Door Retainers

These terms are often used interchangeably in the commercial vehicle industry, but they describe slightly different functions.

A door retainer holds a door securely in a fixed position, typically open, to prevent it from swinging freely during loading or entry. Retainers engage positively with a pin, catch, or magnetic mechanism to hold the door in place until manually released.

A door holder performs the same basic function and the terms are largely equivalent in practice. Stedall’s door holders are available in left-hand and right-hand configurations to suit the door orientation on a specific vehicle.

A door stay, sometimes called a door hold back, limits how far a door can open rather than holding it at a fixed position. Door stays and hold backs allow the door to open to a controlled maximum angle, protecting the door and surrounding bodywork from damage caused by over-extension. If you are searching for door stays, Stedall’s door hold backs and friction stays within this range serve that purpose.

Stedall’s door holders are available in two material finishes: zinc plated steel and stainless steel. Both are available in left-hand and right-hand configurations.

Zinc plated steel holders provide good corrosion resistance at a lower price point and are well suited to most standard commercial vehicle applications.

Stainless steel holders offer superior corrosion resistance and are the appropriate choice for applications involving frequent exposure to water, wash-down environments, or corrosive atmospheres such as those found in food transport, refrigerated vehicles, or coastal operations.

Contact Stedall on 01454 319524 or at sales@stedall.co.uk if you need guidance on which material is right for your application.

A magnetic door retainer uses a strong magnet to hold a door open against a metal strike plate mounted on the vehicle body or adjacent surface. When the door is swung open to the correct position, the magnet engages automatically with the strike plate and holds the door in place without any manual latching action required. To release, the door is simply pulled away from the strike plate.

Magnetic retainers are well suited to applications where doors need to be held open quickly and repeatedly during loading and unloading, as they require no alignment with a pin or catch mechanism.

A friction stay holds a door or panel open at any position within its range of travel by applying controlled resistance to the door’s movement. Unlike a retaining catch or magnetic retainer, which hold a door at a single fixed point, a friction stay allows the door to be stopped and held at any angle the operator chooses.

Friction stays are particularly useful where doors need to be held partially open, where the ground is uneven and a fixed open position is impractical, or where the door needs to be held open at varying angles depending on the loading situation.

A door retaining catch is designed to hold a door positively in the fully open position. The catch engages with a striker or pin when the door reaches the open position, locking it in place until deliberately released. This is the right choice where a door must stay fully open and reliably secure during loading or sustained access.

A door hold back limits the maximum opening angle of a door rather than locking it at a single position. It acts as a travel stop, preventing the door from opening beyond a set point. This protects hinges, bodywork, and adjacent panels from damage caused by the door being blown open or pushed too hard. Door hold backs are available in different sizes within the Stedall range to suit different door widths and opening angles.

If you are unsure which type suits your application, contact Stedall on 01454 319524 or at sales@stedall.co.uk.