What’s the best way to fix this locker door on!

Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Posts
462
Likes collected
763
Location
East Yorkshire
Funster No
28,639
MH
Elddis Autoquest 115
Exp
Few years
Hi all
Just looking for some advice. My Elddis has a battery box that has an exterior locker door and a box moulded to it. My new battery won’t fit in so I am going to remove it and fill the hole where it was with a new door.
I’ve got the door and it’s an identical fit so will work but need advice on how to fix it in place.

The new frame has pre drilled holes for screws, as does the existing one but they aren’t used - it looks like the factory fit battery box/door is just stuck on with Sikaflex.

I would prefer not to use screws, so have bought some Sikaflex but not sure if I should just stick with Sikaflex or if I should add some non setting mastic tape as well - also is it worth putting something (like a match stick) to make sure the sikaflex doesn’t squeeze out when I push the door in place. Also how long would I need to hold the door before the sikaflex takes a grip or will I need to try and keep the door wedged in place for 24 hours?

Photos of the replacement door are below.
Any advice appreciated
Richard

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You seem to have thought it out well. Use your sikaflex, probably will not need spacers. Tape it in position overnight.
 
You seem to have thought it out well. Use your sikaflex, probably will not need spacers. Tape it in position overnight.
Thanks - so just plenty of sika and not bother with the mastic tape?
 
My advice. Use either sika OR mastic tape and screws. Not both though.
 
If you look in the "solar panel" forum you'll see lots of info about sticking stuff down with Sika, mastic, mastic tape etc.

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After giving the surface a good clean, I would use a small bead of Sikaflex 'Caravan' 522 behind to squeeze out as a gasket to stop water ingress and secure the door with a few large headed pop-rivets, at each corner, through the existing pre-drilled screw holes.
 
Tile spacers are a better bet than matches and if you use rivets the 'peel dome' ones will provide a firm hold.
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I fitted an extra external locker door and frame on our Elddis last year.
I removed the door from the frame to bond the frame in place and I found that the Sikaflex has enough "grab/suction" to hold the frame while the Sikaflex cured, but I did use several strips of masking tape just in case. No screws used, just Sikaflex.

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The new frame has pre drilled holes for screws, as does the existing one but they aren’t used
When Elddis moved to "Solid" construction they eliminated as many screws as possible.
We had two Elddis motorhomes and none of the locker frames had screws.
 
When Elddis moved to "Solid" construction they eliminated as many screws as possible.
We had two Elddis motorhomes and none of the locker frames had screws.

As the construction of a lot of motorhome walls is a dense foam sandwiched between a thin layer of plastic and a hardboard like sheet I wonder what the fixing screws would be screwing into ?

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While velcro may not be an answer in your case, there are many strengths of grip, the stronger versions are used to attach body panels in some vehicles. I damaged a front bottom corner on my then Dethleffs and was surprised to see it was attached by very strong velcro.
 
Ok, did a bit of surgery on the van with circular saw! Managed to chop the battery box out without having to replace the door!
Lithium upgrade now underway…
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