Eagles International Forum

Now that I have your attention! Had to do this to maybe take some away from Van's Project Page! Wow, the site Favorite! Good for You!

Anyway, I would like to know who has changed out their heavy bay swing up doors for either cafe or pantograph style. I know what Dales response will be! Ha Ha. Hey Dale, have you ever hit your head on one of those?

Please explain why you made the change and show some pictures of your work, or maybe someone else built them, who cares.

We have 58 members, so there should be that many responses. Even if you don't own an Eagle (YET), ask questions anyway. We're here to share! Don't be bashful!

Pantograph door I would go for but I am not a cafe door person it takes 30in to open one and most of the time you need to open both to reach the area you are trying to get too and sooner or later the ones I 've been around after years of use they weld a upright between them to stop the rattles and flying open.Sonnie is working on a new system for his and he will get it right I think but each to his own I just buy the lifts about every 4 years and keep on ticking

Clifford

Paul,

I am working on mine now. I have to change to cafe for the slideouts. I got a slideout in the way of almost every dern one of em. Personaly I think we (all of us bus owners that is) can do better than the original weatherstriping method. I will soon be posting some progress pics.

....................Kentucky Steve ...............

Hard to miss the doors with 4 slides huh Steve,Sonnie is working on his using the trunks closers off the GM and Ford products and specials hinges.I know he is like me when it comes to posting photos but he could get Darinn or Mike to do it for him may give you some ideas Good luck

At TBR this year, Sonnie did mention that he was designing some pantograph type doors. He said he gave away some cafe door frames, so it must be good!

Whatever he comes up with will be first class I'm sure.

Can't wait to see what he comes up with, just hope he will share it when he is finished. If not I'm sure one of us would be glad to help him post pics!

Clifford, thats one of my problem area's, the hinges that is. I would like to have something hidden. I have been playing with some new old stock latches from my late 70s early 80s collection of leftovers for chevy trucks. I worked at an ambulance factory and they had the best system I ever remember for cafe doors. Its just that it has been over 20 years and many a beer ago since working there. I will be posting some pics soon of what I am thinking of doing in more detail. The pics are of a local depts, fire and rescue vehicals doors and hardware. In my opinion when it comes to reliabilaty as well as looks you cant beat the rescue vehical design. It just my be more that the average bus nut may want to fabricate but you know me.

sheres tha speel cheeck

Steve, Buck Bolding has hidden hinges on his cafe doors plus he has no outside latches or handles that is his Eagle on the home page with the slide.I will give him a call and see if he will post some photos.Someway we have to get these guys on the board every one of the owners have somthing unique about their coaches.FWIW love the way you answered Teke on BNO I better check the name I may have the wrong owner good luck

Paul ,mine are the horizontal bifold doorsand I haven't gave them much thought though as to what I want to do with them yet . seems to me I'd rater take a door to the head as opposed to one in the webles if ya know what I mean

Ahoy, Eagles,

My -01 doors were pretty much 'beat-up' beyond saving. (They were NOT pantograph doors). I built new doors, hinged as original with rubber hinges. They are a fair amount lighter than the original. I moved the original 'hold-up' fixtures (a very nice scheme) so that the open doors were more vertical for less interference. No problems with them, or the hinges. I'd NOT swap them for cafe doors. Only potential problem for some folk is the swing out distance while opening. It's never bothered me.

Enjoy /s/ Bob

Ok I will chime in....
From the entertainer standpoint , the cafe doors swing out too far as previously mentioned and they park the coaches too close together at the venues ...and from also when you are parked at the curb the cafe doors can hit the curb and ding the corners depending on the crown of the street. I know Craig at SEB has designed a door on the new 25 that really hugs the beltline of the coach and goes almost straight up with very little outward travel .....maybe he would create some sort of retrofit kit that could be adapted to the earlier eagles ...I know his doors are much much lighter than the older coaches and when they are up the bottom of the door does not extend down into the bay opening so you have full use of the bay opening which is nice for loading large pieces of equipment and or supplies ...just my .02 FWIW