I finally took some photos of the motorhome entry doors installed on my bus. The fabricator still needs to install a few trim pieces and fix the screwed up installation of the mirror. I have not paid for the job yet.
I didn't care about ruining the lines of the bus when I had this done. I am looking more for a functional RV than having an RV that looks like a bus. The door is a bit narrow at 28", but my only other choice in a nice heavy duty door was a 32" wid eone that wouldn't fit.
The key to his whole door installation is whether you are happy or not, not what others think.
I think it looks good, if the function is what you wanted then that's all that is necessary. Hope he finishes it to your desires.
Happy Trails,
Paul
Dreamscape
Looks great to me. Once you get it painted it will fit right in. That is one of the benefits of having nice straight walls.
I think it looks fine. A little paint and it wil look like its supposed to be there. The white makes it stand out.
Brian,
If it looks out of place its only because its WHITE.
I totally agree with Songman. once its painted to match the front and window behind it it will
look great.
Thanks for posting some update photo's
Cliff
Brian, it did turn out very nice - I'm sure once you paint it it'll take a second or third look to see that there's something different about it.
Arthur
I think it'll look OK once it's painted. I wonder if it reduces visibility any, as the window looks smaller than what was originally there. I'm sure it'll be a lot more secure than the factory door. For anybody else adding a 'standard' door, I wonder if one of the very thick, heavy commercial solid wood doors would work? It could be cut to any size with any window opening and skinned with aluminum or stainless to match.
David
It will look OK once it's painted ... amazing what a little paint will do. Most bus doors are around 24" wide, maybe the newer ones are a bit wider. Do you have someway to stop the door from smacking the mirror? or opening to far?
Ron
Replies to a few different posts:
The visibility is slightly reduced, but not enough to be an issue in 150 miles of driving. The fabricator actually put tape on the original door where the new window would be and had me okay it before he started tearing things apart. I believe I can cut an opening on the bottom of the door and add another window like the original door if it becomes an issue.
The bus sides are not actually straight which is why the door is recessed as much as 2 inches in the center. When I first asked here about using a motorhome door some replies said I would ruin the looks of the bus. I don't care that it sticks out due to color. The whole bus is a collage of colors dur to the various pieces of metal used. Painting is pretty far down my list of things to do.
The door has a built-in stop so the door can't be opened more than maybe 110 degrees. It will not hit the mirror. The door frame needs to be anchored better where the stop is as the frames flexes when the door hits the stop.
Never backup with your door open ... even if you're back up a small amount ... a lot of door frames get screw up that way.
Ron
It must feel really good to have a normally operating door on it. One less daily frustration.
Quote from: prevost82 on August 17, 2007, 09:09:47 AM
Never backup with your door open ... even if you're back up a small amount ... a lot of door frames get screw up that way.
The dealer screwed up my original door by doing this. He claims the tire hit the door when turning, but it appeared to me that is not possible. I think he hit something. They claimed to have fixed this before I picked up the bus, but all they did was replaced one bent part.
I didn't want those bozos touching the bus anymore so I didn't have them fix it. I thought it would be an easy fix, but I learned later the Dina door is hard to keep working even if not damaged.
Brian, once your Dina is painted, it'll be one of the best looking coaches going. Has a modern look. Your door will look OEM once painted.
Cheers, JR
Like a lot of the things that diy'ers build, the only one who will know that its not factory will be you. Once its painted it will look factory. And it probably works a heck of a lot better than a lot of other bus doors. Usually its the workmanship that determines if things look amateurish.
Fred Mc.
Hey, I saw Brian's door today in person. It really doesn't look too bad. Certainly not what I was afraid it was going to look like! It's a nice, robust door with a big window and he incorporated it into the profile of the bus very well. The guy needs to add a couple pieces of trim to clean it up, but I think it's going to be a very functional unit. I like the screen door aspect of it, too. Wish I could figure out a way to incorporate a screen door in mine!
Gumpy,
About a year ago there was a post about screen doors with a link for a retractable screen door.
Sorry that is all I remember maybe some heavey duty searching will find it again.
Skip
Quote from: gumpy on August 18, 2007, 04:23:28 PM
Hey, I saw Brian's door today in person. It really doesn't look too bad. Certainly not what I was afraid it was going to look like! It's a nice, robust door with a big window and he incorporated it into the profile of the bus very well. The guy needs to add a couple pieces of trim to clean it up, but I think it's going to be a very functional unit. I like the screen door aspect of it, too. Wish I could figure out a way to incorporate a screen door in mine!
My friends actually want me to remove the screen door and I am inclined to do so for this year. The little latch that is supposed to hold the screen door to the main door needs work so it rattles going down the road. That same latch is supposed to hold the screen door closed when using only the screen door. We're headed out to the desert this fall and there are no bugs plus the main door is kept closed most often due to dust.
I intend to have the screen door working for trips next year where a screen door will be nice to have if not too hot.
I'm going to suggest instead of a latch, that you take a look at some stick on magnetic tape. Not sure you have steel behind the screen door, but if you do, you could apply the magnetic tape to the entire length of the screen door, and it would hold it nice and tight to the frame when closed.
I used some of this on my battery box door. Works great.
A nice Black window treatment paint job will hide that door/window well and all but a bus enthusiast will never know
Hey Brian,
I must say, when I first heard you talking about this, I was very skeptical. Now, seeing it completed, it looks great. You should be proud of the way it looks.
You can now truly say, "there's not another one in the world like this!"
Jimmy
I have two RV doors on my transit- the one in front has two windows, the lower one with a fresnal lens to see cars-highly suggest you cut the extra window in at the bottom-has saved my butt from turning into a car more times than I can count. After the bus was painted, you could hardly tell they were RV doors. Good Luck, TomC