How to lock up the hatches - dust tight??

**walker** · 3rd November 2006, 08:55 AM

Well, since you have all done such a great job helping out with the trailer build so far, I thought I would ask opinions on this.

What hardware do you think I should use to lock up the hatches on the trailer?

There will be 3 hatches. I was not planning to have hinges, but rather just remove the entire panel if I want to get access to the storage area, but I can do hinges if easier. Each hatch has a 25mm tube frame around it and each panel which covers the hatch will have a 25x12mm frame around it, this is to keep everything rigid and hopefully dust proof. I will sikaflex a rubber seal around each hatch, which the panel pushes onto to make it water and dust tight. Probably a seal like a car door seal but nice and stiff and thin. I think you want a small surface area on the seal as this should mean a tighter seal.

My main problem is what to use for the hardware. I would like it to be flushmounted, so I dont have big handles sticking out and it really has to pull the hatch in as it closes.

I was thinking of something like they use on the electrical cabinets and need a special square key to open it. This is not a good pic but like this :

Anyway, I am away now till Tuesday night (camping at Omeo) so hopefully when I get back there will be some good ideas.

thanks,

**Diff** · 3rd November 2006, 10:16 AM

The camper we took to the cape was a trackabout. It had a compression foam seal on the rear tailgate and lid. I thought this was cheap compared to the Lifestyle campers we wer looking at that had a car type seal.

However we never got any dust or water into the camper. Even in places where the water came into the Disco. Trackabout explained that they used thes seals because the were simple and worked whilre the car type seals get torn and split with use. After six weeks I believe them.

As for locks I like the lifestyle campers recessed lock with the recessed handle. The same type as they use on truck and King crome tool boxes. look flash and are all in one unit.

Anothe thing we noticed on the trip that locks clog up with dust. You drive all day and then cannot get the key into the lock because of the dust build up. I had to spray them out with WD40. I ended up only putting them on when we stopped. Could be a bit of a problem if everthing is locked up.

The Drivers door lock also played up for the same reason.

**BMac** · 3rd November 2006, 02:29 PM

This is the lock I used for my trailer

http://www.aulro.com/app/data/675/medium/lock.jpg

They look good, work great and have a dust cap over the key hole. All four are keyed alike, I got them from http://www.uesint.com/ and they weren't that expensive.

They secure and open 3x8 foot doors no problem.

http://www.aulro.com/app/data/675/medium/trailer.jpg

**Diff** · 3rd November 2006, 02:49 PM

Yup, there the ones the Life style campers use. Very professional looking.

**numpty** · 4th November 2006, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by BMac

This is the lock I used for my trailer

http://www.aulro.com/app/data/675/medium/lock.jpg

They look good, work great and have a dust cap over the key hole. All four are keyed alike, I got them from http://www.uesint.com/ and they weren't that expensive.

They secure and open 3x8 foot doors no problem.

http://www.aulro.com/app/data/675/medium/trailer.jpg

That's the same as I have on the side locker on my camper and can vouch that they are the ducks %uts.

**dmdigital** · 4th November 2006, 09:07 PM

Adam,
If you're going to use that method you will need a 4-way mechanism or 4 locks to pull in the hatch and create the compression on the seal. I suggest having a look at some Rittal style enclosures and see how they seal. The latch mentioned is very good and will also not vibrate open as the handle stows in position. In my experience the cabinet locks you're thinking of can loosen on cabinets in extreme vibration areas, there are several different types of these locks and I now some are much more robust than others.

**walker** · 7th November 2006, 04:47 PM

Ok, thanks everyone. I do like that lock you all showed an so will try to get some of those. I might look at hinging the panels and then just using 2 of them opposite the hinges.

Still not sure about the dust seal, I still like the idea of the auto seals.

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