Hi all.I went to check on my travel trailer today. It is stored at an outdoor facility. I live in southern BC Canada which has had some cooler weather, a few days of snow and minus temps. But overall it's been a mild winter. I have the trailer covered with an Adco cover and used Dry z air to help with moisture.I left the cupboard doors open as I've read it helps with airflow. Anyways I tried to close on of the cupboard doors and it wouldn't shut. I checked it over and noticed the corner had separated. it happened on quite a few of them. I took photos and they are below.Any idea what caused this? How to keep this from happening and how to fix them???This is my second trailer and I've had a camper as well before. I've never had this happen.

I would ask KZ and send them the pictures. My TT is stored in the north as cold as -40F and never had that issue.

Wood contracted from cold...glue didn't hold.You may be able to reglue and clamp them back in place.....may be.Cold weather is tough on 'wood', trim pieces, linoleum flooring and ceiling coverings.

That is the result of the doors absorbing moisture. They should return to their original shape as they dry out, but you will need to re-glue and clamp them. A good carpenter's glue like Lepages' or Elmers'. Clamping is a must. Looks to me like whatever door supplier was used used poor quality glue and didn't use either pins or dowels in the corners.

Had a similar problem on a trailer once. The easy solution is either buy some corner clamps , i used ratchet straps and so e gorilla glue. Open the joint as far as possible, squeeze in some glue and using the ratchet strap secure the door. Making sure that you verify the door is square. Let it sit for 24 hours, remove the strap and reinstall the doors. It is an easy job and if you are very careful no one will ever know nor be able to pull the joints apart again.

Darn it. I thought it might have been contraction or moisture. Strange as it has been in Canada it's entire life.Guess I'll take the doors off and try to reglue/clamp.Thanks for the replies, great to get opinions that back up what I was thinking. I was also hoping that I could clamp and glue so it was great to hear I may be able to fix them.

Cupboard doors separating | Good Sam Community

colliehauler
Explorer III
Jan 19, 2014
I would ask KZ and send them the pictures. My TT is stored in the north as cold as -40F and never had that issue.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jan 19, 2014
Wood contracted from cold...glue didn't hold.
You may be able to reglue and clamp them back in place.....may be.

Cold weather is tough on 'wood', trim pieces, linoleum flooring and ceiling coverings.
bguy
Explorer
Jan 19, 2014
That is the result of the doors absorbing moisture. They should return to their original shape as they dry out, but you will need to re-glue and clamp them. A good carpenter's glue like Lepages' or Elmers'. Clamping is a must. Looks to me like whatever door supplier was used used poor quality glue and didn't use either pins or dowels in the corners.
donn0128
Explorer II
Jan 19, 2014
Had a similar problem on a trailer once. The easy solution is either buy some corner clamps , i used ratchet straps and so e gorilla glue. Open the joint as far as possible, squeeze in some glue and using the ratchet strap secure the door. Making sure that you verify the door is square. Let it sit for 24 hours, remove the strap and reinstall the doors. It is an easy job and if you are very careful no one will ever know nor be able to pull the joints apart again.
Goomba_BC
Explorer
Jan 19, 2014
Darn it. I thought it might have been contraction or moisture. Strange as it has been in Canada it's entire life.
Guess I'll take the doors off and try to reglue/clamp.
Thanks for the replies, great to get opinions that back up what I was thinking. I was also hoping that I could clamp and glue so it was great to hear I may be able to fix them.
bguy
Explorer
Jan 19, 2014
The real problem as I have re-thought it is that the center panel being a bigger piece will absorb more moisture and therefore expand at a greater rate. If the door manufacture had taken that into account there could have been more clearance left for the center panel. If the center panel had been plywood instead of solid you may have escaped the issue.
A mild winter usually means more humidity in the air. I wonder if your cover may be promoting higher humidity within the TT? Do you have any vents or anything left open? May have been better off with them shut.
path1
Explorer
Jan 19, 2014
South of you in Seattle... Basically cabinets were made of very dry wood and as they pick up moisture wood has to expand somewhere. Had same problem on older Majestic(X-rental)
TurnThePage
Explorer
Jan 19, 2014
When I got out of the Navy and moved from California back to the Spokane, Wa area, all my furniture ended up in a storage facility for a few winter months. My beautiful oak entertainment center looked just like your cabinet doors. Once it was in a nice warm/dry house for a week or so all the warps and separations disappeared. Talk about a relief!
Goomba_BC
Explorer
Jan 19, 2014
Good thoughts guys. I will take the doors off and take a closer look at them.
I'll close the vents to. I might have a local cabinet maker look at the doors.
I will also have a look for the hardware.
Haha. Maybe I will have to take the doors off every winter!
westend
Explorer
Jan 19, 2014
The center panel should have enough clearance to slide within the rails and stiles. I would glue the rails and stiles back together with Titebond III. an aliphatic glue that has the greatest bond strength and is weather proof, once set.

You will need some clamps to clamp the work while the glue sets. Don't glue the center panel into the dados of the rails or stiles, it needs to float. After you're done gluing, hit the doors with a coat or two of paste wax.