7 Best RV Door Stoppers That Full-Time Nomads Swear By

There’s nothing quite like a gust of wind catching your RV door and slamming it shut—or worse, ripping it open and damaging the hinge or sidewall. A flimsy, factory-installed door holder is one of the first things to fail, leaving you with a daily annoyance that can quickly turn into an expensive repair. Finding a reliable way to keep your door where you want it is a small upgrade that makes a massive difference in day-to-day life on the road.

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Choosing the Right Stopper for Your RV Door

The first thing to realize is that there’s no single "best" door stopper for every rig. A heavy door on a Class A motorhome needs a completely different solution than a lightweight door on a vintage travel trailer. The wind profile of your campsite, the material of your sidewall, and even how you use your door all play a part.

Before you buy anything, assess your situation. Is your main problem the door swinging shut, or is it swinging open too far? Does your RV have smooth fiberglass sides perfect for an adhesive mount, or corrugated aluminum that requires screws? Thinking through these questions helps you narrow the field from the start.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to a few key factors:

• Holding Power: Do you need to resist gentle breezes or gale-force winds?
• Installation: Are you comfortable drilling holes, or do you need a no-modification solution?
• Ease of Use: Do you want a hands-free solution or are you okay with a manual latch?
• Durability: Are you in a harsh climate that will degrade plastic, demanding a stainless steel option?

Camco Magnetic Holder: A Strong, Simple Solution

The magnetic door holder is one of the most popular aftermarket upgrades for a reason: it’s simple and it works incredibly well. The Camco version consists of two pieces—a powerful magnet that mounts to your RV’s sidewall and a steel plate that mounts to the door. When the door gets close, the magnet grabs it with a satisfying thunk and holds it tight.

Installation is straightforward, usually just a few screws for each piece. The real benefit is the hands-free operation. You can open the door with an armful of groceries and it will catch itself without you having to fumble with a latch. The magnet is strong enough to hold against a stiff breeze but releases with a firm, intentional pull.

The main consideration is placement. You need a relatively flat, solid surface on both the door and the wall to mount the components. If the alignment is off, it won’t engage properly. While strong, it’s not a foolproof lock; a powerful enough gust of wind can still break the connection, but for most situations, it’s the perfect balance of strength and convenience.

Lippert Friction Hinge: The Integrated Upgrade

The Lippert Friction Hinge isn’t a door stopper in the traditional sense; it’s a complete hinge replacement that changes how your door operates. Instead of swinging freely, a door with a friction hinge has built-in resistance. This allows it to stay put at any angle you open it to, whether it’s just cracked for ventilation or fully open.

This is a game-changer for usability. There’s no latch to connect or magnet to engage. You simply stop moving the door, and it stays. This is fantastic in tight spots where you can’t open the door all the way, or when you want to control airflow precisely. It provides a clean, factory look because there’s no external hardware.

The tradeoff is the installation, which is more involved than a simple catch. You’re replacing the door’s primary hinges, which requires supporting the door and ensuring proper alignment. Some people also find the constant resistance a bit stiff, especially if they’re used to a free-swinging door. But for a seamless, integrated solution, nothing beats it.

JR Products T-Style Latch: The Classic Choice

If you’ve been around RVs for any length of time, you’ve seen the T-style latch. It’s the classic plastic hook-and-catch system that has been a factory standard for decades. A T-shaped piece on the wall clips into a receiver on the door, providing a simple, positive lock.

The beauty of this design is its mechanical simplicity. There are no magnets to lose strength or gas struts to fail. It’s cheap, widely available, and easy to replace if it breaks. When it’s latched, it’s latched—it provides a very secure hold that won’t let go in the wind.

The downside is that the plastic can become brittle from UV exposure, eventually cracking and failing right when you need it. It’s also a fully manual process; you have to consciously clip it in and out every time. For many nomads, keeping a spare T-latch in the toolbox is standard practice, making it a reliable, if basic, choice.

AP Products Gas Prop Kit for Heavy-Duty Doors

For those with big, heavy entry doors—common on fifth wheels and Class A motorhomes—a simple latch often isn’t enough. A gas prop kit is the heavy-duty solution. It works just like the strut that holds up the rear hatch on an SUV, providing powered assistance to both open the door and hold it securely in place.

This system doesn’t just hold the door open; it prevents it from slamming shut and can even help lift it on an upward-sloping campsite. The hold is incredibly strong and stable, making it ideal for full-timers who face unpredictable weather and need absolute reliability. It’s a true set-it-and-forget-it system.

Be warned: this is not a simple bolt-on accessory. Proper installation is critical. You have to measure precisely to find the correct mounting points on both the door and the door frame. If you get it wrong, you can put excessive stress on the door or frame, leading to serious damage. This is the right tool for a specific job, but it’s overkill and overly complex for a standard travel trailer door.

Tri-Mark Plunger Latch for a Secure Hold

The plunger-style latch is another common factory-installed part, especially on mid-to-high-end rigs. It consists of a spring-loaded "plunger" on the door that snaps into a C-shaped socket on the RV wall. This design provides a very positive and secure connection that you can feel and hear when it engages.

This system is fantastic for its secure hold. Unlike a magnet that can be overpowered, the mechanical nature of the plunger and socket means it’s not letting go without a direct pull. It’s a robust design that holds up well to repeated use and provides confidence that your door is staying put.

The primary weakness is alignment. If the door sags or the RV settles, the plunger and socket can misalign, making it difficult to latch or unlatch. The socket can also collect dirt and debris, which can prevent the plunger from seating correctly. Regular cleaning and occasional adjustments are sometimes needed to keep it working smoothly.

The Jamm Doorstop: A Versatile Wedge Option

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. The Jamm is a modern, cleverly designed take on the classic door wedge. It’s made of a grippy, durable material and can be wedged under the door from either side, or even over the top hinge to prevent it from closing.

The biggest advantage here is versatility and the complete lack of installation. You can use it on your main entry door one minute and your bathroom door the next. It’s perfect for holding a door open just a few inches for a cross-breeze without letting pets out. For renters or those who don’t want to drill holes in their rig, it’s an ideal choice.

Of course, it’s not a permanent solution. You have to remember to place it and pick it up, and it can be kicked out of the way by accident. While surprisingly strong, it may not hold a heavy door against a truly powerful gust of wind. Think of it less as a primary door stopper and more as an incredibly useful tool to have in your RV toolkit for all sorts of situations.

RecPro Stainless Steel Magnetic Door Catch

The RecPro magnetic catch functions almost identically to the Camco model, but with one crucial difference: it’s made of stainless steel. This might seem like a small detail, but for full-time nomads, it’s a significant upgrade in durability and longevity.

Plastic components get brittle in the sun and cold, and plated-steel hardware will inevitably rust, especially in coastal or humid environments. Stainless steel solves both of these problems. It resists corrosion and stands up to UV abuse far better than any other common material, ensuring it will look and function like new for years.

You’ll pay a bit more for a stainless steel catch, but it’s a classic "buy it once, cry once" scenario. If you’re tired of replacing a broken plastic T-latch every season or seeing rust streaks running down your sidewall from a cheap metal holder, upgrading to stainless steel is a smart, long-term investment in your rig.

Ultimately, securing your RV door is about matching the hardware to your reality. Whether you choose the seamless integration of a friction hinge or the simple reliability of a stainless steel magnet, the goal is the same: to eliminate a daily frustration and protect your home from damage. A small, thoughtful upgrade here pays dividends in peace of mind every single time you open your door.