Car Hauler side/escape door installation

[QOTHL]

I've purchased the materials and have a plan - just want to ask if anyone has experience putting one of these in their trailer before I start cutting.

 

[dadsbee]

Make sure you get the door as low as you can above the wheel well. My Bird door JUST clears mine and I wish the mfg had of installed it an inch or better lower.

 

[33 IMP]

Great advice. An escape door isn't worth much if you cant get the car door open!

 

[Sixpactogo]

Looks a lot like my Pace 26 footer. I have to put a couple of short 2 X 12s down under the left tires to get the left side up enough to clear that damn door. It is either that or winch it in.

 

[QOTHL]

Make sure you get the door as low as you can above the wheel well. My Bird door JUST clears mine and I wish the mfg had of installed it an inch or better lower.
View attachment 949206
View attachment 949207
View attachment 949208

Did you install it or have it done or was it there when you bought the trailer?

 

[QOTHL]

Looks a lot like my Pace 26 footer. I have to put a couple of short 2 X 12s down to get the left side up enough to clear that damn door. It is either that or winch it in.

I met a guy at a car show who permanently put wood on the drivers side to raise it high enough to clear the door. We've measured many times and I shouldn't have to do that but will if it comes down to it.

 

[Hey-O]

Make sure you get the door as low as you can above the wheel well. My Bird door JUST clears mine and I wish the mfg had of installed it an inch or better lower.
View attachment 949206
View attachment 949207
View attachment 949208

Screw a 1x10 to the floor on each side for each set of wheels to drive up on to bring it up a bit.

 

[QOTHL]

Make sure you get the door as low as you can above the wheel well. My Bird door JUST clears mine and I wish the mfg had of installed it an inch or better lower.


I'm going to make sure the door can open so I have no risk of hitting the opening. The floor looks great but wonder how much weight it added. What is the overall length?

 

[dadsbee]

Did you install it or have it done or was it there when you bought the trailer?

As noted, I'd wished the manufacturer had of installed it lower. Custom ordered mine this way from Atlas. Door could have been installed about 1.5" lower with no trim work inside.

Would have been better if my door was about 10" further forward...

What extra weight are you talking about on the floor??? It's just painted.... Here it is with the tracks in, ready to head for Talladega. No way I'd want the hassle of putting planks down.

 

[Bb70charger500]

I will say make sure your door opens towards the front !
Trust me I know who would have it open backwards well I saw a guy at a local show he said he just finished the install this was it's first run he said it had major drag I said maybe because the door is facing the wrong way and is catching air well a year later the door was a slight taco shape from the air . The following year he fixed it and worked great!

 

[QOTHL]

As noted, I'd wished the manufacturer had of installed it lower. Custom ordered mine this way from Atlas. Door could have been installed about 1.5" lower with no trim work inside.

Would have been better if my door was about 10" further forward...

What extra weight are you talking about on the floor??? It's just painted.... Here it is with the tracks in, ready to head for Talladega. No way I'd want the hassle of putting planks down.
View attachment 949283 View attachment 949284

Sorry, missed that it was installed by the mfgr. It looks like a rubber floor that's why I mentioned weight. I shouldn't need any planks but we'll do it if we have to. We put the tracks in, bolted to steel plates under the floor. This mgfr put in a crappy flap on the ramp door that broke after driving over it twice. I'll have to fix that eventually - probably weld something. (DIAMOND TRAILERS OUT OF DOUGLAS GA SUCKS!) I'm glad I'll be doing the escape door myself.