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Post Info TOPIC: Repairing Thetford service doors
Donesailing


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Repairing Thetford service doors
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Has anyone out there removed the panelling from a Thetford service door? By panelling I mean the panel that a caravan constructor usually cuts out of the side of the van where the service door will be installed and installs said cut out panel into the Thetford door frame. 

For the uninitiated Thetford doors come as a frame assembly and the caravan constructor uses part of the frame to mark a stencil on an exterior wall of the caravan where the service door is to be installed. The marked area is cut out with a jigsaw and the cut out wall section is then inserted into the Thetford door frame and the panel is usually held in the frame by clips and sealant. 

My problem is the manufacturer of my 18 months old van has done a rubbish job of sealing the panels in the doors and now the internal sections of panelling in the doors have dry rot. When I attempted to remove one of the panels it appeared that I would have to break part of the plastic frame holding the panel in the door frame so I ceased the removal.

Does anyone have any clues on how to remove the panel without damaging the plastic insert that holds the panel in securely?

Cheers



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Possum3


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They normally break when attempting to repair - most probably less grief to get new one complete with piece of composite panelling from manufacturer.

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reeb51


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I had to replace a hatch door a couple of years back and had great difficulty in removing the paneling too. Ended up wrecking the outer door frame to get the panel out which didn't matter as it was the actual door that I wanted to replace. The plastic edging on the inside of door holding the panel in has some kind of locking mechanism when pushed in to hold the panel from coming out. I cant remember how they actually worked but I know I didn't use the locking pieces when replacing the door instead using two screws either side to hold the panel in plus silicon to seal panel to outer edge of the door frame. Sorry I can't be of more help because I recked my door in finding out why it was difficult to get out.




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Dougwe


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Mmmm, must have missed ya when you first joined this great forum so welcome to the gang Donesailing, enjoy here and out in the playground.

Looking at mine just before replying here It looks like once they are put together, that's it, a new one is needed if somethings goes wrong. I find many things like that these days. They call it a disposable world.




Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

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Baz421


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Mine has screws in the door and the door frame and when I replaced the door I had to reuse the inside or the panel.

After I removed screws there was silicone bonding the inside panel to the door  itself.

The door frame (fixed to the van cut out) has screws and a lot of silicone to prevent water ingestion.

As mentioned maybe need to replace with new.

What model is yours???

 



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ballast2


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G'day. As your van is only 18 months old have you contacted the van company for a out of warranty good will repair? I think you would expect something like that to last. Never hurts to ask. I don't know the brand of van but Jayco did one on my van without any hassles.
Cheers.

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madaboutled


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ballast2 wrote:

G'day. As your van is only 18 months old have you contacted the van company for a out of warranty good will repair? I think you would expect something like that to last. Never hurts to ask. I don't know the brand of van but Jayco did one on my van without any hassles.
Cheers.

 I agree with ballast2, you should be able to get that repaired under warranty. If you can't and you stuff up the door you can get replacement hatch/door frames from CaravansPlus

Hope this helps

Steve.



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