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


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-Hardw...70_&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.


This shot will give you a sense of how the plastic has bowed slightly, though:


Here is a shot of the latch:

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.

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.