New external hatch Options

[Roddy D]

I added a new external hatch to access little used space under the back table booth seat. Peterh's article and help was greatly appreciated. First I cut the opening for the hatch and epoxied supports around the opening.
 clamps.jpg ( 62.02K ) Number of downloads: 239

I then ran a bead of marine grade silicone around the outside of the opening and attached the hatch using #10 1" stainless steal screws.
 hatch_installed.jpg ( 60.25K ) Number of downloads: 189

The final product installed and ready to use.
 hatch_closed.jpg ( 37.17K ) Number of downloads: 178

I don't have any of the fancy magnets Peterh used to keep his hatch open so I have a temp solution. I used a bar clamp attached to the belly band, shown in the last photo. Thanks for your help peterh....
 hatch_opener.jpg ( 50.54K ) Number of downloads: 155

[Roy in TO]

epoxied supports around the opening.

Great idea Roddy, I'll be adding hatches to mine in the future and had never considered using supports. Thanks!

[james kent]

Roy.
If you hang the hatch with the hinge at the bottom, instead of on top, then it will hang down when opened and you don't have to hold it up while reaching inside.
I have put one into both rear storage benches.

[Roddy D]

I thought of putting the hinge on the bottom, but knowing myself, if I did not secure the hatch door properly there might not be a door left on the hatch.

[Herb Sutton]

The other consideration with a bottom hinged door is that if it touches the ground, it will get crunched if someone steps into the trailer while it is open and causes the trailer to drop down.

[Ellen Smith]

Our outside access hatch is also also hinged at the bottom. It is right in line with the stabilizer jacks and so has to be locked when I'm putting down the jacks. Hinging at the top with a clip would be so much handier.

[james kent]

I buzzed out and took a couple of quick pics of one of the the hatches on our Boler. Here's the hatch on the road side. I had to relocate the marker light further back and also drilled a few more holes in the outer bracket for the stainless fasteners.

 New_Hatch_Closed.jpg ( 26.53K ) Number of downloads: 92
 New_Hatch_Open.jpg ( 39.43K ) Number of downloads: 96

[Roy in TO]

They are all good ideas, keep them coming so I will know exactly what I want to do before I do it.

I prefer my fore sight to have perfect vision and not wanting to be be affected by my hind sight. The latter lasts longer.

[Jim Bennett]

Where is a good place to buy an insulated hatch door? Anyone have any links?

[Roddy D]

I have looked around for insulated hatches with no luck. You might be able to glue some type of insulation onto an uninsulated door!

Good luck.

[Lisa H.]

Where is a good place to buy an insulated hatch door? Anyone have any links?

Check out PeterH's mod last August where he added a hatch. Always with an eye for detail, Peter provides a great tutorial and shows how he insulated his hatch. He also added magnets to both the interior wall of the trailer and the inside of the hatch so that the door would stay open without any unsightly catches. Take a peek... you'll be glad you did!

This post has been edited by Lisa H.: Jun 28 2009, 05:35 PM

[peterh]

Check out PeterH's mod last August where he added a hatch. Always with an eye for detail, Peter provides a great tutorial and shows how he insulated his hatch. He also added magnets to both the interior wall of the trailer and the inside of the hatch so that the door would stay open without any unsightly catches. Take a peek... you'll be glad you did!

The Adding a Hatch topic I did last year is here . . . And thanks for the compliment, too.

[AZCharlie]

The kind of insulated hatch shown is post #7 is available from the Casita factory. It costs about $75.00 including shipping.