Add a 2nd Garage Door

[Peter Clark]

Cannot find any information online about adding a garage door.

Found a promising vehicle to buy, has a large rear garage, but a door on only one side.

Are there any companies out there who are known to offer this as a service.

NB: I imagine that a campervan converting company, used to installing pop-up beds, could do it - but a company who does it regularly would probably be cheaper.

 

[Lenny HB]

Thois company may be able to do it.

Genie Drawers | J.H. Caravan and J.H. Caravan Storage

For affordable Genie Drawers, contact the experienced manufacturers at J.H. Caravan and J.H. Caravan Storage in Ravensthorpe for more details.

www.jhcaravan.com

 

[poppycamper]

Cannot find any information online about adding a garage door.

Found a promising vehicle to buy, has a large rear garage, but a door on only one side.

Are there any companies out there who are known to offer this as a service.

NB: I imagine that a campervan converting company, used to installing pop-up beds, could do it - but a company who does it regularly would probably be cheaper.

Sure somewhere in the very back of a very misty memory that question has been asked on here before.
May be worth a search on here if not already done...

 

[Peter Clark]

Sure somewhere in the very back of a very misty memory that question has been asked on here before.
May be worth a search on here if not already done...

Sure somewhere in the very back of a very misty memory that question has been asked on here before.
May be worth a search on here if not already don

You’re quite right - so many questions come up again and again, so I did a search first but drew a blank.

 

[Peter Clark]

Sure somewhere in the very back of a very misty memory that question has been asked on here before.
May be worth a search on here if not already done...

You’re quite right - so many questions come up again and again, so I did a search first but drew a blank.

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[jongood]

You’re quite right - so many questions come up again and again, so I did a search first but drew a blank.

Might depend what it is but here's a place to start

Motorhome Caravan Habitation Doors, Bins, Door Windows

Habitation doors available in left and right hand Please ring or email for more information All Doors are P O A Click on thumbnails for larger

www.olearymotorhomes.co.uk

 

[Brains]

Cannot find any information online about adding a garage door.

Found a promising vehicle to buy, has a large rear garage, but a door on only one side.

Are there any companies out there who are known to offer this as a service.

NB: I imagine that a campervan converting company, used to installing pop-up beds, could do it - but a company who does it regularly would probably be cheaper.

Yes it can be done, as we have seen a version of our van with a rear locker door (which was a very good idea.)
Unfortunately he got it done in Germany, but I'm sure you could find a UK based converter who would do it.
Apex in Maidstone/Kent could be worth a call, there is also a van conversion company Back2Back Campers in the same industrial estate

 

[Ali n Tim]

We had this done on our Dethleffs. We contacted Dethleffs with our details ie. chassis number, age etc and they said it could be done and they could supply the appropriate kit. We contacted Pullingers (Dethleffs dealer) and they ordered the ‘kit’ and did a brilliant job.
So maybe contact the manufacturer’s of the MH you’re looking at?

 

[Minxy]

Cannot find any information online about adding a garage door.

Found a promising vehicle to buy, has a large rear garage, but a door on only one side.

Are there any companies out there who are known to offer this as a service.

NB: I imagine that a campervan converting company, used to installing pop-up beds, could do it - but a company who does it regularly would probably be cheaper.

Can you give us a link to the vehicle you're looking at as some may be able to have one fitted and others not.

 

[cyberyacht]

Retrospective fitting might be better suited to an 'access type' door rather than a full depth loading type. I have a one large, one small on mine which works well.

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[nicholsong]

You did not say what MH you are looking at.

Obviously the MH builder could do the job, but that might be geographically inconvenient and maybe more expensive.

Whoever does it I would check with the manufacturer that is structurally possible and whether the body needs any strengthening.

You might also need to consider what extra weight will be added.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

If it's a full size door for the garage area you may well find it'll be a two part door. The cut out blank might only extend down to the ally skirt line, thus not deep enough, so you get a joint line about one third up the door height. This can lead to damp ingress on the joint line from resonance literally sucking the moisture in. Because it's a stand alone panel it's not a major problem, and unlikely to have any timber inside the door, just something to be aware of. I only have one door, and sometimes that's a PIA, other times it's a blessing . I put a layer of "Helicopter wing tape along the joint line, it's almost invisible, and keeps the moisture out.
Mike.

 

[Peter Clark]

Thois company may be able to do it.

Genie Drawers | J.H. Caravan and J.H. Caravan Storage

For affordable Genie Drawers, contact the experienced manufacturers at J.H. Caravan and J.H. Caravan Storage in Ravensthorpe for more details.

www.jhcaravan.com

We had this done on our Dethleffs. We contacted Dethleffs with our details ie. chassis number, age etc and they said it could be done and they could supply the appropriate kit. We contacted Pullingers (Dethleffs dealer) and they ordered the ‘kit’ and did a brilliant job.
So maybe contact the manufacturer’s of the MH you’re looking at?

Good point! Do you recall the cost?
I’m guessing if I can find an independent workshop it would be a fair bit cheaper - but it would be good to have a baseline.

 

[Reallyretired]

I too have only one door and it sometimes is a pain getting anything from the non door side. I load stuff with a view to access. Stuff in largish plastic boxes is easily pulled out for access when needed. The stuff that swmbo insists on taking that I know we won't use goes up the back.

 

[bobandjanie]

Many years ago a friend of ours had a N & B Flair, that had a big door at the rear and a smaller door on one side, he managed to find the trim an carefully cut the panel out and used that for the door on the other side. Bob.

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[Roby2008]

I had a wider hab door fitted for wheelchair access by theses guys back in 2015 before xxl doors became an option , have a look at their website under the TEGOS heading on https://vierhaus-group.de/en/
Cost back then was about €1500.

They make the doors for some of the leading MH manufactures and can do hatches, garage doors etc

 

[Peter Clark]

I had a wider hab door fitted for wheelchair access by theses guys back in 2015 before xxl doors became an option , have a look at their website under the TEGOS heading on https://vierhaus-group.de/en/
Cost back then was about €1500.

They make the doors for some of the leading MH manufactures and can do hatches, garage doors etc

Here is a quote from their website:
“CAN'T BE DONE.
DOESN'T EXIST!
KARL VIERHAUS JUN.”

 

[Peter Clark]

I too have only one door and it sometimes is a pain getting anything from the non door side. I load stuff with a view to access. Stuff in largish plastic boxes is easily pulled out for access when needed. The stuff that swmbo insists on taking that I know we won't use goes up the back.

Exactly why I want to fit the “missing” door in - I plan/hope to spend up to 9 months per year on the road outside the UK, so I’m pretty sure it will be a worthwhile investment.

 

[Peter Clark]

You did not say what MH you are looking at.

Obviously the MH builder could do the job, but that might be geographically inconvenient and maybe more expensive.

Whoever does it I would check with the manufacturer that is structurally possible and whether the body needs any strengthening.

You might also need to consider what extra weight will be added.

This is for a 2008 Burstner 570 Travel Van that I’m collecting on Saturday - my first ever motor home so that is going to be a Big Day!
Buying a MH because I now have the opportunity to spend most of the year travelling, but no longer the youth to do it “properly” on a motorcycle with a tent

 

[Peter Clark]

Can you give us a link to the vehicle you're looking at as some may be able to have one fitted and others not.

It’s a Burstner Travel Van 570 - I nearly bought one a month ago:
(but it had a 15 year old cam belt and the owner refused to take responsibility to drive it from his place to a service centre)
Anyway - it had two access doors to the rear garage, both full size, so I’m guessing the 2nd door is allowed for in the base design of the vehicle.

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[Peter Clark]

I too have only one door and it sometimes is a pain getting anything from the non door side. I load stuff with a view to access. Stuff in largish plastic boxes is easily pulled out for access when needed. The stuff that swmbo insists on taking that I know we won't use goes up the back.

Sounds like you need a 2nd garage access door!!
When I find someone to do mine, I’ll post the details on MHFun.

 

[Peter Clark]

If it's a full size door for the garage area you may well find it'll be a two part door. The cut out blank might only extend down to the ally skirt line, thus not deep enough, so you get a joint line about one third up the door height. This can lead to damp ingress on the joint line from resonance literally sucking the moisture in. Because it's a stand alone panel it's not a major problem, and unlikely to have any timber inside the door, just something to be aware of. I only have one door, and sometimes that's a PIA, other times it's a blessing . I put a layer of "Helicopter wing tape along the joint line, it's almost invisible, and keeps the moisture out.
Mike.

Although I’m hoping to find someone less expensive than the original manufacturer to do the job - I won’t opt for “cheap” - if I can’t find a convincing aftermarket MH converter in UK then I believe there are some top notch places in Germany - if there is no other to get a good quality job done, then I will take it back to Burstner and live with the cost.

 

[Peter Clark]

Retrospective fitting might be better suited to an 'access type' door rather than a full depth loading type. I have a one large, one small on mine which works well.

That’s a good point - a decent size access door is probably all I need - I was in a mindset of specifying an exact duplicate of the existing door (I like symmetry )

 

[Peter Clark]

Might depend what it is but here's a place to start

Motorhome Caravan Habitation Doors, Bins, Door Windows

Habitation doors available in left and right hand Please ring or email for more information All Doors are P O A Click on thumbnails for larger

www.olearymotorhomes.co.uk

They carry a big range of parts - can’t see any garage access doors and they don’t appear to do any converting themselves.
I have emailed them asking if they have any recommendations.

 

[Peter Clark]

Thois company may be able to do it.

Genie Drawers | J.H. Caravan and J.H. Caravan Storage

For affordable Genie Drawers, contact the experienced manufacturers at J.H. Caravan and J.H. Caravan Storage in Ravensthorpe for more details.

www.jhcaravan.com

I’ve emailed them with details of what I’m after.

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[Pausim]

Retrospective fitting might be better suited to an 'access type' door rather than a full depth loading type. I have a one large, one small on mine which works well.

I opted for the full size 2nd door instead of the smaller one and I am very glad I did. I find the large and awkward stuff goes in from both sides. Even sliding out a chair would be more difficult with a smaller door and would probably involve climbing in from the other side. Putting the bikes in from opposite sides avoids handle bars getting tangled. I would think carefully about how you intend to use the door before opting for one that involves lifting things over a large lip, floor level opening is so much easier.

They carry a big range of parts - can’t see any garage access doors and they don’t appear to do any converting themselves.
I have emailed them asking if they have any recommendations.

I think the doors are made from the bit that is cut out to make the hole. You probably only need the parts.

 

[Minxy]

That’s a good point - a decent size access door is probably all I need - I was in a mindset of specifying an exact duplicate of the existing door (I like symmetry )

Our Carthago has a large door on the hab door side and a smaller one on the other, we find the smaller door side is useful for storing chairs etc that are frequently taken out as we then don't have to swing out a big door each time; also it being shorter means that we can store stuff at the bottom/side of the garage with no risk of it accidentally falling/moving when the door is open, you can see the smaller door at the far end of the garage (this was before we filled it with all our 'treasures'!).

 

[CazPaul]

Ensure you get whoever does the job to think about water ingress through the door, double seals, a good lip at the bottom, ability to tighten it if required
They’re are loads of different designs some good some terrible, have a look around.

 

[Minxy]

Our garage with 'treasures' inside:

 

[Lenny HB]

I opted for the full size 2nd door instead of the smaller one and I am very glad I did.

UK supplied 2023 Compactline has the large door as standard.