colliehauler
Mc Pherson KS USA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/27/2004
View Profile
|
Any one ever cut in a access door in the side of a fiberglass trailer?
|
Bumpyroad
Virginia
Senior Member
Joined: 12/01/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
colliehauler wrote:Any one ever cut in a access door in the side of a fiberglass trailer?
if you bought a small one and was sure that there was nothing in the way, I don't think it would be a big deal. but how do you make it unugly on the inside?
bumpy
|
Housted
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/05/2004
View Profile
|
colliehauler wrote:Any one ever cut in a access door in the side of a fiberglass trailer?
I cut these two into mine...Access Hatches
the area behind is below/behind the tub. Not visable from inside.
Not difficult, but you must be sure not to hit studs.
Housted
2007 Dodge 2500 5.9 CTD Tow Rig
2006 Arctic Fox 29V TT
Too many mods to Truck and trailer to list.
Pictures
|
davidj54
South Alabama
Senior Member
Joined: 06/23/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
To answer your question; Yes, manufacturers do it all the time. 
Seriously, Just find out where the framing is and get one that will fit inside it. Another thing to be wary of is electrical and plumbing. You wouldn't want ot cut through either one of those.
A few minutes with a Rotozip and you're done.
Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab (Yeah, it's got a Cummins)
2006 Forest River Grand Surveyor GS-280
Prodigy Brake Controller
1000/10000lb Equal-i-zer with 4-way sway control
|
subcamper
Buffalo, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 03/01/2004
View Profile
|
I cut a large access door in our Rockwood 8318SS (about 18" x 32").
Get a studfinder that works with aluminum studs to locate the framing in the trailer.
Cut thru the entire wall with a sabre saw or Rotozip.
I cut the foam out about 1" inside the wall between the inner and outer skins around the perimeter of the cutout. Pieces of wood were cut to fit inside the wall (where the foam was) and then glued and clamped between the inside and outside skins to provide reinforcement around the opening.
Place sealer on the door frame lip and screw it on. I pressed the door frame tight against the opening and put the screws around the inside edge of the frame to avoid screwing thru the outside lip of the frame (like Rockwood did on the windows).
I bought the access door new on Ebay for $10. RV parts places wanted $100+ for a new door. Ebay almost always has access door for cheap under the RV Parts section.
Steve
|
|
|
colliehauler
Mc Pherson KS USA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/27/2004
View Profile
|
subcamper wrote:I cut a large access door in our Rockwood 8318SS (about 18" x 32").
Get a studfinder that works with aluminum studs to locate the framing in the trailer.
Cut thru the entire wall with a sabre saw or Rotozip.
I cut the foam out about 1" inside the wall between the inner and outer skins around the perimeter of the cutout. Pieces of wood were cut to fit inside the wall (where the foam was) and then glued and clamped between the inside and outside skins to provide reinforcement around the opening.
Place sealer on the door frame lip and screw it on. I pressed the door frame tight against the opening and put the screws around the inside edge of the frame to avoid screwing thru the outside lip of the frame (like Rockwood did on the windows).
I bought the access door new on Ebay for $10. RV parts places wanted $100+ for a new door. Ebay almost always has access door for cheap under the RV Parts section.
Steve I will have to cut through a aluminum stud to have enough room for the door (generator door). Is there a way to connect the stud with the other 2 on the side or could I just use wood? The inside of the trailer is under a dining bench and will not show. I bought a door on Ebay .
|
Bumpyroad
Virginia
Senior Member
Joined: 12/01/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
remember, cut twice and measure once, or something like that.
bumpy
|
subcamper
Buffalo, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 03/01/2004
View Profile
|
colliehauler wrote:subcamper wrote:I cut a large access door in our Rockwood 8318SS (about 18" x 32").
Get a studfinder that works with aluminum studs to locate the framing in the trailer.
Cut thru the entire wall with a sabre saw or Rotozip.
I cut the foam out about 1" inside the wall between the inner and outer skins around the perimeter of the cutout. Pieces of wood were cut to fit inside the wall (where the foam was) and then glued and clamped between the inside and outside skins to provide reinforcement around the opening.
Place sealer on the door frame lip and screw it on. I pressed the door frame tight against the opening and put the screws around the inside edge of the frame to avoid screwing thru the outside lip of the frame (like Rockwood did on the windows).
I bought the access door new on Ebay for $10. RV parts places wanted $100+ for a new door. Ebay almost always has access door for cheap under the RV Parts section.
Steve I will have to cut through a aluminum stud to have enough room for the door (generator door). Is there a way to connect the stud with the other 2 on the side or could I just use wood? The inside of the trailer is under a dining bench and will not show. I bought a door on Ebay .
You have a lot more options since the inside will not show.
You need to provide rigidity for the end of the aluminum stud that you will have cut out. The stud is probably a square or rectangular cross-section tube. I would remove the inside paneling (probably just a thin lauan) in an area 2 inches above the cutout to expose the cut stud and the full stud on either side. Then I would take a 1" x 2" aluminum tube (long enough to reach from full stud to full stud)and attach it to the 3 studs with self-threading screws (1/4" diameter), a couple per stud. This should provide enough rigidity for the cutoff stud during the vibration when travelling.
Steve
|
BUFFALODAN
Buffalo NY
Senior Member
Joined: 06/10/2004
View Profile
|
Someone in the Hybrid section did one a year or so ago and posted some nice pictures of the job. It turned out very nice, I just cant find the post to link!!
2006 KZ Frontier 2505
2005 Chevy Suburban 1500 Z71 4WD
2007 GMC Yukon XL 1500 4WD
1 DW
3DD's
|
colliehauler
Mc Pherson KS USA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/27/2004
View Profile
|
Thank you for the info.
|
|
|
