Hinging the Doors

Anything to do with mechanical, construction etc

Hinging the Doors

Postby NorthEGPhoto » Thu Apr 19, 2018 9:47 am

Specifically the people doors. Seems the concensus is to use something like freezer hinges, but one thing that bothers the heck out of me is security. Probably not a real concern, but humor my OCD for a minute.

Has anyone tried using, internal style hinges?

like this:

https://www.amazon.ca/Ranbo-Adjustable- ... side+hinge

My concern is some screwdriver bandit. Yes, i'm insane. because I know if I wanted to break into a trailer or shed, that'd be my tool of choice.

anyone else have another work-around for screwdriver bandits taking out your hinge screws? I don't really like my odds at installing those internal style hinges.. they look like a major PITA to install, insulate, and waterproof.
"In the morning, the light is golden, in the midday 'tis time to nap, and in the evening the light returns. Into the night the stars shine brightly, now if only the moon would stay out of sight." - Some photographer
User avatar
NorthEGPhoto
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 5:09 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Hinging the Doors

Postby linuxmanxxx » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:02 am

Do a piano hinge completely hidden only the rotating part outside.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
User avatar
linuxmanxxx
500 Club
 
Posts: 798
Images: 10
Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2010 1:50 am
Location: Abilene TX

Re: Hinging the Doors

Postby wysedav » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:41 am

You could use tamper proof screws. I think the big benefit for using externally mounted hinges is they will be much easier to install. You miss out on that with a piano hinge or internal hinges so your door may not be perfectly aligned.

David
wysedav
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 84
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2017 4:42 pm
Top

Re: Hinging the Doors

Postby Jeepnick » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:13 am

wysedav wrote:You could use tamper proof screws.


Ditto. These will eliminate the "crime of opportunity" that philips head screws on exterior hinges would create. I'm even using them on my hurricane hinges because I can. McMaster and Grainger both sell a wide variety.
Jeepnick
Donating Member
 
Posts: 9
Images: 1
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2018 5:13 pm
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Top

Re: Hinging the Doors

Postby NorthEGPhoto » Thu Apr 19, 2018 12:03 pm

I was just thinking I could probably use carriage bolts as well. Thanks for the ideas folks.
"In the morning, the light is golden, in the midday 'tis time to nap, and in the evening the light returns. Into the night the stars shine brightly, now if only the moon would stay out of sight." - Some photographer
User avatar
NorthEGPhoto
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 5:09 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada
Top

Re: Hinging the Doors

Postby Juneaudave » Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:27 pm

It really is a good observation about the hinges. Someone attempted to break into my trailer by removing the hinge screws, but fortunately, their screwdriver just stripped the last screws and they were unsuccessful. The reality is that it wouldn't be hat hard to break into most teardrops if a person was determined.....bust a window, pop a lock, or take a pry bar to it.

:x Thieves are the worst.
User avatar
Juneaudave
Super Duper Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 3237
Images: 380
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2005 12:11 pm
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Top

Re: Hinging the Doors

Postby aggie79 » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:24 am

I see two problems with those hinges:
1. The mortises required to install the hinges would be very hard to produce and to keep aligned.
2. I can't see how you could provide seals and/or weatherproof the door with these type of hinges.
Tom (& Linda)
For build info on our former Silver Beatle teardrop:
Build Thread

93503
User avatar
aggie79
Super Duper Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 5405
Images: 686
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:42 pm
Location: Watauga, Texas
Top

Re: Hinging the Doors

Postby Sparksalot » Fri Apr 20, 2018 1:45 pm

I've always looked at it as if the window was the easy access point, even with external hinges.
Holy cow, Rose is a teenager now! Done? Surely you jest. A teardrop is never "done".

The Compass Rose build thread: viewtopic.php?t=23213

Inspiration: http://tnttt.com/Design_Library/Trailer%20for%20Two.htm

It's got a cop motor, a 5.3 LS plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. ~ Elwood Blues
User avatar
Sparksalot
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 1624
Images: 682
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:36 pm
Location: Texas by God
Top

Re: Hinging the Doors

Postby NorthEGPhoto » Wed Jul 04, 2018 7:37 am

So, i've decided to KISS, and use nice strong gate hinges. I'll keep anything most people might want to abscond with inside my car, or inside the trailer when I'm there anyhow. Not sure what I'm worried about, I used to keep that stuff inside my tent sometimes before.

Still have a bit of fear about trying to mount the door latch, since it is a nice inset one designed for campers.. but I have plenty of left-over materials to burn so doing a few trials should be just fine.
"In the morning, the light is golden, in the midday 'tis time to nap, and in the evening the light returns. Into the night the stars shine brightly, now if only the moon would stay out of sight." - Some photographer
User avatar
NorthEGPhoto
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 5:09 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada
Top

Re: Hinging the Doors

Postby working on it » Wed Jul 04, 2018 8:55 am

Sparksalot wrote:I've always looked at it as if the window was the easy access point, even with external hinges.
  • That's one of the reasons I never wanted a pre-built door on my TTT...the second reason was to avoid the easily pried-open door lock/latch that they have. The third reason was that by using a separate window, high up on the side, then there would be less chance of accidental (or purposeful, by a would be thief)) breakage, due to contact while sleeping (I toss 'n turn). The last reason was that I was covertly building the trailer, unseen by the wife, on a low/no budget (two $300+ doors would've been an impossibility to buy, w/o her seeing that in the bank statement).
  • When I was first building it, it was to be used by the wife, on camping trips with her Bigfoot group, and I wanted it to be super-secure. So, 3/4" thick doors, cut-out from the side profile, were sure to be pretty strong, and nearly impossible to shatter/break-thru. I already had doorseals on hand, for a '67-'72 Chevy pickup, leftover from a re-build (bought two sets, used the best ones on the truck, and had these left). So, I made an inner stop/flange for the seals, glued/stapled them in place (after trimming a bit off, to decrease their thickness), and made a compression sealed door with them. http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=67837&hilit=+door+seal#p1195509
  • Strong doors needed strong hinges, secure hardware attaching them, and secure locking points. Gate hardware, attached with stainless carriage bolts, were my choice.
  • I use Jeep-style gate hinges, powder-coated? black, available at any big-box store, were my choice, They were very strong, durable, with nylon bushings for quiet use and low wear. I used three on each door (and on my vertically-hung hatch door), for extra resistance against ever sagging ((if you ever had an old Camaro, you'll know what that's like). The hinges were installed with the smooth carriage bolt head of some bolts, facing the exterior, so no one could easily unbolt it, and decorative acorn nuts on the other bolts. The latches chosen were also gate pieces, modified to make them latch very tightly, attached in a similar fashion. The two latches (on each door) can be padlocked shut, or open (so nobody could lock you in), while a drop-bar door latch system I fabricated, secures the door when inside.
  • hatch hinge.jpg
    hatch hinge.jpg (168.99 KiB) Viewed 1453 times
  • Re: the window placement, and attachment...the windows are high up, to make them harder to enter (or break & grab thru) from outside, small enough (15"x 18"), to make entry more difficult, and are installed using a pair of security-head bolts, in addition to the normal screws. I experimented with window placement, using a template inside and outside, until I determined the best position (where it's hard to see or reach inside, and while inside, I only needed to sit up to see out).
  • trying to find ideal window placement using template.jpg
    trying to find ideal window placement using template.jpg (100.62 KiB) Viewed 1453 times
2013 HHRv "squareback/squaredrop", rugged, 4x8 TTT, 2225 lbs
  • *3500 lb Dexter EZ-Lube braked axle, 3000 lb.springs, active-progressive bumpstop suspension
  • *27 x 8.5-14LT AT tires (x 3) *Weight Distribution system for single-beam tongue
  • *100% LED's & GFCI outlets, 3x fans, AM/FM/CD/Aux. *A/C & heat, Optima AGM, inverter & charger(s)
  • *extended-run, on-board, 2500w generator *Coleman dual-fuel stove & lantern, Ikea grill, vintage skillet
  • *zinc/stainless front & side racks *98"L x 6" diameter rod & reel carrier tube on roof
173193172890148599
User avatar
working on it
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2171
Images: 457
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:05 pm
Location: DFW Texas
Top

Re: Hinging the Doors

Postby pchast » Wed Jul 04, 2018 8:34 pm

the hinge side can be reinforced by swinging onto pins that fit into the door and the frame.
the pins would hold the door into the frame NOT the hinges.
pchast
Platinum Donating Member
 
Posts: 2023
Images: 97
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:47 pm
Location: Athens, NY
Top


Return to Teardrop Construction Tips & Techniques

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests