Update: On my RV Building Plans....

myrvplans1 wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:
Darla, I really believe more thought is required of the door situation. Unless there are three locking points on the knob side, you are pretty much guaranteed to have periodic leaks. House doors open inward for security (hinges inside, harder to pry open), ability to easily add screen/storm door, and are not usually trying to resist 60 mph winds. I also looked at reversing the door on my build, but rejected it because of the leak issue. There are ways of mitigating the wind blowing the door upon opening.

[COLOR=]Hey Grandpa, I am putting more thought into the door situation, but I don't yet have enough facts to abandon the idea just yet. Taking the pros-cons of which way a door swings out of the equation for just a moment are rain/leaks really a factor in a door that swings inward? Is there any way to seal such a door from leaks? Are leaks more likely to be an issue in transit or while parked?

In transit is what I would be concerned with, though I have replaced lots of residential doors that had allowed water inside.

I'm just not understanding why leaks would occur in a door that is designed to seal properly. I get really heavy rain on my home front entry door all the time and that thing
never leaks. Even when I turn on my lawn sprinklers near my door...never a drop. If this is really an issue then why do you think inward doors are the dominant choice for all these tiny RV homes that are popping up all over the place?

I have looked at the tiny house trailers and every one I saw is nowhere near what I would consider roadworthy for any length of time like most RVs are used. The makers of tiny houses do not have to adhere to any type of code so they can build them any old whichaway. Ask yourself if you would haul your house down the road at 65 mph. I wouldn't and I built mine way above code.


1) Is this an engineering issue?

Yep. The only way to get around it would be to have 3 locking points on the lock side of the door. Worst scenario with standard arrangement--twist, bang, bump the trailer hard enough to disengage the door going down the interstate in the rain. You won't know its open til you stop. The wind will keep the door mostly closed on an outward door.

2) Please share your thoughts on mitigating the wind.

At first, I used one of the tension spring chains from the rear cargo doors along with a rubber bumper. I took the chain off when I added a screen door and realized I never really had an issue with wind. I have had the door flung open by the wind on our present camper, but it just hit the bumper, no harm done, just noisy.

Thanks! Good post. -Darla