Bonding stainless steel to plastic

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

I have a small door on my camper for the external shower. It has bowed out slightly and pops open on the road if the hose is in there. This is plastic, but the latch catch is not quite long enough now that it is bowed. Not having the hose in there helps, but I'd still prefer to not have this flapping on the interstate. I had debated getting some random piece of plastic and lengthening the catch, but I'm more tempted to just use a small magnet.

Thinking of something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B4MZC3R
74781

I don't know if I have the clearance for even tiny hardware, so, I think I need to glue this.
I have absolutely no idea if the plastic is polypropylene or polyethylene, which is what I'm reading gorilla glue doesn't recommend use on for their epoxy. I doubt it is polypropylene.

What glue might you try that would be strong enough to, well, withstand the magnet?

[SAnd]

Plain old RTV / Silicone sealer is a good glue that sticks well to just about anything.

[henpecked]

Can the latch be taken apart and made longer? Take some pictures.

[BushMasterBoy]

Previous owner used these on my old motorhome. Drill small hole on outside frame,install latch with one screw. I know it looks hokey, but it works.

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Hardware-762000-Button-Count/dp/B00004Z0P6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1526232388&sr=8-5&keywords=turn+latch&dpID=418MY1CQGNL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

[BPTactical]

Just replace the door. Anything else and you will look like Jed Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillies.

[Great-Kazoo]

Just replace the door. Anything else and you will look like Jed Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillies.

I agree, it's what we did when the same issue happened. For sticking the 2 materials together, pop rivet them. However that will not stay closed as you're going down the road.

[ray1970]

Duct tape.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Here's how it looks closed. Without the hose in there, it hasn't popped open since, but that is 1.5 trips: Back from Moab, and then to Canon City and back.
74804

This shot will give you a sense of how the plastic has bowed slightly, though:
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Here is a shot of the latch:
74806
My first idea was to just add another plastic strip under the screw, but not under the T-shaped grip. Almost did it with some disposable camping cutting board. You can't really see it (well), but that isn't just a mini popsicle stick piece of plastic, there is a lip on both sides of it. Which is why cutting up some thin plastic would add more surface area, but it would mean the latch didn't really catch and now you're on the added plastic. (If that makes sense).

You can see there is an interior frame that this little door sits up against when closed.
74807
This is why if I could hide a tiny magnet to the interior of that "door threshold" it wouldn't be seen, and it would still "catch" by the latch correctly.
(Edit: I'm thinking between those two screws on the frame would hide it)
My concern is that I either wouldn't have the right glue, and the magnets would stick ripping one of the magnets from one of the surface areas.

You can see why the stanley hardware wouldn't really work, as there is no mounting surface for them (lip of door frame precluding). I also can't see replacing the door.
I'm sure if I tried hard enough, I could get the part from Forest River, but I think the design is poor and I'd be in the exact same spot in 1 trip.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

It may be worth saying - first few trips, I used this hose all the time. Instead of as a shower (which I've never done), I used it for cleaning dishes, and once for a dog bath. I've come up with a better solution for that. Well, the dishes anyway. Haven't even used this hose last few trips at all.

[brutal]

Have you thought about reshaping the door to take out the bow?

I couple pieces of curved wood (think thin slats) and some really careful low heat from a hair dryer or heatgun to give it a slight recurve.

What about lengthening that latch or adding to the catch? You could even slot in the door frame a little?

Pics aren't helping me see enough detail.

[Bailey Guns]

Or take a piece of thin steel (thick enough that it won't easily bend) and bolt it on the inside of the door where the curve is with some small nuts/bolts. That might suck the plastic up to it and straighten it out. Or, can you replace the actual rotating latch part with a longer piece of plastic? Something that will catch a little more? Hard to tell if there's room for either from the photos.

[ray1970]

Go big and fabricate a new door out of some diamond plate aluminum.

[Bailey Guns]

^^ Thought of that, too. Probably the best option but most expensive.

[BPTactical]

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Phoenix-Faucets/PF267002.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3Zzwq8-F2wIVT77ACh3lCQwZEAQYASABEgLhyfD_BwE

https://www.amazon.com/Exterior-Shower-Faucet-Camper-Trailer/dp/B075MQFQHQ

https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-PF266701-Exterior-Shower-Black/dp/B01779RAR2

[newracer]

I'd try to reshape the door by heating it. If that didn't work I'd replace it.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Phoenix-Faucets/PF267002.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3Zzwq8-F2wIVT77ACh3lCQwZEAQYASABEgLhyfD_BwE

https://www.amazon.com/Exterior-Shower-Faucet-Camper-Trailer/dp/B075MQFQHQ

https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-PF266701-Exterior-Shower-Black/dp/B01779RAR2

Totally different part. This is the high pressure nozzle. I kept calling it a shower but it is the air hose fitting.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Go big and fabricate a new door out of some diamond plate aluminum.

[Coffee]. I know, right? I just want to glue a magnet, and probably need a pretty weak one at that!

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Or take a piece of thin steel (thick enough that it won't easily bend) and bolt it on the inside of the door where the curve is with some small nuts/bolts. That might suck the plastic up to it and straighten it out. Or, can you replace the actual rotating latch part with a longer piece of plastic? Something that will catch a little more? Hard to tell if there's room for either from the photos.

Actual rotating part looks simple, but is pretty complicated. There is a spring detente with cogs to hold it in place at 3, 6, 9, 12 o’clock.

[brutal]

Actual rotating part looks simple, but is pretty complicated. There is a spring detente with cogs to hold it in place at 3, 6, 9, 12 o’clock.

Easy to replace that with an RV barrel lock.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Easy to replace that with an RV barrel lock.

I'm not sure if it'd have the reach....

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Anyway, here's the follow-up on this. It...sort of worked. At one point in 20 hours it popped open on a decently hard brake. It is invisible, though.

I did ask the dealer about it. Getting a full replacement is easy, but he agrees that these aren't ideal and if it went foul inside of a year, well....[Dunno]
I'll keep my eye out for the perfect material to lengthen the latch, I may try. Our camping cutting boards may be just the ticket.

75179

75180

[Wulf202]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-Line-11-16-in-Dia-9-Cams-Diecast-Construction-Nickel-Plated-Finish-Mailbox-Lock-S-4531/302072130

Use one with an offset cam.

[brutal]

If you're going magnets, rare earth magnets would hold but you'll need some super strong double sided tape.

[newracer]

If you're going magnets, rare earth magnets would hold but you'll need some super strong double sided tape.

Shoe Goo works great for adhering magnets.