Friction hinge fix

[ScottG]

For those that hate the "friction hinges" (more like binding hinges..) as much as I do, there is a fix.
I contacted Lippert and they gave me the P/N for the standard (non-binding) replacement hinge. It's LCI P/N 198295 retail $9.95 - Got them from RVupgrades.com. You need two of them; for top and bottom. Middle hinge is normal and can remain.

Naturally they aren't exactly right:

New left, old on right


The new hinges are not drilled on the door-frame side. Rather than try to line up the new hinges with old holes, I simply drilled new ones in different places. The pic above was taken after I drilled the holes.

To remove the old hinges you have to grind the heads off the solid rivets and drive them inward with a punch. Then you can remove the single screw in each hinge "tab" and the screws at the edge of the door and the screen door. After that the hinge will fall off.


I did one hinge at a time so the other two hold everything in place. Because the hinges were slightly different in their mounting locations, I ended up with a few holes to fill. I just used some screws I painted white to hide the evidence.
I used stainless steel pop rivets to replace the solid rivets.

Here's the original hinge:


And the new improved hinge:


While I was at it I adjust the screen door so it didn't grind at the top. The main door also touched slightly but with the new hinges, they don't touch at all.
After adjusting the strikers and latches, the door works better than ever.
It took about 90 minutes and was well worth the effort to me. I probably could have modified the old hinges but why bother when the new parts are this cheap.
Hope this helps anyone interested in fixing their own binding hinges.

Cheers,
Scott

[4x4van]

My daughter/SIL's new Forest River trailer has the "friction" hinges. They like them so far (although they've only been camping twice), but I hate them. Realistically, they are nothing more than a way for the manufacturer to save 50 cents per trailer by not installing a door catch.

[frankwp]

I didn't even know friction hinges were a thing. Good idea maybe, but bad execution. To make such a thing that worked well would be quite expensive, I'm sure.

[Fisherman]

papachaz57 wrote:
So I know this is an older thread, but a question here before I start a new thread about these awful hinges. Turns out the friction is caused by them putting “dimples” in the hinges to put pressure on the pins.

Would lightly drilling the dimples out do away with the friction? These are horrible, I would much rather install a door hold than have to fight to open and close the doors

You just might have the easy fix there.

[papachaz57]

So I know this is an older thread, but a question here before I start a new thread about these awful hinges. Turns out the friction is caused by them putting “dimples” in the hinges to put pressure on the pins.

Would lightly drilling the dimples out do awsy with the friction? These are horrible, I would much rather install a door hold than have to fight to open and close the doors

[hedge]

I guess I must be the only one that likes my friction hinge, the one on my truck camper has worked flawlessly for years.

[cpaulsen]

Thanx....will keep these in mind.....have not had a problem with friction hinges yet...

[MrWizard]

Thanks for this post
These are going on my shopping list
And my "do" list

I've already done a "make do" repair on the screen door part of the top most hinge

[Rockinfigs]

These friction hinges suck.. I hate em hard to close my door n the hinges already bent from the hinges being so tight making my door not lined up w the frame.

[rjsurfer]

Thanks so much for the info on those tough to use new entrance doors.

As soon as we are back from our trip down south, it will be on our shopping list.


Ron W.

[wa8yxm]

I have one broken hinge on my Screen.. Thanks.

[drsteve]

I have encountered these at RV shows, and suspected they would be less than useful in the real world.