I removed the propane tank from our coach so I could clean the vented bay and take care of some superficial rust on the LP tank.
After getting it out (of course it was full, you have to maximize difficulty) there is a black box on the back of the tank. I would think its a sensor of some kind, but have no idea as I've never removed the LP tank. What is this item?
Attached pics of the dirty tank and then the clean tank with the black oval "sensor?" in question.
I have never seen anything like that on any coach that I have worked on. Does it open in any way? My first thought was a place to hide a key.
Steve,
That looks like one of our Samsung air tags.
Mike
Ding ding ding! We have a winner!
I just went out to get a photo and try to open it. It came off in my hand - apparently held on with magnet, which is funny because Steve scrubbed all around it and it never moved - felt like it was screwed into the tank, so we thought it was some kind of sensor.
If Steve hadn't pulled the LP tank, it would have stayed on the tank until the coach went to the great pick n' pull in the sky.
Now, why a bay door key?
Can you hot wire the door actuators from the bay fuse/relay panel to get into the coach?
Be sure to feel behind your LP tank for goodies !
Steve, that's a good question! Hoping someone can have an answer to that.
IF....
One was to have a deadbolt (entry door) key hidden in the propane bay (which, of course, does not lock)...
THEN, one could gain (emergency) entry into the coach......
AND, if there was a full set of keys hidden inside the coach.....
THEN, one could recover (gracefully) from LOSING a full set of keys while out away from the coach sightseeing.
Don't ask what led me to this revelation.
That is a bay door key but also operates one of the two locks on the entry door. I assume the PO did not use the deadbolt thus gaining access to the coach and.... see chuck's comment.
Which is what we have done. Only it's a conventional house type punch lock. It's our rental house # so the family would know but a mystery to anyone else. DW has used it when I was away with the key. ( don't ask why. Suffice it to say it's a tight fit though the kit window)
That looks like my entry door key....not the deadbolt. Maybe like me when leaving locks just the handle lock, when sleeping I turn the deadbolt.
We now think the key is to the engine hatch.
The scenario is that you have lost your keys OR the PTL entry door latch (not the deadbolt) has failed. When this happens you fetch your hidden engine bay door key, open/raise the engine hatch, commando across the engine bay and push the bed platform up. And just like that, you are in the coach.
Our bed platform "window sash" lock is missing, so the platform is not locked down.
Shhh..
If this secret Achilles heal gets out, our coaches will no longer be secure!
HMMmmm... I have heard other members describe this "theoretical" manner of getting into a locked coach.
Looking into my engine bay from the open hatch, there is no way in h-e-ll that I could make the traverse across the engine, commando or otherwise. There ain't sufficient space between the top of the engine and the bed platform, and I'm pretty skinny. Plus, our bed platform is held down tightly by
two lock thingies (to help keep exhaust/engine fumes out of the bedroom). So "pushing the bed platform up" would not, in our case, work.
I believe hiding an entry door key is a better plan, but that's only my O-pinion. Everybody should DWMYH.
And, Yes, I agree with George - we should now stop talking about this subject and giving away our secrets. 8)
Provides locked bay access to the sister key holder behind a locked door. Hidden for safe keeping
Turns out it was not the engine bay key, it opens the front door (I did not try the bay hatches yet) Not sure what good that would do if the deadbolt was locked.
I need to keep searching the other bays for other hidden gems, this could be a treasure hunt :)
I agree looking at that opening, there is no way! On our 2000 and the previous 2003, there is a lot of "wiggle" room when the engine bay is open, so we may need to find a good beanpole to test the theory!
The propane door is the only one that doesn't lock. I'm sure you have another key box somewhere. My guess is the generator bay inside the oil access door. I adjusted my engine cover so it would lock normally. Speaking of extreme hi security did you get a code to the fire box?