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kimberlysmoore's avatar
kimberlysmoore
Explorer
Dec 11, 2017

RV rear door not closing without extreme assistance.

Help..should we be worried?
Due to catastrophe, we are in a 40' Bounder RV 1990.
It's the replacement for our previous fulltime pace arrow RV that was totaled by a drunk driver. We've been in the Bounder for a month.
There is no other option, THIS is our home.
The rear door is getting harder and harder to close. Today, my son had to "lift up" on the rear corner (bumper) of the RV to close the door.
We are truly worried about the frame even though it shows no real external signs of sag problems.
Is this a common problem for large 40'ers? Should we add jacks back there? There are jacks between the rear axles but not on the "ass".
How have others fixed this issue?
We have to remove the king bed and the current pedestal in there to add a bunk for 2 twins, totaling 3 twin beds. This was our plan. Getting worried about weight issues.
Class A

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  • mfox20's avatar
    mfox20
    Explorer
    Dec 11, 2017
    Door/hinges could just be sagging due to age. Look and see if the latch mechanism in the door is still aligned with the latch post on the door frame. May just need to loosen and move the latch post down to re-align. Doesn't raise the door back up but will make it easy to catch and latch.
  • Mr_Mark1's avatar
    Mr_Mark1
    Explorer
    Dec 11, 2017
    Tim, thanks for posting the above picture. I have never seen a double door like that on a class A.

    I wasn't sure if the Original Poster was talking about a bay door or walk-through door.

    Safe travels,
    MM.
  • tderonne's avatar
    tderonne
    Explorer
    Dec 11, 2017
    Like this?



    You are talking about the rear door into the bedroom area?

    Might I suggest simply not using it until you can properly diagnose and fix the issue? Yeah, ignoring the issue won't make it go away, but you won't be stuck with a door that won't close.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Dec 11, 2017
    get a chalk line string from to back, pull it tight
    check alignment, if the RV frame is square, then its the door that is sagging

    a twisted chassis should also twist the window frame nearby

    worn out door hinge and dragging door seem more likely to me, BUT? anything is possible

    which corner did you jack up ? next to the door, or the other side of the RV ?
    binding at the top or the bottom ?

    do you need to use both doors, or is it just convenient to let the kids come and go thu the rear door

    i know some RVs were built that way to allow easier bathroom access, or emg escape
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer III
    Dec 11, 2017
    It might be a jack leaking down that's distorting the frame enough to throw the door alignment off. Have you tried releveling?

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