Child proofing a screen door

jfpt89a · 08-03-2009, 07:07 PM

I am surprised that I can find very little concerning ways to child proof the trailer screen doors. We have a 2 yr old grand son who is always pushing on the screen door. With only the very lite weight "Latch" holding it shut, he is only one small push from falling out the door.

Looking for a way to add a more robust latching mech which can be operated from inside and outside.

Any help would be great.

Thanks, Mark

ddossey · 08-03-2009, 10:12 PM

I have an 18 month old and will be doing some sort of mod there myself. I will be interested in the replies.

Dave

lori08360 · 08-04-2009, 08:24 AM

In our previous trailer, we added a small hook & eye type latch on the inside to keep my son from falling out of the trailer a second time.

tonyz · 08-04-2009, 04:08 PM

My son has been camping with our trailer sense he was 6 months old, now he is almost 4 and the screen door is no longer an issue. But when it was, we carried a plastic baby gate that kept him contained away from the screen door and it also doubled at night to keep him in the bunk house area of the trailer.

We used velcro on the plastic slide door that accessed the screen latch to keep him from opening it.

Rthrbcmpin · 08-24-2009, 10:25 PM

This summer our 1 1/2 year old granddaughter was kept inside because we would fold the outside assist rail over in front of the door. We had to be on our toes though and make sure everyone remembered to fold it back over when entering or exiting the trailer! The only other thing we've tried were bungees, I drilled a hole in the slide cover, and put one hook from a small bungee in there, wrapped it around the inside oak assist bar, and back around to be hooked in the slide cover again. We were also told by a dealer that the only fool-proof system was the hook and eye. Does seem like there should be a more secure way of latching those doors; sometimes they just push open without unlatching them!

SHOOSTER · 10-11-2009, 08:33 AM

Here's what my screen door has for an auxilary latch so that i can keep my 14lb min pin & very large kitty from pushing the door open, these slide latches are available @ places like Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, it was easy to install & adjust.

NWJeeper · 10-11-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHOOSTER

Here's what my screen door has for an auxilary latch so that i can keep my 14lb min pin & very large kitty from pushing the door open, these slide latches are available @ places like Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, it was easy to install & adjust.

14lb min pin??? That's not real min for a min pin. LOL

pwh1970 · 05-04-2010, 08:21 AM

Here is what I did.
We added a pull or handle to assist in pulling the screen door shut from the inside. Wanted this anyway.

I used a piece of para cord I had lying around but any quality 1/4" rope or smaller will do fine.

Got one of the quick disconnect key rings like this http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/PROD/keychain/BCX11

Tied each end of the cord to each split ring. Just run the string through the inside handle next to the door and the other end through the pull handle we added to the door.

Our 2.5 year old can't disconnect the key ring but we can as can the older kids. You can also reach in through the slider in the screen door and undo it if need be.

Cheap and effective.

Badie · 06-12-2011, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwh1970

Here is what I did.
We added a pull or handle to assist in pulling the screen door shut from the inside. Wanted this anyway.

I used a piece of para cord I had lying around but any quality 1/4" rope or smaller will do fine.

Got one of the quick disconnect key rings like this http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/PROD/keychain/BCX11

Tied each end of the cord to each split ring. Just run the string through the inside handle next to the door and the other end through the pull handle we added to the door.

Our 2.5 year old can't disconnect the key ring but we can as can the older kids. You can also reach in through the slider in the screen door and undo it if need be.

Cheap and effective.

Any pics please?

ColoradoRick · 10-18-2014, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHOOSTER

Here's what my screen door has for an auxilary latch so that i can keep my 14lb min pin & very large kitty from pushing the door open, these slide latches are available @ places like Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, it was easy to install & adjust.

That's exactly what we need with our two doors that are ridiculously easy to to open. (One will pop open with just the Chihuahua pawing at it.)

(I bought a little hook and latch from Home Depot but the mounting bracket was too wide for the frame.)

Thanks!!

Helmsey · 10-18-2014, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rthrbcmpin

This summer our 1 1/2 year old granddaughter was kept inside because we would fold the outside assist rail over in front of the door.

This is what we have been doing and have had great luck with it.

jtstromsburg · 10-18-2014, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsey

This is what we have been doing and have had great luck with it.

Us too, here's a pic from inside to help understand. It works great!

jimdd810 · 10-18-2014, 08:34 PM

I fell out the door myself. Broke my arm and spilled beer. My dw will be doing this mod. Easier than cutting me off.
All kidding aside those are some great ideas.

Life is a highway!!!!!

heavynlori · 10-19-2014, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtstromsburg

Us too, here's a pic from inside to help understand. It works great!

We do same thing to keep dog in...he likes to lay at door and people watch

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

doc73 · 10-19-2014, 06:53 AM

We used one of those self stick straps for keeping kids out of fridges and stuff. It just needs a squeeze to release. Our daughter does not try to open the door... Yet. But she opens the small window covering the latch and throws her toys out it.

Shanks12 · 07-28-2015, 01:45 AM

Our last camping trip I happened to be a the right place at the right time and caught my 18 mo old son before he fell out of the screen door. He loves to bang on things, and i saw him the moment he hit the door and caught him as he was half way out the door.

I need to take a close look at some of these ideas and put it in play.

I know this thread is older, but has anyone come up with anything else?

Oaklevel · 07-28-2015, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lori08360

In our previous trailer, we added a small hook & eye type latch on the inside to keep my son from falling out of the trailer a second time.

This is what we also did on our current camper.

cbvp · 07-29-2015, 09:15 AM

Here's the mod on my Cardinal to stop the screen from being pushed out.

Aluminum angle on top screwed to door.

Aluminum plate on bottom. The white plastic is a florescent light defuser cut to fit.

C.B.

**ependydad** · 07-29-2015, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanks12

Our last camping trip I happened to be a the right place at the right time and caught my 18 mo old son before he fell out of the screen door. He loves to bang on things, and i saw him the moment he hit the door and caught him as he was half way out the door.

I need to take a close look at some of these ideas and put it in play.

I know this thread is older, but has anyone come up with anything else?

If you have a big flip over door handle, just fold it over the door. I did this with my little guy from age 12 months to 3 years. Now we don't do it any more but he's big enough for reasoning.

Shanks12 · 07-30-2015, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ependydad

If you have a big flip over door handle, just fold it over the door. I did this with my little guy from age 12 months to 3 years. Now we don't do it any more but he's big enough for reasoning.

Unfortunately, our Roo does not have the flip over handle.

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