How to Find or Build an Enclosed Trailer Screen Door (8 Tips)
One thing about screen doors, they are flexible enough to handle just about any trailer you own. While it may be tough to fin done to fit your specific situation, solutions are out there. The key will be in the design and type of your trailer plus your purpose.
There are enough screen door companies out there that can customize one for your enclosed trailer. The key will be to know exactly why you need it and how strong the door should be to serve your purposes.
To get more tips on finding or building a screen door for an enclosed trailer, just continue to read our article. it has the information you need for you to get to the right solution for your situation. Take a few minutes to get these tips and make your search easier.
Enclosed Trailer Screen Door 101
What is the Size of an RV Screen Door?
There is no one size fits all screen door for RVs. the standard widths of RV doorways can range between 14 and 70 inches. That means that you will have to do some accurate measuring if you want to get the best possible fit.
The next important task is to take note of the design of the door. Not all RV doorways are rectangle in size. Some may have rounded corners, others may be closer to square, or some just maybe on the small size.
After you get the design and measurements, you need to start your search. Depending on how much you want to spend you have three basic options to work with. The first is to talk to screen door makers who specialize in making these doors for RVs.
Buying new can be expensive depending on the materials that will be used and the size of the door. the second option you have is to go to someone who specializes in customizing different parts for RVs. These two can be an expensive option.
The third method is to start looking at used shops or junkyards. You may find what you want in those locations but it will be a hard search unless you get lucky. The cost will be lower but the time invested will be great.
How do I Know what Size Screen Door I Need?
This is decided by taking accurate measurements. To start, you should take measurements at the top of the opening, in the middle, and at the bottom of the opening. That is measuring width, not length or height.
After you take those measurements, you need to take the vertical size and make one measurement. You can do more than one if the design of your RV door dictates this. It will be a bit harder to accurately measure for rounded corners.
When you have that type of doorway, you should add a drawing to the measurements and make more than one measurement. You will want to get the top middle and bottom of the arch to get the exact size you need.
Keep in mind that while the measurement for a screen door is the same as doing it for a traditional house, the sizes and designs are not going to be similar. Also, the hinge or hinges for a screen door for your RV will not be the same as those for a traditional door.
You may have to take those hinge designs into account and adjust those figures accordingly.
How do you Measure for a Mobile Home Screen Door?
There should be some clarification made here. Usually, when using the terms mobile homes, people automatically think of those movable structures that are most often housed in trailer parks.
The most common size for those structures is 32 by 76 inches. That is if they were built after 1980. Before that year, the most common size was 32 by 72 inches. The way to measure those openings to get a good screen door is to measure the opening you have. That is about it.
For RVs and travel trailers this process is a little different because the designs of the door openings are not all the same. The basics are the same, just take a good measuring tape and make sure to cover the opening completely.
Do not leave any odd design out of your measuring. Clearly record your measurements and be ready to explain any odd sizes that show up. It helps to have a drawing of your doorway so you can show all the intricate details clearly.
Before you start, there are 3 questions to ask yourself.
1. What type of screen door do you need? This can be an outward or inward swing, a combination door, and so on.
2. Do you need a left or right-hand door? Believe it or not, screen doors do come in both options. The location of the hinges tells you which type you will need. Hinges on the left are for left swinging doors and hinges on the right are for right swinging doors.
3. What size do you need and that has been covered already. Your measurements will provide the answer to that question.
Finding an Enclosed Trailer Screen Door
There is one little problem you may encounter when you do this search. usually, the RV screen door and regular door are sold as one package. The two doors use the same frame so they may not be listed in separate categories.
That is tip number 2. You may not find anything listed under RV or enclosed trailer screen doors as they are thought of as one with the regular door. We are not the only ones having difficulty finding information on the internet concerning this topic.
It is the biggest complaint we have seen so far. With that said, you may have to go looking for companies that build RV screen doors. That is tip #3 as these companies may not be the most economical solution.
One had a screen door model available for $350 and there is more bad news. It may not fit the dimensions of your RV or cargo trailer. Then there is another problem you will encounter.
Screen doors on cargo trailers, enclosed trailers, and RVs, etc., can only be installed if the entry door was originally made to hold a screen door. There is one caveat to that requirement as well. the original hinge must be there as well.
Cargo Trailer Screen Door
The screen door for this trailer option may also be part of an all-in-one package. At least the pre-made options are designed to hold both the door and the screen door at the same time.
That is what we have seen at one online cargo trailer door company. Their cost for this combination is just under $1000. Other options are irregular screen doors but they are a completely different design. They would have a separate frame and attaching mechanism but they would not operate as a traditional screen door.
Those irregular-sized screens would range in price depending on size and other factors. Also, the type of screen door you get will depend on the purpose. If you want to get one that will hold your pets inside, the screen material would have to be very large,
There is what is called an add a wall option. You may lose a few inches inside your cargo trailer but you will gain a screen door or wall. This option is something to consider when you have a back cargo door that lowers into a ramp. The cost will depend on the size.
Magnetic Screen Door for Cargo Trailer
This option is a good one if you can find one that will fit your cargo door opening. A magnetic screen door is not hard to install and can self close if installed right. The magnets will hold the screen in place when you need it closed.
It will take some tweaking to get the door to close just right so expect a little work on that end of the installation. These screen doors are handy for cargo trailers when you want fresh air and not the bugs entering your trailer.
There are lots of magnetic door options out there, the trick will be to get one that fits your cargo trailer. Most are made for the traditional home but if they can fit, they should work on your RV or another trailer.
Often the magnetic screens must be customized to your situation and having professionals do the work is highly recommended. The good thing about many of these screen doors is that they can be zipped up tight in case you want a little privacy inside the trailer.
The opaque screen blocks observers from having a clear view of what is going on inside the trailer.
Cargo Trailer Ramp Door Screen
There are lots of options you can choose from for this situation. It is one of the more common additions you can make to a cargo trailer. We mentioned that add a wall screen door and is a perfect solution when you need to use the ramp but still do not want bugs inside.
These doors are easy to use and often come with a middle closure making them even easier to go through. There is also the option of adding a roll-up screen door. This preserves your space while making sure you have the protection you want.
The roll-up variation will simply hide up behind the overhead overhang and be out of sight when not needed. Finding these screen door options is not going to be difficult. many companies sell them and should be able to install them for you.
Just look through the yellow pages, the classified ads, or on the internet to get a good lead. Do some comparison shopping to make sure you get a quality installation and screen for the amount of money you will have to pay.
Another possibility would be to screen in the ramp completely and make it another room. You do have lots of choices on this topic.
How to Install Trailer Screen Door
When you are doing a replacement screen door on your RV, you may have to replace the exterior door at the same time. These doors are sold as complete units and not as independent doors. To replace this type of door, you just need a good drill or screwdriver.
Remove the old screws and then the doors. Next, place the doors in position and have someone hold them there. After that, simply replace the screws and the doors are installed.
For other types of screen doors, it is best to follow the instructions that came with the door. They all have their own method of installation and you have to make sure you get the right size of door for your opening.
One more tip that may be helpful is that not all screening material is strong enough to stop a dog or two from breaking out. If you install a screen door and you feel it is not strong enough, simply add a little plastic gate to go across the opening.
These gates are the same as the child protective gates you use at home. They should be strong enough to prevent your dog from putting a big hole in your new screen door.
DIY Cargo Trailer Screen Door
There are as many ideas for this topic as there are screen doors for RVs and trailers. In other words, the sky is the limit and you are free to design your screen door any way you want it to be. As long as it is practical and fits your storage situation.
Some people have used 2 by 4 framing to attach their screens to while others use Velcro and screws along with magnets. Then some people install a sliding screen door so that it does not take up a lot of space or make it inconvenient to enter or exit the trailer.
Good runners will handle this option and should last a long time. Then you can go to your local home improvement store and buy the frame and the screen separately. The frame pieces are said to come in 3 and 4-foot lengths.
All you would need would be those items and some top-notch hardware. Then a few DIY skills will have that screen door in place. The factors you need to be concerned about would be the size of the door, the design of it, the material you want to use, and where you want or need the opening.
Making a Screen Door for a Cargo Trailer
If you are handy or know someone who is, this is not going to be a difficult task. The key to doing this is making sure you select the right design and materials to get the job done right.
You can use wood, plywood, aluminum, or even Velcro to make your screen door. the last option may be your weakest of all but if you do not have kids or pets, it may be a great and inexpensive option.
The good aspect of making your own screen door is that you can choose the type of screening you want. Some powder-coated aluminum options would be strong enough to hold your dog inside the trailer.
But the key factor would be the purpose you have in mind for the screen door. You will need to create a design that will make it easier for your purpose. All you need will be the right materials.
Enclosed Trailer Screen Door 8 tips
You may not have seen all the tips we placed in this article, so here is a quick checklist for you to use.
1. RV screen doors are usually not sold separately. You will have to find the location or store that sells both as one package.
2. Use the internet. Even a local search will turn up options you may not have considered.
3. Check used places. There are a lot of junkyards where you can find a pre-built screen door.
4. Check with friends or relatives to see if they have leads for you to follow
5. The places to look will depend on the type of screen door you want and if you want to do it yourself.
6. Check out home improvement stores. They have frames and screening you can use.
7. Go to businesses that make screen doors. Even fabricators may be of some service to you.
8. Build your own. Find the materials you want and create your own design, then build it.
Some Final Words
Screen doors on enclosed trailers are a good idea. the key will be finding the right size and design.
