywood is made with the wood grain running in different directions ( which would significantly moderate any shrinkage ).
And, the surface "oak" finish is waterproof.
Generally, damage to furniture from lack of humidity, results in cracks in solid wood, and takes years to develop.
Not that I'm any expert, or even close, but I think there must be another cause.

[Greggo]

Re: hinges, I am more inclined to find a way to secure the door better to prevent further damage caused by the door popping open in transit again. I saw this as a potential problem with some of the cabinet doors and have already taken steps to protect them from similar damage.

Greg

[gbaglo]

I've only got one cabinet door that comes open on the extremely rough, washboard, pothole road into the Skagit. It's a shallow cupboard near the floor, so I put canned goods in it. I even bought a couple of those spring-loaded rods that are supposed to keep things in their proper place. So, now I have to pick the cans AND the rods off the floor and put them back where they belong.
I plan to fix the rods in place so the canned goods can't open the door in transit.

[gbaglo]

I used two bungee cords, running from cupboard handle to cupboard handle, to help secure the fridge door for our trip into the Skagit on washboard and pothole.
I don't really know if it helped keep the door closed, but it wasn't open when we arrived.

Note: the ends of the bungee are plastic coated, not metal ( which might cause abrasion ).

[Donna D.]

I like John's solution for the bathroom door. Especially since it can be propped open, when not in use, for ventilation: John's Bathroom Door Prop

[DeadEyeDan]

On this month long trip our bathroom door warped. In the very dry Arizona heat, I noticed the top bowing away from the wall on the fridge side, away from the hinges.

I had been hanging something on the door, and I atribututed it to that, but was not sure about it.

Now we are in So CAL and it has been raining a couple of days, and the door is now tight against the wall. I guess the humidity fixed it?

[cpaharley2008]

The doors on the newer units are made smaller, allowing air to circulate, top and bottom.

[Greggo]

Originally Posted by DeadEyeDan

On this month long trip our bathroom door warped. In the very dry Arizona heat, I noticed the top bowing away from the wall on the fridge side, away from the hinges.

I had been hanging something on the door, and I atribututed it to that, but was not sure about it.

Now we are in So CAL and it has been raining a couple of days, and the door is now tight against the wall. I guess the humidity fixed it?

Same problem with me but the door has not returned to normal. I had to build out door latch so it would close. I'm wondering if I can get a new door. It's warped about 1/2 inch.

Greg

[techfan]

I am not a fan of the new shrunken door. I don't think it is very aesthetic. I prefer something like John's Bathroom door prop or like I did with a simple block and and rare earth magnet.

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...html#post32761

Could the shortened door be part of the cause for the warping?