Inside Door Panel Gone Bad - SOLVED

Tabaz

Anyone know what caused this?  More importantly, how to repair it.

Verna

@Tabaz send an email to tech@nucamprv.com and ask Creed or his co-worker what to do. I really don’t know if they have any of the older kind like that in stock, and I don’t know if the new doors fit the your T@B. 

NovaTab

You can buy thin fiber panels used in bathrooms to replace that from HD or Lowes

easy fix

Dalehelman

Heat expansion maybe. Remove window then apply a counter top laminate. Be sure crack edges are level. May need sanding grinding or cutting with a razor knife. Good luck.

ScottG

Am I seeing it correctly that it is cracked in multiple places, but only the one crack has split the outermost layer?

Sharon_is_SAM

Good eye @ScottG.  I just expanded the photo and it looks like the entire door facing is involved.

Tabaz

Yep - its the entire door panel.  NovaTab may be correct about the material.  I emailed nuCamp and will see what they recommend.  Purely cosmetic - the door works fine.

Tabaz

Just heard back from nuCamp - they do not recommend removing that panel.  It's glued and pressed to the foam behind it.  I'll take out the window and see how its attached.

Leeza888

I just picked up my new to me 2017 T@B 320 and it has these same panel cracks.  I look forward to your findings @Tabaz

Lil_Lucy

We have the same problem with our 2016 T@B 320S. This picture was taken two years ago when we took it out of winter storage to head to Florida. Now two years later new cracks have appeared in numerous places on the door skin. We’re still brainstorming on ways to cover them up. Luckily it’s just a cosmetic issue and doesn’t affect the function of the door in any way.

Leeza888

@Lil_Lucy, it looks like your door is waging a war with your window and door latch.

Mine has horizontal stripes, some broken and some not yet broken throughout the door panel.

Leeza888

Denny16

Perhaps just covering it with new material, and inside trim strip around the door.
The other option, is to replace the door, which would need to be ordered from nüCamp via a dealer.
cheere

gulfarea

I wonder if the newer door with the fire extinguisher and storage areas would retro on to our older trailers? Art

Lil_Lucy

Leeza888 said:

@Lil_Lucy, it looks like your door is waging a war with your window and door latch.

Yes, and it looks like the window is winning.

Denny16

The new door with the inside compartments is a new door unit, and yiu can not refit the inside panel only, as nüCamp buys this door already made as a complete unit.  The doors come from Germany I believe, and are the same ones used on EU TaBs.  That is why spare bits, and third party latches are not available for them.  However, nüCamp may carry spare OEM latches and window units for them, but not the inside panel.
cheers

Tabaz

Bad news folks. Just removed the interior ring from the window. The plastic panel IS glued to the styrofoam center. Pulling off that panel will take some foam with it. Looks like the only option is to remove the window ring and door lock, sand down the entire panel, fill in the cracks with something and adhere a covering over the panel.  Ugh.

Denny16

Isn’t that what nüCamp told you?  The inside surface is pressure glued to the foam center in the door.  

Cheers

Tabaz

Tabaz

Yes Denny, that is nuCamp told me.

Tabaz

The only solution nuCamp proposed was buying a new door unit.  Can't imagine what that would cost.  Thought I would open things up and see if there was a work-around.  

Bayliss

Nice autopsy, @Tabaz.  You didn't even nick a vein!

Dalehelman

Regular counter top laminate from HD or Lowe’s is easy to work with. If the current material is secure to the foam core. I would sand the surface to make sure it is level at the cracks. No need for fillers. Then use contact cement to secure the laminate of choice. Cut laminate by scribing repeatedly with a laminate cutter sand edges as needed. Window can be cut with a fine blade jigsaw. If it chips a little the window ring should cover it.

Leeza888

Great sleuthing, @Tabaz and thanks for the photos.  Thank you @Dalehelman for the repair ideas.  

gulfarea

Denny16 What I would like to do is replace the complete door so I could have the upgraded door. Wonder if the new door will fit right on a 2019 320. Art

VictoriaP

gulfarea said:

Denny16 What I would like to do is replace the complete door so I could have the upgraded door. Wonder if the new door will fit right on a 2019 320. Art

I believe nuCamp said No to retrofitting when the new door was first introduced for the 320 with the 2020 model year.

Mellow_Yellow

Sorry to see this happening guys! Any guesses as to the cause? Excessive heat, humidity or cold temperatures? Has the trailer been stored without ventilation? Has it only been seen in 2016/2017 models, so far? 
I find that after I close my (2014) door needs a little extra pull to get it to click and seal shut. It is an impressively tight fit. 

Denny16

It is worth a call to nüCamp and ask,if the new door will fit, or if they have a replacement door for your model, and what the actual cost is.  May not be as much as you think.
cheers

Dalehelman

Just a little brain storming. Are you a full timer? Is your door in the open position for long periods of time? Exposed to direct sunlight? Could UV rays be a factor? Many plastics are not UV stable and become very brittle when exposed to direct sunlight.

Tabaz

Dale - I appreciate your asking as to what may be the cause. In my case, the trailer is in Phoenix, Arizona and stored under shade when not in use. Curious as to the locations of others with this problem. I would hate to (1) spend a ton of time retro fitting a new skin, or (2) buying a new door from the same company that made this defective product.

Lil_Lucy

We are located in southeast Michigan. We store our unit in our unheated garage during the winter months which at least keeps it out of the snow and ice. The door was fine when we put it in there but in the spring when we pulled it out we noticed the cracks. The last couple of years the cracks seem to multiply. I think it has a lot to do with the fluctuations in temperatures. (This is Michigan, of course). At first I thought maybe the screws around the window collar and the door handle were over tightened, but when I checked them they were just snug, as they should be. It’s possible that the door skins were produced from a bad batch of plastic which can’t take the temperature fluctuations. (This is just the Quality Engineer in me talking). As far as replacing the whole door, I would hate to think what that would cost. Over the years I’ve had to replace a front tub, a door screen and a shower pan. This little trailers are a joy to own and we love ours, but when it comes to replacement parts, be prepared to dig into your pocketbook. Especially when you have to go through a dealer.