Posted 2013-04-04 7:35 PM (#151099) Subject: LQ door rotting?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
I noticed some little black shards of wood laying on the door frame. After some investigation I found that it came from the drain hole on the bottom of the door...it is apparently from the wood inside the door.
What can I do to keep it from getting worse, or fix it without replacing the whole door?
Posted 2013-04-04 10:29 PM (#151103 - in reply to #151099) Subject: RE: LQ door rotting?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If wood is falling out, the interior structural integrity is already damaged by rot. A fabricator should be able to split the skin, opening the door and revealing the interior framing. Replacing the framing (don't use treated lumber on or against aluminum) with some of the newer flame treated exterior lumber, will lessen the chances of future deterioration.
The skins can then be rejoined and the door reinstalled. Repairing the door should cost much less than purchasing a replacement, especially if the skins are not damaged.
Posted 2013-04-06 9:15 AM (#151113 - in reply to #151099) Subject: RE: LQ door rotting?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
OK, fabricator, smabicator! I am doing this puppy myself!
After a little online research, I decided this may be something I could tackle. And what is the worst I could do? Tear it up and have to get a new one.
So, I took the door off, removed the outer frame, window and locks. That was a piece of cake.
Want to know what ya'll's doors are made off? 1 x 1 frame around a thick sheet of styrofoam sandwiched between two sheets of aluminum! In this case, the entire bottom piece of wood was gone...it was nothing but splinters of rot. The wet had leeched up the sides, about 8 inches on the hinge side and up to the latch on the latch side. It stopped there because that is where the wood stopped.
In pulling out that piece, I found that it had a very long rod with thread and a nut on the end that went up a channel in the wood, apparently from top to bottom of the door. I assume it was for rigidity? I am leaving that in, and will paint it with some rust preventative since the damp did get to it somewhat. Then all I SHOULD have to do is cut another piece of wood for each side, slip it in and glue and screw that together then put the frame back on and hope it all still fits!
Next, I think I will tackle the dropdown windows, which are apprently doing the same thing.
Posted 2013-04-06 11:01 AM (#151117 - in reply to #151099) Subject: RE: LQ door rotting?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Not too many people would attempt such a project. I'm very pleasantly impressed by your DIY attitude.
Using polyurethane construction adhesive, will hold the new parts into place, and marry the wood to wood and metal contacts. Painting the all thread and any other metallic fasteners will ensure some longevity.
Posted 2013-04-07 8:29 AM (#151130 - in reply to #151099) Subject: RE: LQ door rotting?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
Thanks Gard!
I got all the wood cut and fitted. The door is going to go back together beautifully. Just need to get the glue and seal it. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to paint the new wood with latex paint.
A word of warning, though. I was looking at my cousin's Sundowner yesterday. The door on it is totally different. Not sure it would be considered an RV type door (it has no screen door), but the way it was put together, if anything happened to it, it would be nearly impossible to fix. It was riveted and didn't have an outside frame on the door. Even the hinges were riveted on.
Having had this happen, it gives a new perspective on how a trailer is built and how easy...or hard...it would be to fix!
Posted 2013-04-08 8:51 AM (#151169 - in reply to #151099) Subject: RE: LQ door rotting?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I got all the wood cut and fitted. The door is going to go back together beautifully. Just need to get the glue and seal it. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to paint the new wood with latex paint.
Latex paint is only a surfactant and doesn't penetrate the wood very well. If you are going to use paint, a thinned oil base will penetrate the wood better and offer an improved water resistance. There is a new classification of exterior wood that is weather treated by subjecting it to a high heat. It has no exterior chemicals or pressure treatments to make it water proof and should work quite well against the aluminum skin.
If you plan on a long term trailer ownership in extreme weather conditions, coating the wood with an epoxy product would make it waterproof for a life time. The epoxy is also an adhesive and would negate the need for an additional bonding agent.
The Sundowner and at least one other manufacturer doesn't use an exterior frame in the doors or the body of the trailer. They bend a lip into the skins of the surface and mate them with a flexible seal. There is no frame to frame contact or support.
Posted 2013-04-08 7:12 PM (#151187 - in reply to #151099) Subject: RE: LQ door rotting?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
Thanks, Gard! I think I will look into the epoxy product for the windows. They were rotted REALLY badly! I have both of them off, and the old wood pulled out. So, some of the new pressure treated wood and an epoxy sealer/glue is probably the way to make sure they will last longer this time. I plan to keep this trailer until I don't need one anymore...until I am too old!
Posted 2013-04-12 2:52 PM (#151256 - in reply to #151099) Subject: RE: LQ door rotting?
Member
Posts: 46 Location: Wis.
My husband just finished re-doing my two drop down windows on my Exiss trailer also. They were total rotten on the bottoms near the hinges. One hinge was froze so he put just a small amount of heat to it to free it up and drilled a tiny little hole into it to get some oil, then just remade the wood around the insulation and put it back together. It is so nice to be able to drop the windows in the heat while hauling. Missed them last year. He also redid my mid-tack door also. Same thing, wood splinters falling out the bottom, works great now. Ready to go for this year.
LQ door rotting?
