Posted 2008-03-23 6:39 PM (#80215) Subject: Trailer Door Hard to Open
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Alabama
The escape door of my trailer is impossible to open from the outside and very hard to open from the inside. The problem is that when the door is shut, the weather stripping on the door "sticks" to the metal of the trailer....and I mean it REALLY sticks! Me nor my husband are strong enough to open the door from the outside when it's been closed for several days. What I have to do in that case is unlatch it from the outside then go on the inside and kick it as hard as I can and it will pop open. Is there anything I can do to make the weather stripping not stick to the metal?
Posted 2008-03-23 7:11 PM (#80217 - in reply to #80215) Subject: RE: Trailer Door Hard to Open
Expert
Posts: 2614
You might try coatings of Armor All on the weatherstripping and the door.Are you sure it's the weatherstripping? Looks to me like if it sticks that hard,it would tear the weatherstripping loose.
Posted 2008-03-23 7:53 PM (#80223 - in reply to #80215) Subject: RE: Trailer Door Hard to Open
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Alabama
Well, if it's not the weather stripping that is sticking, what else could it be? It does make sense that if it was the weather stripping that was sticking that it should have torn loose but it hasn't. One thing about this door is that the latch is very tight, meaning you have to push the latch strongly to make it close. Does that tell anyone anything?
I'm sure my husband has some silicone type spray around here somewhere. I'll try some of that.
Posted 2008-03-23 9:03 PM (#80230 - in reply to #80215) Subject: RE: Trailer Door Hard to Open
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Before you spray stuff all over your trailer, you might try dusting the weather stripping with talcum powder. Any cheap talc based baby powder will do. Hold the WD-40 and such for the latch mechanism.
The talcum powder trick works for car weatherstriping too.
Posted 2008-03-23 9:06 PM (#80231 - in reply to #80215) Subject: RE: Trailer Door Hard to Open
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Another random thought ... Perhaps the door is settling down into the door jam frame. Then it's hard to open. Try pushing from the inside at the top of the door, to see if the lower portion is holding the door. If not ... Try other positions on the door to see if there's a difference.
Posted 2008-03-23 9:31 PM (#80235 - in reply to #80215) Subject: RE: Trailer Door Hard to Open
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If the door is not sticking because of the weather stripping and it's an interference issue, you should be able to inspect the door edges and frame for scuffing markage. It will locate the area where there is an interference issue. If you cannot find the spot, apply tooth paste to one side, either the frame or door in the area where you suspect the binding. Close the door. Where the tooth paste is transferred to the other surface, will be the point of interference. The door can then be repaired as necessary.
I would also inspect the latch itself. Sometimes when it wears, the actuating levers wear unevenly. This may allow the mechanism to work properly from one side and not the other. When the door is open, check the operation of the sliding plunger for a full travel when unlatching from both sides. Spraying some of the lubricating oil into the latch and plunger may also help its operation.
Posted 2008-03-25 1:11 AM (#80319 - in reply to #80215) Subject: RE: Trailer Door Hard to Open
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by Rose66 on 2008-03-23 7:39 PM
The escape door of my trailer is impossible to open from the outside and very hard to open from the inside. The problem is that when the door is shut, the weather stripping on the door "sticks" to the metal of the trailer....and I mean it REALLY sticks! Me nor my husband are strong enough to open the door from the outside when it's been closed for several days. What I have to do in that case is unlatch it from the outside then go on the inside and kick it as hard as I can and it will pop open. Is there anything I can do to make the weather stripping not stick to the metal?
Has it been this way since you purchased the trailer?
Or is this something new?...
If it has been this way since you purchased the trailer take it to the dealer...
If this is something new...then has something happened to cause the door to go out of alignment?
Trailer Door Hard to Open
