Entry Door Parts

Choosing entry door holders and bumpers

The part that gives out most on an entry door is the holder meant to catch it open: a bent arm, a worn plunger, or a catch that has lost its bite. Getting the replacement right depends on the style your door uses and where it mounts:

• Plunger holders. A spring-loaded plunger catch, like the RV Designer 4.75-inch angled zinc unit, grabs a strike when the door swings full open and lets go with a tug. Common on newer trailers and simple to retrofit.
• 45-degree holders. The angled T-handle style, which RV Designer offers in brushed zinc and stainless, mounts on the sidewall and catches the door at roughly 45 degrees. Confirm whether yours follows a builder-specific pattern like the Fleetwood-style 3-3/4 inch before ordering.
• Material and finish. Zinc holders are the budget standard; stainless steel handles shrug off coastal corrosion and hold their looks longer. Beige and white finishes blend with common sidewall colors.
• Door bumpers. A peel-and-stick or under-door rubber bumper cushions the door where it meets the body, so an over-swing or hard slam does not crack the gel coat or dent surrounding trim.

Match the mounting footprint of the old holder and you can reuse the existing screw holes. If the door itself will not latch shut, handle that in locks and latches; screen door hardware is covered under screen doors.