this is one for all you diy'ers, our tin tent has a soild (stable type) door, my OH would like a door with a window, i have looked on the t'internet and pre-loved caravan door windows can be picked up for about £25.
how hard or easy is it to fit one to an existing door which is bereft of one, or would it be just as or easier to source a replacement door WITH a window ?
if i was to go down the 'cut a hole and fit one ' route ,what methods would you advise i use to seal it ?
------------- no tin tent outings booked as yet ,just another cruise in Sept' booked so far
I'm sure this same question was asked by someone in one of the caravan magazine's, think the suggestion was that due to the build of the door it would be easier to get a door with a window in it. Will have a look for you
------------- -x- Diane -x-
May 13 - Cala Gogo, St Cyprien (didn't go, hubby too ill to travel)
May 14 Ranc Davaine
August 14 Les Sablons
August 13 - Camping Playa Brava, Pals
You would have to virtually build a new door. If you have ever taken the window out of a caravan, you would see that the frame runs around the window. If you cut a hole in a solid door, you will end up with nothing to support the inner and outer skin. In order to put a frame around it, you would have to dismantle the whole door. It would be a lot easier to replace the door if you can get one to fit the aperture correctly and with the hinges in the correct place and that would be a lot to ask.
If you wish to replace a solid stable door with a stable door having a window in the top half, then it should not be difficult. The greatest problem would be to replace it with a one-piece door, as the hinge positions are likely to be in the wrong place.
Hi realbusdriver, The hinges should not be a big problem as they are pop riveted on,( drill head of rivets until the rivet head comes off, separate hinge from frame/door then, grind the protruding rivets down flush with the aluminium on both door and door frame,( you can push the protruding rivets into van cavity, but that would leave the holes in the aluminium frame), re position hinges mark position drill out the new holes and re pop rivet). The door may be a little bit harder to alter, depending on its inside framework, (could be done similarly to fitting a bigger sky light), if door has to be dismantled, the aluminium door frame work would need to be carefully taken off, the inside door skin would be the best to take off, (as the bonding on the outer skin could get distorted and would not look right on assembly), when inner door skin off you can then make frame for window, measure its size and position, re bond skin or new skin to door, draw out the window size on the door, then cut out the window aperture, (This has to be about 1 inch smaller than the marked out drawing, EG: window drawing is say 1 foot wide by 1 foot high, then you would make the cut 11inches by 11inches on the inside of the original drawing size), hope I have explained that clearly, you can then trim it out to the correct window size, it is a lot of work but it can be done, as others have said on here it may be easer to get another door?. Hope that has been of help to you.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
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Topic: caravan door
