Forum Discussion

rjniles's avatar
rjniles
Explorer
May 21, 2018

Screen door latch mod

The screen door latch on my RV has always irritated me, Having to slide the plastic panel open to open the door from the inside or likewise to unhook the screen door from the entry door. Here is the change I made.
Drilled a hole in the end of the plastic latch handle and used a piece (18") of #12 solid copper wire thru the hole in the handle.


Drilled a hole in the plastic sliding panel directly below the hole in the handle and routed the wire thru the hole.
On the inside of the door, I left about 3" of wire and screwed on a red wire nut.

Pull the red wire nut down to release the latch.

You could use a wire coat hanger but the copper wire is easier to bend. I also screwed the plastic panel shut.
Cheap and easy. I had the wire and wire nut in my junk box.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    May 21, 2018
    The screen door is my last line of security! lol Seriously, good idea.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    May 21, 2018
    Homeless by Choice wrote:
    How do you open/close the outside door from inside?

    LeRoy


    I was greatly impressed with this project, thinking to myself, this is a great idea!

    Then I read your post, and now I'm really going, "WOW!!!! You are so correct! How do you open close the outside door?"
  • rjniles's avatar
    rjniles
    Explorer
    May 21, 2018
    Oops, my wife asked me the same question. how do you open the entry door from inside if the panel is screwed closed. Double Oops.

    Here is the solution, I got lucky on this one. I removed the screw holding the panel closed and the panel will open enough to let you access the entry door latch. Make sure you leave about 3" of wire to screw the wire nut onto.
  • rk911's avatar
    rk911
    Explorer
    May 21, 2018
    rjniles wrote:
    Oops, my wife asked me the same question. how do you open the entry door from inside if the panel is screwed closed. Double Oops.

    Here is the solution, I got lucky on this one. I removed the screw holding the panel closed and the panel will open enough to let you access the entry door latch. Make sure you leave about 3" of wire to screw the wire nut onto.

    seems like a lot of trouble to avoid sliding a piece of plastic.
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    May 21, 2018
    rk911 wrote:
    rjniles wrote:
    Oops, my wife asked me the same question. how do you open the entry door from inside if the panel is screwed closed. Double Oops.

    Here is the solution, I got lucky on this one. I removed the screw holding the panel closed and the panel will open enough to let you access the entry door latch. Make sure you leave about 3" of wire to screw the wire nut onto.

    seems like a lot of trouble to avoid sliding a piece of plastic.
    Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    May 21, 2018
    No good with dogs. You have to cover the bottom screen inside with plexiglass and put a sliding bolt on the screen door inside so the dogs inside can't pop it open. To get in, you have to slide the plastic piece over and reach in to pull the bolt back so the screen door will open.

    If you forget and leave the bolt across and close the main door, now you can't get in unless you tug real hard and break the connection to the screen door. It still works after that, but it's better to not forget.

    That was with the 5er. This older MH has magnets that hold the screen door to the main door. Way better. Otherwise, same drill. Doesn't matter if you leave the screen door bolted with the magnets.
  • Tin_Pusher's avatar
    Tin_Pusher
    Explorer II
    May 21, 2018
    I have found the little sliding panel to be sooooo much trouble, I just stay home.

    Not :)

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,188 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 17, 2025