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In a pickle

Door popped open while driving down Main Street in Hinton Oklahoma. Got out looked at the door shut it's now stuck closed Can't get it open. Any suggestions I can get in the coach had a lumber yard deliver a step ladder. Problem will be getting back out again. Not that much damage it's just a little skewed in the frame
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: In a pickle

Reply #1 –
Any beer in the fridge? In all fairness, we all have "door stories."  I learned years ago to treat those doors like a young child, gently. ^.^d  Let us know how you did, luck.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: In a pickle

Reply #2 –
I was going to suggest driving the same route, but in reverse.......
In restless dreams I walked alone.
Narrow streets of cobblestone.


'93 U225
Build 4337
'14 CRV Toad

Re: In a pickle

Reply #3 –
Call the local lumber yard had them deliver a step ladder and the Wonder Bar, Pride on it for 2 hours. Hinge is a little sprung. After straightening the flanges some . I was able to force the door open from the inside
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: In a pickle

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Travelin' Man –
The deadbolt will keep that from happening Phred.

Mine is always locked when moving.. Hate for the wife to fall out while under way.. She wouldnt be happy and Id never hear the end of that.. I still hear about my grandma falling out of the car while turning and my grandpa was yelling at her to pull her dress down (not are you ok).

Re: In a pickle

Reply #6 –
Stay away from Hinton.  There's a casino there....and a prison....kind of the same thing for a lot of people.

You're about an hour from us if we can help.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

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Re: In a pickle

Reply #7 –
This happened to me. It's a long story but my door has (had) two dead bolts. The main lock is keyed on the outside and has a handle inside. This appears to be aftermarket.

Foretravel installed a secondary deadbolt that is blind outside and slides to lock and unlock....no key.

The FT deadbolt deployed while the coach was in storage. Everything was locked up. We managed to open the dining room window from outside. I got in but had to repair the screen and replace some of the rubber channel gasket on the bottom of the frame.

We removed the factory sliding deadbolt to avoid the issue in the future. It wasn't needed anyway.

1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: In a pickle

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Jeff & Sandy –
We removed the factory sliding deadbolt to avoid the issue in the future. It wasn't needed anyway.

Our's is still there, but I never found a key. I think a PO tossed it out the window.  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: In a pickle

Reply #9 –
100% of the time our door when in closed position is latched with dead bolt.
We never use our slide lever under the inside door handle, in fact it is secured in unlocked position.
Never trust the regular RV latch as it is not safe & not secure.

Re: In a pickle

Reply #10 –
I do not use the RV slide lock as it is a safety hazard when trying to escape the coach, especially if woken up and your trying to get out in case of fire or whatever. That is more the case when you have the screen door in front of it too. It is not the best system and I just use the standard deadbolt as it is more than adequate. The wife accidentally locked it one day and then she could not let herself out without me unlocking from the outside. Very poorly designed, JMO.
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: In a pickle

Reply #11 –
Removed vertical jamb thingy with six Phillips head screws. Don't now the purpose of the thingy, but I can now open and close door. No luck removing sprung hinge to straighten, even with manual impact driver and a four lb sledge.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: In a pickle

Reply #12 –
I too only use the Schlage dead bolt to lock the entry door on the PTL door
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: In a pickle

Reply #13 –
I also use just the deadbolt for locking the passage door because the lock in the latch mechanism was malfunctioning and many folks posted getting locked in or out with the latch lock. I removed all the internal mechanisms and blanked off the inside slide latch.
I lock the deadbolt lock when driving. One time when driving with a strong side wind the door move slightly when the second latch released from the wind pressure on the door. Note the passage door has a double latch mechanism similar to a car.
Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: In a pickle

Reply #14 –
Some years ago we had another brand that the door came open from what I assume was air pressure from the side and front while we were driving down a rural road. It swung open wide and banged hard against a mailbox. totally destroyed the mailbox and broke some of the wood reinforcements inside the door. Mailbox owners offered to pay for our damage as they had told their contractor that it was too close to the road. We split the cost and I did the repair on the coach door. Probably ten miles either direction with no mailbox, just one where we happened to have the door unlatch. Go figure.
Larry
1996 U295 36'
Build # 4805
Actually we sold it but just like to lurk

Re: In a pickle

Reply #15 –
Deadbolt is on the checklist before we take off. The door can't come open in case someone falls against it and when in a town, no one can open the door from the outside either.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: In a pickle

Reply #16 –
Vertical jamb thingy will go back on with a little grinding massage. It has occurred to me that this piece was installed as a tension member to Bridge the gap where all of these structural integrity of the door is compromised do to lock mechanizums. Without it it may fold like a cheap suit.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake