Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Renovations => Topic started by: Michelle on February 08, 2025, 10:59:56 am

Title: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Michelle on February 08, 2025, 10:59:56 am
Sometime in the last couple of years, we saw a photo of a hinged door assembly that someone had on their Foretravel to replace the old plastic sidewall vent (after a residential fridge installation, of course.)

It wasn't the flip-up Lippert model, it had a vertical hinge (so side-swing opening) and a lever latch.  I seem to recall it was also painted to match the coach.

I can't seem to find it any searches here or in my e-mail records (I usually e-mail cool finds to myself for future reference).

Does anyone else recall this and have a photo?
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Pamela & Mike on February 08, 2025, 11:24:16 am
Michelle,

Mike said that he remembers that same pic. so both of you might be nuts. He don't remember who's coach it was but he seems to think that the paint job was silver with black trim. I will hunt around also and see if I can find something to keep both of you out of the funny farm.

Pamela
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Pamela & Mike on February 08, 2025, 11:34:01 am
M.,

Mike just said to look through MrEdds' post.

Pamela

Here may be part of what he was talking about.
New to us 2000 U320 (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=36766.msg363505#msg363505)
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Michelle on February 08, 2025, 11:47:02 am
Pamela,

Thanks.  Mr Edd's is slightly different than the one I'm recalling, but certainly would work.

The one my mind recalls had a flush/inset horizontal lever latch, maybe brushed metal? 

Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Pamela & Mike on February 08, 2025, 12:00:07 pm
Mike just came back through and said that it could have been on a coach that a member traded it in on their new IH. I'll keep snooping around as time permits.'

Pamela
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Michelle on February 08, 2025, 12:05:29 pm
Thanks.  I want to say it was posted within the last 6 months or so, because I seem to remember seeing it not too long after we talked with Greg at Xtreme about coming up with an access door.  That would have put it in the August/September/October timeframe.

It's driving me nuts that I can't find it.
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: oldguy on February 08, 2025, 01:15:21 pm
Type in  fridge vent  in search and and the post will show up and in reply 2 the is the order form I used.
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Michelle on February 08, 2025, 02:16:05 pm
Type in  fridge vent    in search and and the post will show up and in reply 2 the is the order form
I used.

Thanks Peter, that's the Lippert door.  This was a different design.
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Pamela & Mike on February 08, 2025, 07:51:54 pm
Michelle,

Well I ran across what Mike was talking about, how he can recall color and other descriptions is beyond me. This isn't what you were looking for as it has a top hinge but worth looking at as an option.
 Mystery Project Unveiled (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=25523.msg202081#msg202081)


Pamela
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Bill B on February 08, 2025, 08:19:22 pm
Michelle, Bob Holcombe sold this coach a while back.  He had a door made like your are talking about.  Expand the photo to get a good view of the door.  He can tell you who made it. 
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Michelle on February 08, 2025, 08:39:26 pm
Michelle, Bob Holcombe sold this coach a while back.  He had a door made like your are talking about.  Expand the photo to get a good view of the door. 

Ding ding ding!  That looks like it!
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: wolfe10 on February 09, 2025, 03:33:45 pm
Michelle,

Might also check marine sites.

Here is one offering a variety of sizes: Innovative Doors | IPS Doors | Jim Black Doors (https://www.boatoutfitters.com/innovative-doors)
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Foretravel Fan 2024 on February 10, 2025, 06:24:02 am
Bob did a really nice job with the panel.  Here are some pictures.  Believe the shop that helped him with it merged with MOT.
Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: Michelle on May 12, 2025, 05:03:56 pm
Here's the solution we went with.  It's a custom aluminum marine hatch from Halk Marine in Louisiana. 

Flush Mount Aluminum Hatch - Halk Marine Fabrication & Design (https://halkmarine.com/product/flush-mount-aluminum-hatch/)

The hinge is not painted since that would just eventually flake.

Title: Re: Sidewall access door to replace fridge vent panel?
Post by: steve on May 12, 2025, 10:18:00 pm
Since I have pricing for two other door options we looked at, here ya go ...

Challenger Door, now Lippert (https://corporate.lippert.com/about/brands/challenger-door)

All-Rite Custom Doors: (https://all-rite.com/product-category/rv-compartment-doors/)

The Halk Marine one had a 2 week lead time and with shipping came to $518.  That is for a solid all aluminum door with SS locking Gemlux latch.  You could save ~$60 going with a non locking standard latch.