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Old 04-02-2012, 03:44 PM   #1
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Can I install some sort of door opener / damper on my trailer entry door?

I've seen certain travel trailer models that have a wonderful damper rod on the main entry door. It helps keep the door from slamming open or closed in the wind. I'd love to add one to my 2306 -- is there an aftermarket accessory I can install that will do this for me? Camping World had nothing.
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Old 04-02-2012, 04:02 PM   #2
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Just took the factory installed one off our new 5ver. The door & side of the camper are not made of material suitable for sustained use of a strut. Besides that, it restricted the door to opening only 90 degrees and makes closing the door a little more difficult, but to each his own.
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Old 04-02-2012, 04:10 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by dunnnc View Post
Just took the factory installed one off our new 5ver. The door & side of the camper are not made of material suitable for sustained use of a strut. Besides that, it restricted the door to opening only 90 degrees and makes closing the door a little more difficult, but to each his own.
Good point. Just in the last 10 minutes of Googling I've seen similar concerns about the durability of the bracket mounting points. It's probably not worth the trouble, but they sure did feel nice on the doors I tried them on!
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Old 04-03-2012, 07:49 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dunnnc View Post
Just took the factory installed one off our new 5ver. The door & side of the camper are not made of material suitable for sustained use of a strut. Besides that, it restricted the door to opening only 90 degrees and makes closing the door a little more difficult, but to each his own.
Boy Howdy! DunNC is absolutely correct about this.

My factory installed strut destroyed my door, frame, and hinges before I removed it completely. I was unable to find a strut with LESS pressure.

Run, do not walk, away from this idea.
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Old 04-03-2012, 07:53 AM   #5
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Oh and it ripped itself out of the door and camper frame a few times (upgrading the attachment bolts each time) before I realized what it was doing to my camper!
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Old 04-03-2012, 08:23 AM   #6
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At the RV shows, all the trailers with these on were pulling out of the siding and really didn't impress me at all. This was one of the factors when we looked for a new trailer, that they did not have the door struts. The ones that mounted into the door frame were a much better design but I still stayed away from them. Looked like trouble down the road.
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Old 04-04-2012, 10:59 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by pg_rider View Post
I've seen certain travel trailer models that have a wonderful damper rod on the main entry door. It helps keep the door from slamming open or closed in the wind. I'd love to add one to my 2306 -- is there an aftermarket accessory I can install that will do this for me? Camping World had nothing.
My HTT did not come with a door closer. When I saw it on the newer models, I requested that my dealer install one. Dealer suggested not installing the closer as it had a high failure rate. The next year, dealer informed me that the brackets were pulling out. So happy that I did not go forward with the door closer.

Now we just use a bungee cord to hold the door open.
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