Good Afternoon Everybody,

Recently, at my place of business, I have had the hinges of the passenger door break. This is the third time that this has happened for the same "reason" according to my employees and costs roughly $900 each time to be fixed. The "reason" behind this is that the wind picks up the door and swings it open to the point that the hinges bust and bend the frame near the front panel. Thus, mechanics state that the entire door must come off, hinges replaced, and the metal pulled back.

My question for anyone is the following:

- Why is there no protection against the door swinging open "too" far?
- Was there supposed to be a stopper (some form of safety) that was not in place from the previous times that mechanics fixed the issue?

- Is this a common issue, Does it occur often? (The more input on this the better)

- Any tips on prevention methods?

Much appreciated.

K.

 

Why was this posted as a poll?

 

In addition to the questions, I would like to survey the population to get an understanding or provide evidence of whether this is common occurrence or an isolated incident. More so for personal research

 

There's huge lapses of needed info, make up your own poll.

So

-Is this your business, that's asking are you paying for these damages or merely supervising these so-called employees?

-Any photos of this damage"

-Were the fenders damaged during this wind event?

-Exactly what metal needs to be pulled back etc?

-Has this happened to multiple vehicles each time with another employee?

-Are there any other witnesses to these events or we going only on the word of these employees?

-Are these employees more the minimum-wage types or well paid and expected to behave professionally and intelligently?


Answer these and we can move forward from there.

 

How about installing a strap to limit the opening of the door ?

 

That's about what I was thinking, besides a piece of rope, one of these-



That's a Commercial door wind chain we use on problem doors, per your description, you could install one of these on the effective van, with the effective employee???

I've had the wind catch a drivers door, but Never ripped the hinge off, and bend up the A-pillar.

I'm with JWA on this.........Why is this a Poll???

 

I'm betting the "wind" is someone backing up with the door open.
I've never had the wind blow the door of ANYTHING I've ever driven

 

Now that is the ideal answer to this question

That should be added to the poll - Ripping off door when backing up.
Or.........Garage/dock door not wide enough to accommodate van with doors open.

 

To Add to that , my Van has the OEM metal version of that strap...and I think ALL econolines have it......When they don't hold anymore you change them...Like the Hinges.....It's Stuff that just wears out... Maybe some Genius took it off your Van ...
A strap like that is just wrong.....maybe buy a Manual for your Truck .....lots of good stuff in there....

 

I can see OP is absent so I'll step on my own toes here with an impression and opinion based on a lot of years living and driving............

This sounds like a highly suspicious situation, possibly caused by pissed off employees purposely damaging this door or doors, whatever the case might be.

I've also NEVER had a "wind event" so large it caused damage to a door or its surrounding sheet metal. Never, ever.

Adding straps and such aren't needed but perhaps better employees are? While we can't undo or untrain stupid we can be more selective in those under our supervision or employ.

Not sure what I smell something fishy about this post but sumpin ain't right..........

 

maybe he was in a couple of tornadoes ?

 

Tornadoes in the form of ******* employees taking revenge I'll bet.

I'll bet in short order we see some sort of new fangled idea or product for sale to prevent this imaginary thing from happening to others. I mean c'mon---3 times this has happened and no one's dug into it deeper?

 

Adapt a kit that fits a F series???




Don't know it this would help with the "wind" problem

Put the doors up vertical, instead of sticking out the sides, to clear trees, dock bays.....ect......

 

I had a VW Rabbit roll back into a planter box with a front door open. It messed up the door but not the A-pillar. I can't imagine an E-250 A-pillar isn't made of sterner stuff, but who knows.

Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 190K miles

 

I take that back. The front passenger door detent roller in our '97 Suburban is sticking. The A-pillar flexes as I force the door closed

Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 190K miles