Tambour door closet mod

[AlfromNH]

I saw a post a while back from someone who added a door to the coat closet but instead of using a fridge door made a tambour/roll up door. I have searched and can’t find that original post.
I thought it was a fantastic idea and showed it to a buddy of mine. He had already done the fridge door thing, but decided to replace it with a tambour. He made me a door also, this is how I installed it.

This is what the back of the door looks like, basically wood slats glued to a piece of canvas:

First, I used a hole saw to cut the 4 corners of the opening, then a jig saw to connect the dots. The whole is the same size as the stock fridge opening, in case I decided to go that route.

To maximize use of the space I added a couple shelves

This is what the tambour door track looks like. I bought it here:
https://www.woodworkerexpress.com/tambour-door-pla...ugg_q=4103
https://www.woodworkerexpress.com/tambour-door-plastic-track-1-1-32wx5-16hx48l-brown-4104.html

The door will raise up and over the top then drop down the back. Here’s the left side track mounted inside the closet. The right side is the same.

Door installed and working(not fully raised in this pic). See that scar down the center? The first time I raised it it jammed and I like an idiot I keep trying to raise it further. I hadn’t seen this bolt protruding thru from the center cabinet. This is what the door was jammed against. Farq! (This picture is after I dremel’d off the protruding threads)

I still need to make a handle, but aside from the obvious blunder I’m happy with the results.
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‘88 2wd Auto Westy project

[Kdj]

That looks great. What where you cut-out dimensions? Do you find it goes up and down easy enough. Seems there are quite a few different option for the track system. I was thinking of ordering this.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/164089978595?_skw=tambour...R5yNwZWTZg

[AlfromNH]

[jimf909]

Nice write-up on your really nice work. Tambour doors are a great approach in a small van, esp. if there’s stuff on the mattress blocking a swing out door from opening.

Maybe @dobryan will chime in with his long term review of the tambours he installed in his vans for all continents.
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- Jim