How to Repair RV Doors

The RV door is one of the most important parts of your camper, but something you seldom notice. The dozens of times you open and shut the door on a regular trip compound over time, causing wear and tear. The only way to repair RV doors and fix any problem is by determining the root of the problem.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

New latch
Formica
Hardware glue
Epoxy
Sandpaper

Step 1

Look at all door parts, including the latch, locking mechanism, hinges and bottom, to determine the problem. Some solutions are as easy as replacing one of the smaller parts, but you might have a more serious problem such as rotting wood inside the door.

Step 2

Replace the latch in the door with a new one from a camping supply store. This is one of the easiest ways to repair RV doors and helps if the door isn't shutting or locking as easily as it once did. As the camper ages, the spring mechanism inside the lock may become loose or broken.

Step 3

Repair the front of the door with a piece of Formica and strong hardware glue. Measure the size you need, cut the piece and apply a layer of hardware glue to your RV door before attaching the Formica. This covers up any dings, dents or cracks in your door and is cheaper than replacing the door completely.

Step 4

Check for signs of wood rot, especially on the bottom of the door and the walls surrounding the door. Wood rot is one of the more serious problems you might encounter. Fixing the wood rot involves cutting out the rotten wood, pouring epoxy into the hole left behind and sanding down the epoxy once it dries.

Step 5

Buy a new door if you can't determine the cause of the problem. A new door costs less than $1,000, but used doors are less than half that. Replacing the door completely saves you the trouble of replacing other parts before you find the problem.

Tips & Warnings

Contact your local RV dealership if you prefer having someone else do the work. Many dealerships have a repair center where workers look over the RV door and offer you an estimate.

Camping supply stores sell a variety of components and parts for RVs that let owners do simple repairs themselves. You'll find products such as hinges and locking mechanisms that may help solve your problems.

Article Written By Jennifer Eblin

Jennifer Eblin has been a full-time freelance writer since 2006. Her work has appeared on several websites, including Tool Box Tales and Zonder. Eblin received a master's degree in historic preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

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