RV Door Gap

[jecrdt]

2004 Keystone Challenger 31 foot fifth wheel. My door has a big gap in it from just below the handle to the bottom. You can see outside through the gap.
I had a RV repair guy look at it and he just said to slam the door harder! Told him I didn't like doing that. Maybe someone on this site will be able to help me. I've enclosed a picture of the door showing the gap circled in blue. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Jan

 

[Arch Hoagland]

If you slam the door really hard like he suggested does that take care of the problem?

I have to slam the door on my coach and I've tried adjusting the latch, etc without too much success.

 

[Utclmjmpr]

RV doors are typically flimsy at best, and it could be bent.. Use a straight edge to check for that,, if it is not, and you can close it by "slamming",, then the latch needs adjusting...I have also been able to put a 2X4 in one end or the other depending on circumstances,, and pry it into the shape that works..>>>Dan

 

[jecrdt]

If you slam the door really hard like he suggested does that take care of the problem?

I have to slam the door on my coach and I've tried adjusting the latch, etc without too much success.

No it doesn't. I hate having to slam it shut.

 

[jecrdt]

RV doors are typically flimsy at best, and it could be bent.. Use a straight edge to check for that,, if it is not, and you can close it by "slamming",, then the latch needs adjusting...I have also been able to put a 2X4 in one end or the other depending on circumstances,, and pry it into the shape that works..>>>Dan

Thank you I'll try that.

 

[Joezeppy]

Looks like it might just be the screen door and not the main door? Similar to what Dan said, I had this problem with my current 5th wheel. I put a chunk of lumber between the door and frame and gently persuaded it back to straight.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

The door could be tweaked and needs to be bent back into plane. It could also be a bent hinge or wear issue. Could be a shot seal, latch wear or alignment. Comes down to critically surveying the door and frame, then resolving the root cause. After 20 years of getting knocked around it could be a combination of wear and trauma. My screen door used to rub the door frame near the top. Looking at it the door was square, just appeared to be alignment. A piece of 2x4 and some selective application of a swinging press on the top hinge and it opens and closes perfectly with a finger.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Kirk]

Looks like it might just be the screen door and not the main door?

I agree with this thought. The exterior door seals separately from the screen on most RV doors.

 

[gwinger]

The screen doors are flimsy. Just leaning on it, or using it when you enter or leave the RV will bend the door. I've caught my better half doing this instead of using the grab bar.