6 Best RV Door Hinge Repair Kits For Sagging Doors Nomads Swear By
Fix a sagging RV door with a nomad-approved solution. We review the 6 best hinge repair kits for a durable, secure, and perfectly aligned entry.
You know that sound—the scrape of your RV door dragging across the threshold every time you open it. At first, it’s a minor annoyance, but soon it’s a two-handed struggle just to get the latch to catch. A sagging RV door is more than just irritating; it compromises your seal against weather, lets in pests, and can even become a security risk.
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Why Your RV Door Sags and How to Fix It
Your RV door sags for one simple reason: gravity and vibration are winning. The hinges, specifically the pins and bushings inside them, wear out from the constant jiggling of the road and the weight of the door swinging open and closed. Over time, this creates "slop" in the hinge, allowing the door to droop.
While your first instinct might be to tighten the screws, that’s rarely the long-term solution. If the screws are loose, by all means, tighten them. But more often than not, the internal components of the hinge are the real culprits. A proper hinge repair kit replaces these worn-out parts, restoring the door’s original alignment and creating a tight, secure seal once again. This is one of the most satisfying and impactful repairs you can make.
Lippert Friction Hinge Kit: The Best Upgrade
Control your RV entry door with the Lippert Friction Hinge Kit. This easy-to-install upgrade holds your door in place and prevents slamming, protecting your RV from wind damage.
A friction hinge is more than a repair; it’s a fundamental upgrade to your RV lifestyle. Instead of just fixing the sag, the Lippert Friction Hinge Kit adds tension to the hinge’s movement. This means your door stays exactly where you put it, whether halfway open or fully extended, without needing a latch to hold it against the wind. No more doors slamming shut unexpectedly.
Lippert is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for a huge number of RVs, so this kit is often a direct, bolt-on replacement for your existing hinges. The installation is straightforward, and the result is a door that feels more solid and substantial than it ever did from the factory. If you’re going to the trouble of replacing your hinges, this is the upgrade worth making. It solves the sag and adds a feature you’ll appreciate every single day.
Stromberg Carlson Hinge Kit for Easy Repairs
Sometimes you don’t need a fancy upgrade; you just need a solid, reliable fix. The Stromberg Carlson Hinge Kit is exactly that. It’s a no-nonsense, direct replacement for many standard RV door hinges, designed to get your door re-aligned and sealing properly without any extra features.
Think of this as the workhorse solution. It typically includes new hinge plates, pins, and bushings—everything required to eliminate the slop in your old, worn-out hardware. The build quality is dependable, and for many nomads, it’s the go-to for a cost-effective repair that simply works. If your only goal is to stop the sag and get a good seal, this kit delivers without complicating things.
JR Products Friction Hinge: A Lippert Rival
Install bi-fold doors easily with this flush-mount, non-mortise hinge in satin nickel. Includes mounting screws for a complete set of two hinges.
Where there’s a popular OEM part, there’s always a strong aftermarket competitor. The JR Products Friction Hinge offers the same core benefit as the Lippert kit—holding your door open in any position—and is a fantastic alternative. Many full-timers find it to be just as robust and reliable, sometimes at a more accessible price point or with better availability.
The choice between JR Products and Lippert often comes down to small details. Check the screw patterns to ensure a match with your existing door, but both are designed as retrofits for common RV doors. Functionally, they are nearly identical. Don’t get too caught up in the brand; if you find a JR Products kit that fits your rig, it’s an excellent choice for adding that wind-resistant, stay-open functionality.
AP Products Hinge Pin Kit: A Simple Solution
Before you commit to replacing the entire hinge assembly, take a close look at your door. Is it just the pins that are worn? If the metal hinge plates on the door and frame are still straight and solid, a simple hinge pin kit from AP Products might be all you need. This is the most minimalist and affordable repair possible.
This kit provides replacement pins and bushings, which are the parts that see the most wear. By driving out the old, sloppy pins and inserting new ones, you can often remove most, if not all, of the sag. It’s a quick, low-effort fix. The tradeoff? It won’t work if the hinge plates themselves are bent or the screw holes have become elongated. It’s the perfect "try this first" solution for the budget-conscious RVer.
Camco Screen Door Hinge for Integrated Doors
Upgrade your screen door with these durable white aluminum hinges. Featuring a 1/8-inch grooved center for universal compatibility and rust-proof construction, they ensure smooth, creak-free operation and easy installation.
Often, the problem isn’t just with your main entry door. The flimsy plastic hinges on the integrated screen door are a notorious failure point. When they crack or break, the screen door sags, preventing the main door from closing and latching correctly. You might think your main door hinge is the issue when it’s really the screen door causing the binding.
Camco makes a simple, effective replacement hinge kit specifically for this job. It’s usually made of more durable material than the original factory parts and is incredibly easy to install. Fixing these small hinges can have a surprisingly large impact on the overall function of your entire door system. Always check your screen door alignment before assuming the main hinges are the sole problem.
Pinnacle Hardware Universal Hinge Repair Kit
Repair and reinforce cabinet hinges with this 12-pack stainless steel fixing plate set. Its durable, one-piece design and adjustable oval holes provide strong support for kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, and more.
What if you have an older rig, a custom build, or a door with non-standard hinges? This is where a universal kit becomes your best friend. The Pinnacle Hardware Universal Hinge Repair Kit isn’t designed for a specific RV model but for solving the problem of worn hinge holes. It often includes oversized pins and bushings to fix hinges where the pin holes themselves have become egg-shaped from wear.
This is a more hands-on solution. You may need to drill out the existing hinge holes to fit the new, larger bushings, but it’s a technique that can save a hinge that would otherwise need to be completely cut out and replaced. It’s the problem-solver’s kit, perfect for situations where a direct-fit replacement simply doesn’t exist.
Installing Your Hinge Kit: A Step-by-Step Guide
Replacing your RV door hinges is a manageable project, but doing it right is crucial. The key is to support the door’s weight before you remove the old hinges. If you don’t, the door can fall, get damaged, or pull the remaining screws right out of the fiberglass wall.
Here is a basic process that works for most kits:
- Support the door. Place wood blocks, a small stool, or a jack stand under the door to hold its full weight. Have a friend ready to help stabilize it.
- Remove the old hinge. Start with one hinge at a time, usually the middle one first. Use an impact driver if the screws are stubborn, but be careful not to strip them.
- Prep the surface. Clean off any old, dried-out putty or sealant from the RV wall. This is your chance to create a fresh, waterproof seal.
- Install the new hinge. Apply a generous amount of butyl tape to the back of the hinge plate that attaches to the RV frame. This creates a waterproof gasket.
- Align and fasten. Loosely install the screws, check the door’s alignment and swing, and then tighten them down securely. Don’t overtighten and strip the holes. Repeat for the other hinges.
A final pro tip: take your time. Rushing this job can lead to a misaligned door or a poor seal. A little patience here will result in a door that closes with a satisfying, solid "thunk" for years to come.
A sagging RV door is a common symptom of a life lived on the move, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent problem. Whether you opt for a simple pin replacement, a robust direct-fit kit, or a full friction-hinge upgrade, the solution is within reach. Fixing it restores your peace of mind, improves your security, and makes your rolling home feel just a little more solid.