Strut For Basement Door

[Nankipoo]

The big basement door on my 5'er has two struts on it. The small one on the other side doesn't have one. It has the plastic latch you hook on it once it's up. It's broke now because I get used to just pulling the big one shut and have done the same to this one forgetting the plastic thing has it. Did it for the second time today and pulled it apart. 😀 What size strut would I need for this one and would one do it or does it need two? Door measures 29 wide by 18 tall.

[Nankipoo]

Don't know why pics are sideways ��

[travelin texans]

The plastic latch you keep breaking is also available in stainless/chrome that I don't think you'd break.
That would be easier to find & much easier to install than trying to find the proper strut & mount it securely to that styrofoam door.

[chuckster57]

I think the same thing.

[JRTJH]

I agree, the steel strut will not break as easily... That might become a problem... If you think of the plastic strut as the "weakest link" it sort of acts like a fuse in a circuit and opens/breaks before other, harder to repair or replace parts of the latch are damaged....

In other words, if you replace that strut with a steel one, you may find that next time, you pull the screws out of the styrofoam door and that will be much harder to repair....

Here's one link to the plastic strut. They are available in 3.5" or 6" lengths: https://www.amazon.com/Miady-T-Style...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Here's one type of steel latch: https://www.amazon.com/Miady-T-Style...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[LHaven]

Have you considered using one (or two or three) of the magnetic keepers Keystone installs on small hatch doors? That would solve the brain-bubbles issue, since if you simply yank the door down without thinking, that's the way they're designed to work anyway.

[flybouy]

As has been pointed out a stronger answer may not be the best option. Have you thought about printing a label with something like "Release latch first" on the backside of the hatch?

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by flybouy

As has been pointed out a stronger answer may not be the best option. Have you thought about printing a label with something like "Release latch first" on the backside of the hatch?

As a guy who has a label saying "**STAIRS UP!!**" on his auto-leveler control panel, I must confess they're a spotty solution.

[JRTJH]

I've got a "ribbon flap" that hangs over our slide switch that says, "Check cupboard door before extending slide"... On the aft end of our slide, there's a pantry that's "completely invisible" unless you go back there, lean around the slide to check. I've crushed a pantry door once and DW has also, so now, you've got to lift the ribbon to get a finger on the switch... So far it's worked

[Nankipoo]

Maybe I should put a note over there reminding myself to undo the plastic latch, lol. But I've got to fix it with something cause holding it up with my head to get something out don't feel that great

[chuckster57]

I like the magnet idea.

[bobbecky]

The reason he can't use a magnet catch is that there is a slide above the door that prevents it from opening all the way against the side of the trailer. He might be able to rig up a magnet on the door and a steel plate on the end of one of the plastic struts that could hold the door open and then detach when he pulls the door down.

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by bobbecky

The reason he can't use a magnet catch is that there is a slide above the door that prevents it from opening all the way against the side of the trailer.

Ugh. I wish the broken piece was still available in the picture so I could see how long they had to make it to make this work.

Of course, all you would have to do is buy a replacement plastic latch, but then retrofit the ends for the magnets instead of the notch, and you would still get the same benefits.

I wonder what kind of a prize the designer got for including a hatch that you couldn't open with the slide out.

[Nankipoo]

I forced it back in but it won't stay. Yes there is a slide above it that keeps it from going up all the way.

[Nankipoo]

I got to figure out how to rotate pics.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Nankipoo

I got to figure out how to rotate pics.

This site will only display a picture in landscape. If you take a picture in portrait (I.e. holding your phone vertically) then it will rotate the picture to a landscape orientation .

Two methods to address this. One is to rotate your phone and take pictures in a landscape orientation. Second is to open your portrait oriented picture in a programmer app that will let you edit the picture. In that app or program open the picture, rotate the picture, and savenit. You may need to "add" bars on each side of the pic to get it to display in landscape depending on the editing software.

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by Nankipoo

I forced it back in but it won't stay. Yes there is a slide above it that keeps it from going up all the way.

OK, consider buying two pairs of magnet latches. Mount one on the corner of the slideout, and mount the other on the sidewall above the door. Mount matching magnets on the door panel. Now the door will hold whether the slide is open or closed.

[Nankipoo]

After checking, I don't see anywhere to mount a magnet on the slide that would be safe when the slide goes in. When raised the door doesn't reach the outside corner. Mounting one would be simple for use when the slide is in.

[LHaven]

Then my final suggestion would be to buy another latch of the same type you have broken previously, and instead of installing the door side latch, install a magnet, and install a magnet at the end of the bulkhead latch hook with epoxy and/or screws. That way it will operate exactly the same as the stock latch, but you can pull it down without breaking it.

[Laredo250RL]

I have installed Hatchlift solutions for this. They work great. The website will tell you what kit to get based on your hatch dimensions. https://www.hatchlift.com/hatchlift-kit