An RV door handle upgrade is a great way to improve your RV’s accessibility. This DIY RV modification is best for anyone who struggles to reach the current door handle. Maybe you want a larger handle for easier opening when your hands are loaded with groceries. Possibly, you have a taller fifth wheel with a handle that’s difficult to reach before the steps are folded out.
Whatever the reason for the upgrade, the Lippert LatchXtend is a great RV door handle replacement option. Let’s explore this popular RV door handle extension, see if it’s right for your camper, and outline how to install it should you choose to buy one.
Discover the Lippert LatchXtend
The Lippert LatchXtendextends the length of your RV entry door handle by 14 inches, making it easier to reach and actuate. The larger gripping surface improves the ease of opening or closing an RV door, especially for kids, older campers, and those with limited mobility.
The installation is an easy retrofit, and the Lippert LatchXtend RV door handle is compatible with all right-handled Lippert RV door applications, with the exclusion of Lippert G-Class doors. This replacement RV door handle upgrades your RV to an easier-to-use, durable entry door handle extension made of cast aluminum and steel. Plus, it comes with new keys and all the mounting hardware you need for a quick, efficient installation.
Is This RV Entry Door Handle Right For You?
Photos by Lippert
Many RV door upgrades—from screen protectors to an easy-open handle—improve RV accessibility. This particular Lippert RV door handle extension might be right for you and your RV if…
- Your old RV entrance door handle is broken.
- You, or your kids, struggle to actuate your existing handle.
- Your RV door handle is hard to reach from the ground before the steps are folded out.
- You want an easier-to-operate handle to make entry less of a hassle when your hands are full.
- You desire an easy-to-install upgrade to increase marketability before selling your RV.
Installing the LatchXtend Lippert Door Handle
Let’s dive into the basic steps to install the LatchXtend RV door handle extension.
Tools Required
You won’t need an impact driver for this door handle installation, but it can make the job quicker and easier. Here’s a quick list of the required tools:
- Drill
- ⅛” bit
- 1-⅛” hole saw bit
- Philips head screwdriver (or impact driver with Philips bit)
- File or sandpaper
- Pen or marker
Step 1: Remove OEM Latch
Open your RV entry door, separate the screen door from the main door, and close the screen. Use the screwdriver or impact driver to remove the four screws holding the interior latching mechanism in place. Then remove the two screws securing the door catch. You can then remove the original latch and use a file or sandpaper to clean the inside edges of the latch cutout.
Step 2: Mark Pilot Holes
Next, close the door and use the included guide plate and card to mark the locations for the lower pilot holes. Place the card’s opening around the latch cutout and hold the guide plate in the cutout. Ensure the card remains parallel to the outer edge of the door while using a pen or marker to mark the pilot hole locations.
Step 3: Drill Mounting Holes
Separate the exterior door from the screen door to prevent screen damage. Use the ⅛” bit to drill the pilot holes at your marked locations. You’ll be drilling through both sides of the RV entry door, so ensure the drill bit remains level and take your time to keep the bit from “walking” (i.e., shifting) across the door’s exterior. With the pilot holes drilled, swap the ⅛” bit for the 1-⅛” hole saw bit and drill the mounting holes, keeping the drill as level as possible. Finish this step by using the file or sandpaper to gently clean up the edges of the mounting holes.
Technician Tip: You can set the outline of the mounting hole location by slowly and gently drilling in reverse, just at the start. Once the outline is set, you can switch the bit rotation and the outline will help to keep the bit from “walking.”
Step 4: Install the Latch Assembly
Now set the Lippert LatchXtend latch assembly in place and replace the RV door catch using the two screws you removed in Step 1. The catch holds the assembly in place while you install the backer plate to secure the bottom part of the latch assembly through the two drilled mounting holes.
Technician Tip: Avoid overtightening the two screws holding the lower backer plate in place. Any noticeable signs of door deformation should merit the slight loosening of those screws.
Step 5: Replace Interior Latching Mechanism
Reinstall the interior latching mechanism by aligning the deadbolt latch and the locking mechanism tab with the pin and spring, respectively, on the new LatchXtend assembly. Verify that the deadbolt and latch catch are operating as expected before using the four original screws to replace the latching mechanism.
Technician Tip: Tighten the four screws in an X-pattern to draw the interior plate in evenly. Use a manual screwdriver to tighten the final quarter turn or so to avoid overtightening.
Step 6: Test the Lippert Door Handle Function
Finally, close the door and verify that your new RV trailer door handle works properly. It’s smart to have a helper go inside your RV in case of any issues, as having someone inside and out will come in handy if any RV door troubleshooting is required. Test the operation of the interior and exterior handles, the deadbolt, and the locks using the keys that came with your replacement RV door handle.
Small upgrades can make a big difference in your RV’s functionality. Explore these other upgrade ideas to see if they’re right for your camper:
- Need an RV Screen Door Protector?
- Is The Lippert On the Go Ladder Right For Your RV?
- Does Your RV Need a Trailer Sway Control Kit?
- Is the Tire Linc TPMS the Easiest to Install?
- Need an RV Screen Door Cross Bar Handle?
Do you have questions about the LatchXtend? Or have you installed this RV door handle? Let us know in the comments below.
