Screen door latched in 2 places

[Shanksworthy]

This is my first RV so I’m not sure if this is normal... My screen door has a 2-way spring latch that automatically connects it to both the main door, and to the frame. This serves the purpose of keeping the screen door out of the way. However, it becomes a problem when I’m outside of the RV, with both doors closed; When I attempt to open the door, I have to pull it extra hard to force it apart from the screen door.

The problem is that the main door’s latch disconnects it from the frame only, but not from the screen door, leaving it effectively tethered weakly to the frame by the screen door’s 2-way latch. The latter is not accessible from the outside when the main door is closed, forcing me to yank it separate the two, and it feels like I’m doing damage to the screen door latch every time I do that.

Is that normal?

[Steve-W]

No that is not normal.
You need to adjust the keeper (the part on the main door) lower. When it is adjusted properly it will keep the screen door latch retracted just enough as to not catch on the striker when both are closed.
Very simple adjustment.

[Draggo]

Exactly what Steve said. I just made some adjustments to mine a few days ago and it took me about 5 minutes. I didn't like how hard the screen door had to be pushed to latch onto the trailer door. I had to find the happy medium between the screen door latching to the trailer door and the trailer frame. It doesn't take long and all you need is a screwdriver.

[Shanksworthy]

Originally Posted by Steve-W

No that is not normal.
You need to adjust the keeper (the part on the main door) lower. When it is adjusted properly it will keep the screen door latch retracted just enough as to not catch on the striker when both are closed.
Very simple adjustment.

Ah, so the keeper on the main door overrides the part on the door frame? That makes sense. I’ll give it a try. Thanks!

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by Shanksworthy

Ah, so the keeper on the main door overrides the part on the door frame? That makes sense. I’ll give it a try. Thanks!

Both the prior posters are correct. Let us now how it works for you.

[Shanksworthy]

Originally Posted by DouglasReid

Both the prior posters are correct. Let us now how it works for you.

I haven’t had a chance yet, but I’ll try this weekend and let you know.

[babock]

And when you finally get tired of that latch, do what I did and get rid of it completely. I just copied what this guy did:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsuT...ature=youtu.be

[Shanksworthy]

I meant to mention, the suggestion of lowering the keep worked. Thanks for that.

However, the spring on our latch keeps giving out. It was defective when we received the unit and we had it replaced under warranty, and it gave out again a couple days ago. When I opened it up to have a look at the spring, it just crumbled. So the dealership give me a whole new latch assembly. I’ve installed the new one and we’ll see how that goes. Worst case, I’ll throw the thing out entirely and go with the magnets.