Sliding Door doovalacky installation instructions

Sliding Door Doovalacky installation

Door Doovalackys are simple to install by following our step by step installation instructions. You should have the following in your Door Doovalacky kit: 4 x custom made to measure Door Lackys8 x Bungee buttons 8 x 8g x 25mm timber fix screws1 x installation instructions.
TOOLS NEEDED:
Tape measure, marker Drill & 2mm drill bit Tek gun or phillips head screwdriver
WARNING
It is imperative that you NEVER overstretch your Bush Lackys, the Bungee cord joining crimp is metal and although it is wrapped with heat shrink, if the Bush Lackys are stretched past their limitations they may fail causing the crimp to separate from the cord. If you or more importantly part of your face is in the rebound path of a failing Bungee cord, it could cause serious eye damage or even blindness.
A standard Sliding Door Doovalacky kit (above)

RV Configuration

Modern RV internal configuration doesn't vary a lot, the below installation example is a common set up for many modern RV’s. With the following the sliding door doesn’t have a backstop so the door slides all the way and butts against the wall. The only thing currently stopping the door going all the way back is a cabin hook which is this particular manufacturer’s method to stabilise the door. This works fine if you’re not moving but when travelling a cabin hook is useless as it allows too much movement.
This type setup is common on modern RV’s, the sliding door butts against the wall and the cabin hook becomes obsolete.
A cabin hook is not a satisfactory anchor for a sliding door on rough terrain. This 100mm cabin hook was replaced with an 80mm one to avoid bogging and painting the old screw holes.
In this example the cabin hook is the door backstop and is a standard length at 100mm which normally keeps the door about 20mm from the wall. This is half the reason there is so much movement in the door when travelling. Once the Door Doovalackys are installed the cabin hook will not locate onto its hitch (as is too long).
Obviously once the Door Doovalackys are installed the cabin hook is pretty much obsolete and will be left hanging if not removed or repositioned. If left swinging it may eventually mark the door from constant movement during transit. There are two easy solutions to rectify this, firstly you can remove the cabin arm from the door and refit to its new position once the Door Doovalackys are fitted. This will require bogging the old screw holes and repainting. (Or remove totally and rebog all holes). Secondly (as per this example) an 80mm cabin hook was purchased from a hardware store and the same screw holes were used to install as per the original.

INFORMATION

To secure the door firmly the wall will become part of the door anchor, if you are worried that the door edge will mark the wall there is a simple remedy to avoid this happening: Stick some self-adhesive pads on the back of the door to protect the wall. Put these on before you reposition the cabin hook.
The aim is to install the Door Doovalacky anchors in a position that are less obvious and that they fit uniformly with the interior of your van.
The measurements recorded when the Door Doovalackys were ordered will obviously have a bearing on where the anchors will be placed.
Use a stick on pad similar to above and adhere to the door edge if you are concerned about the door marking the wall
Anchors located on the back of the door in a less obvious position
You can start at whatever position you like, for the first example we are installing the top front Door Doovalacky. The Sliding Door Doovalackys can be installed in any position you prefer as long as your anchors are set at the correct distances.
To simplify installation we have kept all of the measurements between the anchors equal. NEVER overstretch the Doovalackys as serious eye injury may result. The following set out is what we recommend.

DOOR FRONT INSTALLATION

1) In the bathroom side of the door (below) we have chosen to fit the upper anchor 25mm from the edge of the door and down 25mm from the underside of the facia (this is the cover over your sliding door). This is only a guide, the anchor can be placed higher or lower on the door. Place the anchor on the door at this point and slide the door closed. Ensure that the anchor won't interfere with the door closing. Also check this on the bottom position @ 25mm in from the door edge as well. If the anchor is unimpeded mark the position for pre-drilling also ensuring that the drill and driver can access this point unobstructed.
2) Check that the anchors fit unimpeded, then mark the position and pre-drill with a 2mm drill bit
3) Install the Bungee button using the supplied 8gx25mm screw.
Before installing the next anchor and to avoid holes being drilled in the wrong position do the following: With the door fully open and using one of the 2 longer Door Doovalackys, hook it over the anchor and pull down and around to the other side of the door to test for fit. The Doovalacky should comfortably stretch across 140mm (to the centre of the panel) and down 150mm (centre to centre) from the anchor on the opposite side of the door. As per the measuring instructions, we chose the mid point of the wall panel to fit the anchor.
4) Test the position of the Doovalacky before installing the next anchor. If the measurements are correct the Doovalacky should be taught but not overstretched.
5) To keep the anchors looking uniform to the wall panel measure the centre point of the panel at the 175mm point down from facia. (Or 150mm below the centre height of the top anchor)
The distance between the anchor points of the Door Doovalackys is 150mm.
6) Mark the centre of the panel and down 175mm from the underside of the facia (or 150mm down from the anchor on the opposite side of the door)
7) Pre-drill with a 2mm pilot hole.
8) Install the Bungee button.
9) Fit your first Door Lacky, you're 1/4 the way there!

Front bottom anchor

10) On the bathroom side of the door measure up 175mm from the bottom of the door and in 25mm (same as the top).
11) Pre-drill with a 2mm pilot hole.
12) Install the Bungee button.
13) Measure the centre of the panel as above and up 25mm from the bottom of the door. Also double check that the distance between centres of the anchor points is 150mm. Ensure you have enough clearance from the floor to install the Door Doovalacky onto the anchor.
14) Pre-drill with a 2mm pilot hole.
15) Install bottom anchor with supplied 8g x 25mm screw.
16) Install the bottom Door Lacky, you’re halfway there. Almost time to crack a cold one!

Top rear anchor

17) Measure down and mark the same distance from the underside of the facia as the anchor on the same side of the door (25mm) and across 50mm from the back of the door. NOTE: We have increased the distance for this anchor from the edge of the door to 50mm as this will also help pull the door firm against the wall.
18) Pre-drill with a 2mm pilot hole.
These steps can be done with the door open for ease of access. The pics shown are with the door closed to give a clearer aspect of the job.
19) Install top anchor with supplied 8g x 25mm screw.
As with the first Door Doovalacky check the position in the stretched position to ensure the next anchor will be positioned correctly. The measurement to the centre point should be 150mm.
Our set height distance between anchors is 150mm.
20) Measure down 150mm from the centre point of the anchor above and transfer this measurement onto the wall.
21) Install the top back Door Lacky, one to go! Find the centre of the gap (in this instance the centre point between the door and the window frame). As per previous steps, pre-drill with a 2mm pilot hole and install the anchor with the supplied 8g x 25mm screw.

Bottom rear anchor

Above Note: Bottom anchor setup. Lower anchor is set away from the door, same as the top anchor (20MM). The set distance (vertical) between the anchors will be the same as the front of the door at 150mm
22) As per previous measurements mark the bottom anchor up 25mm from the bottom of the door and the same distance in from the door on the wall panel as the top anchor. 23) Pre-drill a 2mm pilot hole and install bottom anchor.
Finished product (below)
Both the upper and lower rear door anchors are also set 25mm from the back edge of door

24) Measure up 150mm from the centre point of the bottom anchor and transfer this measurement onto the door. Measure 50mm in from the back of the door and mark this position. ( same as upper anchor)26) Pre-drill a 2mm pilot hole and install top anchor.27) Connect the final Door Doovlacky, you’ve earnt a cold one!

Finished product summary

Our demo shows the upper anchor point position on the rear of the sliding door. Note: the door is butted against the wall.
Finished position of rear lower anchor. The distance between the anchor points of the rear Door Doovalackys are the same as the front at 150mm.
The bottom of the door "floats" as the weight of the door is held solely by the rollers above, (hence why they break). The door has a slot on the underside, where a guide screwed to the floor holds the bottom of the door in position. This is part of the reason there is so much movement in the door.
Check your door for stability, our demo has no movement and the rolling door hardware won't disintegrate next offroad trip. In this example the bottom door stop also helps stabilise the door by being engaged. If your door doesn't have a stopper as above, a couple of rubber door wedges can be installed to give the bottom of the door a firm base. The downward force the Doovalackys exert will hold the wedges in place.

Do you owe a carton?

Have you drilled a hole in the wrong spot? Stuffed up a measurement? Don't despair, if you've got holes drilled in your new walls and are worried about covering them there's a simple solution. Go to a hardware store and grab some screw covers, most RV's have many of these throughout them as this is what manufacturers use to cover screws (or carton holes).Installation is easy as throwing a dab of silicon or glue on the back of them and covering the dodgy hole.
Also if the missus is bothered that the anchors you have installed are an eyesore, and you don't think they are required for your next trip they can easily be removed and the caps installed. If you plan to hit the scrub again simply remove the caps and reinstall the anchors.
Here at Bush Chook we recommend that the Door Doovalckys be permanently installed as they will protect your door hardware even when on the blacktop.
We'd love some feedback on how your Door Doovalackys are going, we are always looking to improving and refining our products. So get in touch via email or maybe we'll see you on the road.
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