ALANSUE Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 During the recent hot windy weather the side access door of my motor home slammed on my fingers. I have replaced the ball and socket type door stay but it really is pathetic, it has very little resistance againt a strongish breeze. I used a bit of old wire to keep it open. is there a better system available which perhaps locks into place when the door is open rather than just the push (and hope) fit I have at present? Thanks Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 These latching metal ones are used on upmarket vans like Concorde, or you could do what the rest of us do, use a bungee cord between door and wheel arch or mirror. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJB Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 As suggested bungee cords cost little and work perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 There is a wide variety of caravan/motorhome door holders, ranging from the plastic ‘friction’ type to the positive sort mentioned by lennyhb and the one shown on the following link that was used a lot historically. https://www.caravanstuff4u.co.uk/caravan-safety-security/356-external-quick-release-door-retainer.html The tendency for the door to slam in the wind can also be addressed by using a strut (example here) http://www.sgs-engineering.com/nl5973-caravan-gas-strut?gclid=CMOttPiXhM4CFdQ_GwodcVYLTA which should at least reduce the violence of the ’swing’. As the origial door won’t have been designed for it, retrofitting a different type of door-holder (or strut system) may prove to be a real challenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 EJB - 2016-07-21 9:39 AM As suggested bungee cords cost little and work perfectly. So long as you're careful how you release them, as my old man manged to leave a nice little dent in his brand new Rapido ;-) ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 I suppose you could always put a couple of polystyrene door wedges on the edge of the door so it can't slam. You can either make them or obtain some from Amazon ( but those are made to fit internal doors at home so might be a bit loose on a motorhome door ) ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Cord of a suitable size. Simple, effective, never fails, no cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Will86 - 2016-07-21 11:39 AM Cord of a suitable size. Simple, effective, never fails, no cost. In windy conditions I just use an 8mm dia rope (same principle as Will86). The rope has a permanent loop in one end. Just loop it through the internal door handle and round the wingmirror and tie with a slip knot. Never fails, simple and costs peanuts. Assuming, of course, the hab door and wingmirror are fairly close to one another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoko8pups Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 There is a German made thing which looks like a teardrop you can get in DIY shops. I'll try and post a picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 pelmetman - 2016-07-21 10:51 AM EJB - 2016-07-21 9:39 AM As suggested bungee cords cost little and work perfectly. So long as you're careful how you release them, as my old man manged to leave a nice little dent in his brand new Rapido ;-) ....... I have one with plastic hooks on the end so it won't damage the van. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 yoko8pups - 2016-07-21 12:29 PM There is a German made thing which looks like a teardrop you can get in DIY shops. I'll try and post a picture. And how do you use it to keep the hab door open please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Derek Uzzell - 2016-07-21 10:04 AM https://www.caravanstuff4u.co.uk/caravan-safety-security/356-external-quick-release-door-retainer.html . We fitted one of these ! it works very well, needs quiet a pull to close the door, we tried the ball and socket replacement at the top of door, but the one above much better PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 yoko8pups - 2016-07-21 12:29 PM There is a German made thing which looks like a teardrop you can get in DIY shops. I'll try and post a picture. These are for wedging UNDER doors! Would not be of any use on a hab door, which opens otwards! PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Although the bungee cord ploy is cheap and effective, I find it hard to believe that people using this method attach the cord every time the door is opened. Murphy’s Law dictates that anything that can go wrong will eventually go wrong and Sod’s Law that, when the going-wrong happens, the outcome will be dire (eg. the door won’t just slam, it will slam on your fingers). Alan asked originally whether there was anything that positively locked the entrance door open. I would also suggest that the retention system should operate automatically and be easily released. A bungee cord fails to meet those criteria, but there are lever-release caravan-door retainers that appear to. This is an example http://tinyurl.com/gn99k8u I can’t say it’s pretty, but it looks like it might replace a ball-and-socket retainer OK and it ought to hold a door firmly and be straightforward to release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALANSUE Posted July 22, 2016 Author Share Posted July 22, 2016 Thanks to all, very helpful. ..and thanks to the previous post, Derek, that looks just what I am looking for. I still think itsamazing that apart from buying our house, the second largest purchase we have ever made costing £56,000 still needs a bungee cord to keep the door open. Thanks to all once again Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 ALAN&SUE - 2016-07-22 8:57 AM I still think itsamazing that apart from buying our house, the second largest purchase we have ever made costing £56,000 still needs a bungee cord to keep the door open. That's what happens when you buy a cheap Motorhome if you had spent a bit more like £200,000 on a nice Concorde you would have had a nice stainless steel retainer like the one I linked to. :D :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoko8pups Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 PJay - 2016-07-21 11:20 PM yoko8pups - 2016-07-21 12:29 PM There is a German made thing which looks like a teardrop you can get in DIY shops. I'll try and post a picture. These are for wedging UNDER doors! Would not be of any use on a hab door, which opens otwards! PJay They work very well in the side of the door in my house to stop it slamming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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