Cabinet Door Fix

[Samanthahhi]

Seriously, I don't know what to call this and thus I am at a loss to describe it easily. But you'll understand my issue quickly enough.

I have 3 storage areas in my camper, above a window, in which the doors life up. Not, left, not right, but up. Yet, the manufacturer (and apparently after an exhaustive research of all new, even high-end manufacturers) didn't bother to sleuth through the need to keep the cabinet door up and open while in use. Therefore, you have to hold it with one hand while taking out whatever it is you need with the other.

Now, I have no doubt this hasn't pissed off many other rv owners and there must be any number of solutions. Yet, I have to come across one yet.

Ideally, I don't want to screw a hook into the ceiling to latch the door open. There must be some kind of hinge configuration that will hold it open.

And.....go! 😉

Samantha

[Samanthahhi]

I bought the ones from Camping World. It seems a little weird how the part that fits to the door swivels to close the door..at least I am assuming that's what it does, and yet is able to stay straight when yo life the door hatch up. I guess I just need to install it to get it.

[Samanthahhi]

oops!!! 6" high doors...soooooo sorry.

The Hatchlift.com ones are a little too much, but the ones some of you have posted from Camping World would be fine. I couldn't find them because I couldn't think what to call them...lol...sometimes, words just fail me...and I am only 50..ooowee!

Thank you all!

[Old-Biscuit]

If it was me I would go to Home Depot/Lowes and get some spring loaded hinges.

They have ones that hold doors closed and ones that will hold doors OPEN

[DrewE]

I'm having trouble picturing 6 foot tall cabinet doors above a window on a travel trailer. :h Is this an interior or exterior cabinet? How tall is the RV? Do you mean 6 inch tall doors?

Gas shock springs come in all different sizes and strengths. You should be able to find one that is workable without too much effort; maybe adapting one from a junkyard hatchback or SUV or minivan would be workable if this is indeed a six foot door.

The vertically opening cabinets on my Coachmen motorhome have little spring cylinders to keep them open. The cabinet doors are 14" tall, and the springs roughly 6" long extended. These look rather similar, with apparently better designed mounting brackets. This is not a particularly exotic piece of cabinet hardware; several variations are available.

[othertonka]

Samanthahhi wrote:
These are like 6' tall doors. If you have any links to hardware, it would be appreciated.

Are you sure that it is a 6' (six foot door)? How does a 6 foot door have room to lift UP??? A picture would be nice. I recommend the lifts at camping world for a door that lifts up. Let us know if they are 6 foot.

[Old_Crows]

Oh what an oversight!!! Samantha, many mfgr's use a spring loaded "stay opens" that attach to the cabinet frame and to the vertical edge of the door. It's a tube shaped gizmo with a spring loaded piston inside that helps lift the door and hold it open when it's extended. Home Depot and Lowes may have them in the cabinet and kitchen door furnishings. Alternatively, they will certainly be at a good RV supply store. Depending on the size of the door it may take one on each side.

Simple one hand operation... Open door and it stays open. Inexpensive....


There are also some "positive closers" that will keep door closed. They are spring and roller devices that attach to the upper horizontal edge of the door and cabinet frame.

Use care when installing so you don't drill through the door! When installing them.

[TakingThe5th]

Hatchlift.com had kits that I installed on my basement doors.

[Artum_Snowbird]

On the other hand, there is also sliding pieces of flat metal with a notch in them. When the door is fully open, they latch in place. The trouble with them is it takes one hand to lift the door, the other to unlatch.

As others have said, the spring lifts are the best and work well.

[Samanthahhi]

These are like 6' tall doors. If you have any links to hardware, it would be appreciated.

[downtheroad]

small gas cabinet shock....like the ones that hold up the back window on a pick-up truck bed shell.

[neschultz]

Would this or this cabinet door support or something similar do the trick?

Norman

[TakingThe5th]

Sounds like you need some gas springs on those doors. Hatchlift.com might have what you need.

[downtheroad]

small gas cabinet shock....like the ones that hold up the back window on a pick-up truck bed shell.