Doors for the desert

The Fuso Szulc has several cargo compartments that are accessible from the outside.

Two compartments are really big, two medium sized and one small one.
All closed by doors that were made by a company called Rexco from Ontario, California, USA.

After using the Fuso Szulc for about one year, it was noticed that the Rexco doors were getting holes in their aluminium panels.
At the lower part of the doors the aluminium pulverised.

But it was also noticed when a heavy rainstorm battered the Fuso Szulc in Ciudad Constitucion, Mexico last August, that the cargo doors were not keeping the rain outside.
The water could enter through the sides without any problem inundating the cargo compartment.
It ruined for example a box with books.

Yesterday a visit was paid to Rexco in Ontario, California, USA.

After the young woman at the reception was informed about the purpose of the visit, a sleek man entered the hall.
He rushed by saying his name, Paul, and without waiting for an answer proceeded to go outside.
To see the Fuso Szulc for himself.

There a surrealistic conversation developed.
Paul explained that the compartment doors Rexco made were not rainproof.
This was believed to be very strange.
A company, Rexco, making compartment doors for recreational vehicles, trucks, vans and buses.
But not being rainproof?
Letting rain into the compartment?
Rusting from inside as the water is also going inside the Rexco doors?
The answer is yes.
Rexco makes compartment doors that are not rainproof.
Best to export them to the Sahara and Kalahari deserts.

Paul offered that the rusted Rexco doors with holes in them could get new panels.
The costs of the material to be paid by the customer.
About $ 40 a door.

But that is not a solution.
The cargo compartments remain vulnerable for rainwater entering and the Rexco doors will start rusting again.

The solution is to replace the compartment doors with ones that are better designed.
And therefore weatherproof.