What is an RV Entrance Door Friction Hinge? Love It or Hate It?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 พ.ค. 2021
- See all my Lippert Product Installs and Reviews - www.loveyourrv.com/tag/LCI/
In this video, I attempt to install an aftermarket Lippert friction hinge onto my Keystone Cougar fifth-wheel trailer's entrance door. Unfortunately, the hinge turns out to be incompatible with my particular Challenger brand model of door. I discover the Lippert hinge is a little smaller, so it won't fit flush.
Anyway, I was curious and decided to take the hinge apart and try and figure out how it actually works. I didn't find anything special inside, so I assume it's just press-fit to a predetermined pressure. I did notice it contains a small amount of what looks like graphite grease.
Based on some earlier feedback I received on friction hinges there seem to be people that either love or hate them. From what I gather most are referring to OEM installations. So in the video, I ask folks to leave feedback in the TH-cam comment section below.
Disclaimer: Love Your RV! received this Lippert product sample free of charge.
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Have used them for a year now and I like them I like that the wind doesn’t catch them as easy
My Truck camper came OEM with the friction hinge. It's a 2013 model and never had any issues with it but don't know who makes mine. I really like the idea and it's been great for our use.
Our 2017 Montana has that OEM hinge, it has always worked great. It has closed half way in a guest of wind.
We have the friction hinges on our 2020 Forest River Primetime Tracer. We really like them.
Our 2019 fifth wheel has a Dexter door with the friction hinges. The first year everything expanded in hot weather; the hinges creaked really loudly and it became difficult to move the door. I tried lubricating the hinges and had no luck. By the second summer it wasn’t doing that anymore. The hinges don’t have much friction anymore and I’m fine with that. Count me as not being a fan of friction hinges.
Hate them. Drilled out the pins. Now, regular doors. Yay!!
I like the idea just wish you could adjust the tension I worry about the door frame being damaged just got them on my 2021 Passport 2125RL
Thanks for your explanation on the pins being compression fit. On our door, several of the pins worked their way out and I didn't notice until it was too late. The pins ripped / notched the door flange. After your explanation of the construction, I think if I would have regularly inspected my hinges at the pins I could have prevented the damage. Now I'm using a door catch. Oh, well.
You're welcome
Our 2020 Cougar came with friction hinges. Took getting used to, but I do like not messing with door catch
Ray, I ordered a replacement from Lippert. I'll comment later how my install goes. The door works fine on top and middle hinge .
The hinges worked well when they were new in 2018, however over time they no longer have any friction. I ended up installing a T bar latch to secure the door in the open position. I give them a 👍 when new.
Thanks for the input.
Our new 2019 Montana fiver came with friction hinges and they seemed to work fine, but I sorta accidentally curtailed the friction part when I lubricated the hinges with a very good lubricant. LOL We really don't miss it.
We love our friction hinge, 3 years never had an issue
Thanks Ray!
My new cougar has the Friction doors I really like them
They are standard on my Arctic Fox and I’ve had no issue with them. But strong winds can still slowly close the door. Fortunately my RV has a latch so I use it. Thanks for another honest review.
Are the friction hinges adjustable on the Arctic Fox? I have a Wolf Creek 850 which of too often binding in spite of lubricating with Extreme Graphite spray!
Thanks Ray.
A friend has them and I really don’t care for them. My Cougar doesn’t have them but it had the dampener that I removed so the door would open fully, I installed a latch to hold it back against the side.
You really have to watch those winds in the desert SW, several times it’s been a challenge just to push it open.
Ray…ordered ( black) this through Amazon. Unfortunately didn’t order them through your site.Sorry.
Installed these today in the wind. Installation was pretty simple to do. Good fit. Looks OEM.
So far so good.
Thanks for your video.
An update. So far the hinges are working great. Had some very gusty windy days so far so good.
We had a front blow through with some serious strait line winds, blew apart some sticks n bricks. My Lippert door got away from me and the gas strut got ripped apart. I put the Lippert kit on mine and it works good. Only thing is the latch was slightly loose and stress cracked my frp door liner on the inside. I tightened it up and the cracking stopped but it's still cracked. The door has a foam core and fiberglass outer but the inside frp embossed panel could use some Azdel underneath to prevent stress cracks.
Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Ray
I love the friction hinge on my trailer, I want to install one on my motorhome.
Friction is how the World works . Keep the Boshield handy ! Godspeed.
We have the Lippert door/hinges am finding the hinges need lubricating often as they get noisy especially in the wet winter months. Not a big fan of these.
Thanks, Darrell.
I'm with you. I 'had' them on my 2015 Jayco. Were very noisy so i did grease them . One of the hinges broke and I am not replacing them.
We camp a lot by the Pacific, and I don't think the door would have survived without them.
I 'had' them (OEM) on my 2015 Jayco. They were very noisy (like metal on metal) so i did use a spray silicon; then a graphite and finally lithium grease them. I even tried to pry/ loosen them up a bit . One of the hinges broke and I am not replacing them. Yes they were great when the door was open and it was windy out. But a real pain to open & close more often than they were appreciated. I now use a bungee cord when needed. My 2 cent opinion.
Thanks Herb
Our OEM hinge lasted almost a year. A feather could slam it closed now. It never really seemed to keep the door from being pushed by the winds from day one but it did not slam shut. After lubing it with T9 it has no friction at all to slow it down.
Thanks for the feedback Tom
Hey ray i have the same door and latch as you I’ve tried them on new trailers it is a nice concept I also find that a lot of lipperts aftermarket parts don’t work with some older trailers I’m interested in getting the steps and storage box
I'm loving the steps for our long term stay but will have to see how much of a pain they will be when we get back to traveling.
I have them on my new 2021 Grand Design and I don't like them. I will see if I can get used to them but I will probably change them at some point.
I have these hinges and for people who don’t know they require a little bit of Lubricant and they don’t get in bind. Love mine.
What lube do you use? Looked like graphite grease in there to me. I wonder is some lube sprays may cause problems by washing it away. Cheers, Ray
@@LoveYourRV I have used WD -40 with no problems. It has to be done anytime it starts getting tight.
I was hoping you would have found a fix for loosening the friction part of the hinge. Mine got so tight and/or creaky that it was pulling the frame away from the door edge. After repeated oiling and working it back and forth, I finally just unscrewed the tightest flaps. Adjustability would have been great otherwise relying on a press fit is a flaw with these hinges.
We have them on our rig. No real complaints. However in heavy winds with door open, it will slam shut! We sometimes have to bungee the door open when camping in the dessert.
Thanks for the feedback.
Keeping it real 👍
I hate the friction door hinges. I have a 2019 Cougar half ton series and these doors I think were lemons straight out of the factory.
I had a pin work its way out of my friction hinge and damage my door. I ordered a new friction hinge, but my door doesn't close right now. I do not like them. My second RV door also has the friction hinges and it is getting hard to close.
These came standard in our 2017 Rockwood and we've had no problems so far.. They're definitely good at keeping the door from hitting the camper.... Too bad it didn't work out for your door... It's funny how simple the concept is, eh? lol
That's good to hear, that's a pretty decent stretch of time. Cheers, Ray
You can take a screwdriver and use it to pry open the friction hinge parts just slightly to make it less frictiony. I didn't like mine it was just too tight and you had to fight with it to close the door. Now it's nice and loose.
Good tip, thanks. I guess a person could maybe take a C clamp and attempt the opposite.
Where did you pry open on the friction hinge? What does the screw on the bottom of the hinge do?
I have these OEM on my 2021 Genesis Supreme. I liked them at first until we didn’t camp for 6 months and the door was seized closed. I had to pull hard to open and it wrecked the frame of my door. Clearly now I know I should have lubricated them every couple months but didn’t realize it at the time. Plus the way they attached the hinge to the door was very weak, so that didn’t help.
Thanks for sharing your experience Tim. How do you like that Genesis Supreme? Looks like a cool layout. All the best, Ray
Hinges became stiff and then bent, caused problem at the top of the door binding. Bent hinges and lubed now works fine in 10 mph wind. Bear broke door, repaired and door shut fine for a month then the problem started.
Thanks for sharing.
My Rockwood door hits on the upper left hand corner opposite the friction hinge. Might just have to change hinge. Hopefully its hasnt bent my actual door frame...
I ordered and installed a set on my 2017 Reflection 5th wheel a couple of months ago. Used it for the first time on a week long trip to Chattanooga two weeks ago and really like it. Won’t keep the door open in a really strong wind but worked great otherwise and I like not having to walk outside to unlatch the door hook when I’m ready to close the door. Only thing I’d like to see them change is to put three pre drilled holes on both sides of the hinge instead of just the one side. I used the provided template and drilled the extra holes on my drill press.
Thanks for the feedback and good point, Larry. I thought that myself. I wonder why the holes aren't predrilled already.
🤷♂️
Have you ever found a door holder that works? Every one I've installed has broken or ripped a hole in my door. Appreciate this review. I dont have a compatible door either. I guess I'll try a stainless clip style catch. Saw that on an old airstream and it's always worked accordiing to the owner.
I've had the original OEM plastic catch on the side of the trailer for 11 years now and we are full time RVers. Looks like this amzn.to/39sWhsb
@@LoveYourRV yeah, those always break and rip a hole in the door. I live in my rv fulltime too, 15 yrs., but in the west mostly Wyoming and Arizona where winds are a way of life.
Weird, mine has been fine 11 years now. It needs to be located near the edge of the door so the screws are into the frame. Here is a look at mine th-cam.com/video/-bqYkP_Pdlk/w-d-xo.html
One tiny pin on the bottom came out and pierced a hole. Now it’s all not centered and the door is completely off balanced
I like the one is on my door.
I tried to order these last week. 2 problems. 1) I cant tell who made my door because the mfgr. sticker is covered up by an existing hinge, and my email to Coachmen hasn't been returned.
2) While these were in my cart at Amazon the price went up 10.00 in 2 days. Anyway, the more I research the more I discover just how many door frames are getting bent. If and when I am able to order I am thinking about just installing one hinge in the center. You think that would do any good?
Not sure. If I can move the hinge with just my fingers I'd think the door moves pretty easily with just one hinge. Likely it would hold in place until some wind blows. I'd keep the regular catch in place.
@@LoveYourRV Thank you. I may just replace the catch with a magnetic one and call it a day!
They almost wrecked my door and door frame they got so stiff. Hate them!!! Don’t install them lippert would not send me normal hinges even if I paid for them. They said they only make friction hinges now. Garbage! I figured out how to disable them to save my door and have no regrets.
I see you can get them here - www.etrailer.com/RV-Door-Parts/Lippert/LC198295.html Cheers, Ray
What I truly disliked was Lippert manufacturing this hinge and NOT identifying it as such. no markings on it whatsoever. For a new owner in the resale market, that's pure incompetence!! It was just by luck I found out this type of "friction hinge" exists. I was at the point of dismantling it and reaming the holes. 99.99% of door hinges that BIND indicate a problem.
i had them on my camper...they worked great for 3 years...then they started squeking real bad....and then they just locked up...had to take them out.
Thanks for sharing your experience Tom.
Friction hinges are the worst… nothing but issues with it.. and main door too close to awning arm and the door can damage the awning
My OEM friction hinge squeaks really really bad!
I would advise NOT installing friction hinges on your RV door. Our 2016 Montana came with Lippert Friction Hinges on the door, and now the door frame has pulled away from the door skin, and has distorted so bad, that the door is contacting with the door jamb, and has to be slammed. A new door costs over $1000. This is a poorly engineered product, in my opinion.
Thanks for sharing. Hopefully you can take the door off straighten things out and save the door then install the none friction hinge version. All the best, Ray
Absolutely HATE them! Don’t do it!
This hinge is the WORST thing ever created!!!
Yeah, some people seem to like it but a ton don't
This non stop product pimping is getting very old, please change your channel name to "the non stop I got it for free so am going to give it a biased review never pointing out the negatives" channel
In this video, I told people that the product doesn't work well for about half the people I hear from and many hate it and it has even damaged some doors. Then I pointed out that it didn't even physically work on my door. Then I tore it apart to see how it works. Doesn't sound much like product pimping to me.
@@LoveYourRV true enough, nice change… I’m still sitting on a piece of shit Bluetooth level you pimped out in your early days without telling people it killed batteries within hours
Well, you can't get them all right at first blush, cut me some slack. I showed people how to mod it to make it work better. www.loveyourrv.com/levelmatepro-adding-power-switch-mod/
I find Ray's evaluations on the level - he says he gets the stuff for free - and its a balanced review. Also, he's full time and using the stuff he installs constantly - not just an initial review. Keep it up Ray - more are on your side!!
@@hgoff5617 Good for you, I don't care what you think and I don't recall saying "Hey H Goff, how do you feel" in fact I think I was talking to Ray, not you.... I'm not sure why people on youtube think that when someone is talking to the creator of the video, they have the right to just interject with their unasked for opinion, they wouldn't do it face to face, keyboard warriors.... mind your own business.