I just went to the local place that sells and maintains travel trailers and motor homes. They had a large selection of different sizes and strengths. I'll measure mine and post the next time I get to the hangar.

Just a thought on "locking" doors on airplanes... An acquaintance of mine locks his plane religiously, and did so when he parked at an "away from home" overnight stopover. When he returned the next day, the airplane had been broken into, and some of his avionics had been stolen. Insurance covered the loss for that - no issue.

But the real problem was that they got into the plane by using a crowbar to force the door open. In the process, they destroyed the door, and did significant damage to the door frame itself. A replacement door was probably available from salvaged wrecks, but the damage to the door frame itself was deemed non-repairable, and the insurance company wound up totaling the airplane. (Yes, he was slightly under-insured on his hull value, but that's a different issue.)

As a result, I've completely re-thought the whole "locking the plane" argument, and I routinely leave my "certified" airplane unlocked now. I'd rather have my avionics stolen (I take everything else with me) than have the airframe damaged like his was... I'm considering using some really cheap, easily defeated locks on the homebuilt, on the premise that they will keep the honest people out, while allowing a "real" thief to break / pick the locks rather than destroy the doors to get in...

JP256 wrote:As a result, I've completely re-thought the whole "locking the plane" argument, and I routinely leave my "certified" airplane unlocked now. I'd rather have my avionics stolen (I take everything else with me) than have the airframe damaged like his was... I'm considering using some really cheap, easily defeated locks on the homebuilt, on the premise that they will keep the honest people out, while allowing a "real" thief to break / pick the locks rather than destroy the doors to get in...

Good plan and just enough to keep someone from doing a quick grab. No such thing as fully locking a fabric airplane anyway since all it takes is a knife to open it up.

If I remember correctly (Its been a few years)... we obtained our gas struts from McMaster Carr for our pilot/copilot doors. Had to measure well, and get a size +/- and try them to see what worked. They weren't real expensive I don't think...

blackrock wrote:I just went to the local place that sells and maintains travel trailers and motor homes. They had a large selection of different sizes and strengths. I'll measure mine and post the next time I get to the hangar.

This is whats on my Bearhawk's middle door:

http://www.americanrvcompany.com/JR-Products-GSNI-6624-Gas-Spring-Camper-Trailer-RV