help cannot open caravan door (1 Viewer)

dshague

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Aug 22, 2007
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went out to my swift escape ,cannot open the caravan door it will open on the lock ,pull out two inches .it seems to be jammed on the top ,there is a door restrianer
at the top of door,,, any idea's how to fix thanks

 

irnbru

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Jun 27, 2013
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Try moving the restrainer by placing a thin piece of metal alongside? Just a guess.
 
Nov 30, 2009
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When we used to gave a caravan , the lock was in the middle. It didn't have a lock at the top or bottom. Could it just be the rubber seals stuck together.

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Cal54

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We have a similar problem with my sisters hab door, only in reverse - we can't always close it! It appears that the restrainer has bent slightly. We have to manhandle the bar at times to get the door to shut. The intention is to replace the restraining bar in the top of the door soon.
 
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dshague

dshague

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thanks for your reply can get my fingers round door when open a not stuck on seal
 

DBK

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Assuming you are at home and not stuck outside literally, wait until tomorrow when it is light, stand on some steps and with a torch try and see what is jamming it. A thin, long, flat screwdriver could be useful for poking things.

If you are stuck somewhere and freezing to death, just pull hard!

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wingman

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You say it's a Swift Escape 'caravan' as opposed to a Motorhome?

If it's a caravan and you can't budge it (maybe the door stay was bent in recent wind' or it's just Sod's law???)

If you can only get 2" access from outside, you may have to use the coat hanger trick on a window to get inside and tackle it from the interior. Won't tell you how, as you never know who's reading the thread. Think you get the gist?
 
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dshague

dshague

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wingman thanks,,,, van is a coachbuilt its the rear door that's the problem am at home will try to open in morning ,coat hanger /slim metal /big crow bar ....
 

markh

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Can you go in through the cab and see what's stopping it opening?

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Nov 30, 2009
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Oh is it a coach built Motorhome? You said swift caravan Door ?

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Oct 7, 2013
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Just a thought. As an ex-caravaner I had a similar experience some years ago.

The cause was :- corner steadies not wound down equally twisting the body/chassis slightly. This caused the door frame to distort.

Lifting all four off the ground cured the problem.

Hope this helps.
 

wingman

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I'm doubly confused now! @dshague said it was an Escape Caravan ( I believe Swift do an 'Escape' both in the caravan AND Motorhome ranges?)

Now, the OP talks about a 'coachbuilt'. I wouldn't have suggested getting through the window if it were an MH (n)
 

wingman

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OK 'dsh'. I see it all now. Sorry for suggesting you climb through the window :smiley:
Just wait till tomorrow's daylight, get in via the cab and investigate from the inside.

As outlined above, could be all sorts....

Good luck. Let us know what the outcome was.

Regards
James
 

old-mo

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Think it needs clarifying...
Swift Escape Caravan 1 door...... go in through a window..(y) ;)

Swift Escape Motorhome 3 doors..... go in through another door.. (y) ;)

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GWAYGWAY

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Take the key, open the driver door, get inside, walk to side door and remove stay.Open the side door!!! Simples.
 

motorhomer

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Exactly the same thing happened to my neighbours Bessacar - ie also a swift! Possibly not a coincidence.

The door stay was between the door and the door frame, at the top, so not possible to get at it from inside the van.

My only suggestion is to spray my favourite fix it - ie WD40 around the door stay, above the door.

After that I think you have to force it from the inside, and hope nothing breaks. If its under guarantee I would take it back to the dealer!
 

Lenny HB

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Is it a Hartal door? There were problems with those manufactured in 2007/2008 if it is chances are the retaining cap that holds the mechanism in place has come off, easy to repair & mod once you have taken the rear cover off.

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TheBig1

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DO NOT FORCE IT! you will twist the door and frame

open door as far as it will travel and spray in releasing lubricant. WD40 or GT85 both are good. leave to work half an hour. then open the door and wiggle it back and forth to make the retainer slide along its track.

once its fully open strip down the retainer and either free it off and clean it or replace it.

some vans are more prone to this than others, as water/rain can settle on the top of the door and it starts to corrode the track. there is no permanent cure other than removing the retainer
 

Welsh girl

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We had trouble with the door retainer on our swift mh. Had to tape it to the frame way in the end as it used to pop off its rivets and hang down in the way of shutting the door. Never got it fixed. Traded van in for another swift more fool us.
 
Oct 7, 2013
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Just a thought. As an ex-caravaner I had a similar experience some years ago.

The cause was :- corner steadies not wound down equally twisting the body/chassis slightly. This caused the door frame to distort.

Lifting all four off the ground cured the problem.

Hope this helps.
Sorry!

Didn't see the clarification that you were talking about a M/H. Original post referred to "caravan door".:(

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dshague

dshague

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Aug 22, 2007
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steep ladder out ,small screw driver lift up door stay nothing door still stuck ,,then spot the problem .the captive screw that holds the door stay to frame had come lose and dropped in to grove in top of door .lifted up screw . door opened .threads on screw had worn out .have re tappet a new captive screw in to door frame and all is well .silicone sprayed runners .
I only got this van two weeks ago only opened the habitation door three times .
thank you all for you replies...

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wingman

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Well, there ya go dsh. Good to hear that it's all sorted. Thanks for letting us know.

It's not unusual to have a problem with a van one's just bought. These pages bear witness to that! The screw could have been dislodged at any time. Better that this happened outside the house and not at some more remote place!

Sounds like you've done a great job there.

James
 

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