Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-16-2021, 04:21 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Whiskey.Wilderness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Colorado
Posts: 53
Year: 2001
Coachwork: International
Chassis: 3800
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 29000 GVWR
Inward bifold door - how to do a knob/lock??? I’m stumped

Our bus has a bifold door that folds to the inside and we are basically stumped at how we could keep the original door and have a handle and lock for it....suggestions? Photos of how you did yours?

We can’t weld and we want to keep the original system in place, but we want a secure lock and a handle on it.

Whiskey.Wilderness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 04:43 PM   #2
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Des Moines, Ia
Posts: 40
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Engine: Cummins 5.9l 24 valve
Rated Cap: 78
this maybe? there may be an issue with clearence with the handle.Click image for larger version

Name:	JPEG_20210116_164240_4350408567318648474.jpg
Views:	5
Size:	28.0 KB
ID:	53137
Samweld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 04:43 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Des Moines, Ia
Posts: 40
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Engine: Cummins 5.9l 24 valve
Rated Cap: 78
it would be like the latch on a metal tool/ chemical cabinet.
Samweld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 05:08 PM   #4
Bus Geek
 
ol trunt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: So Cal
Posts: 3,227
Year: 1935
Coachwork: Superior
Chassis: Chevy
Engine: 317 ci/tid / Isuzu
If you do that be sure to put the hinge towards the front of the bus or the highway wind will rip the door open.
Jack
ol trunt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 08:37 PM   #5
Skoolie
 
Maligator.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Alaska
Posts: 102
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: IH3800
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 77
Quote:
Originally Posted by Whiskey.Wilderness View Post
Our bus has a bifold door that folds to the inside and we are basically stumped at how we could keep the original door and have a handle and lock for it....suggestions? Photos of how you did yours?

We can’t weld and we want to keep the original system in place, but we want a secure lock and a handle on it.
You can drill down through the bottom stair and block the doors from opening with a long handled lock. If you squat down under you front stairs you should see how if you drill a hole, you can block the mechanism in the track underneath. It's not thief proof, hacksaw or angle grinder can get to it but if you don't wanna change doors, this is close to the best you'll get.

Here's another idea, cut pieces of wood to fit perfectly inside your stairwell to block both doors closed. Maybe a straight 2x4 with 2 legs that brace up against the back of your stairs? Put a lock on the rear bus or side bus door instead and just exit the last man through one of those doors?
Maligator. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 09:05 PM   #6
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Near Flagstaff AZ
Posts: 1,951
Year: 1974
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: "Atomic"
Engine: DD 8V71
Permit me to ask, to clarify...do you want to secure the doors while you're inside or while you're away? If inside, then Maligator's "wood block on the bottom step" is quick and easy...and no welding. If when you're away, then a regular hasp works pretty well...but looks ugly.
rossvtaylor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 09:13 PM   #7
Bus Geek
 
musigenesis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 6,995
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maligator. View Post
You can drill down through the bottom stair and block the doors from opening with a long handled lock.
I was going to recommend this 3-point latch kit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KGCKL91/ which I used for the door in my bulkhead wall. Unfortunately this exact one is unavailable, but there should be others like it around. You could mount the latch in the middle near the fold, and then the long rods would go into a hole in the bottom step and behind the top frame.

In fact I think I'm going to put one of these on my folding door if they ever come back in stock.

Edit: I just remembered I don't actually have a folding door, but this 3-point latch will still work for me.
__________________
Rusty 87 build thread
musigenesis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 11:33 PM   #8
Bus Crazy
 
bus-bro's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Whidbey Island, WA.
Posts: 1,109
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 3208 na boat anchor
Rated Cap: 2
On my bus there is an arm that closes and opens the door. There are some tabs that limit how far the arm goes. Someone before me bent a tab up and when you pull the arm all the way it blocks the door from opening. You can't open the door from outside, and it is one stout lock fer sure.
bus-bro is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:26 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.