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Topic: Front Door Latch closing question (Read 1492 times) previous topic - next topic

Front Door Latch closing question

When I purchased my 93 GV the previous owner had rigged up a piece of metal to fit under the single screw on the right of the inside latch plate.  It has a piece of wire that connects to the dead bolt lever and holds it back.  When I asked him about it he said he stopped on a incline and got out to check something.  When he closed the door the rod moved over into the hole.  Luckly for him his wife was still in the coach.  He rigged the wire to prevent that from ever happening again.  A few years ago my kids had the RV at the lake and while sitting outside someone closed the door.  The lock lever on the bottom of the door latch had gotten moved.  With the keys inside and the second set 100 miles away they were forced to drill out the lock.  I replaced the latch and to preclude it from happening again I hid a spare set of keys somewhere.  Last month it happened to me.  We both knew the lock lever didn't need to move much to latch the door, but somehow it got moved and the door locked when it closed.  Of course, I never found the spare set of keys.  I ended up drilling out the lock again.  Just replaced the whole outside assy again last week.  I was going to disable the lock but the lever that actually locks the latch is rivited on and the assy is complex.  I decided it wasn't worth the effort.  I now need to come up with a way to keep the lever in the unlock position.  The problem is the lever is almost directly under the only screw on that side.  I really don't want to drill into the wood on the door or drill and tap screw holes on the inside plate, but I may be forced to do that.  I'm looking for suggestions.

Bill and Doris
93 GV OKC
Bill and Doris
93 GV gas

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #1 –
You locked yourself out more than once?  Why not hide a door key somewhere on the outside of the coach?
 
I think if one tries to unlatch a window lock from the outside, you will find it doable for some models of windows.

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #2 –
I am not sure which latch you mean. If it is the key locked dead bolt, then and hidden external key is the answer. If it is the slide type dead bolt (no external key), I believe the original lock came with a plastic keeper that slipped around the pin to keep it from sliding into the door jam. It should be available from the factory.

My hidden key placement was a key pouch glued to the roof of the fuel tank bay holding a basement key. I then had a door key hidden in a tool box in the basement. It was a real simple way to insure entry it a key was lost and to get access to the basement without searching for a key.

Bill, are you in OKC? If so, we are in Blanchard, we're neighbors.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #3 –
Fill the dead bolt hole in the frame with silicone, then put a strip of duct tape over the hole.
Prevents a recurrence and is reversible...
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #5 –
We are up by the airport.  Keep the RV and boat in storage at Texoma.  I talked to someone in Blanchard about an overheat problem, but since mine is a gas I was no help.  I'll figure something out.  The hidden key will work if I remember where.  If I am on the lake and it happens to the wife she won't crawl under anything.
Bill and Doris
93 GV
Bill and Doris
93 GV gas

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #6 –
Pictures would be a great help.  Think you are talking about the dead bolt, but again at times it sounds like the slide lock that Kent is talking about.  The dead bolt has a big knob on the inside that turns and a lock cylinder on the outside of the door.  The slide lock has a lever that sticks straight out from the door.  It slides to right to lock and left to open.  It has no control on outside. 

Oh, it is quite easy to slide a side bedroom window open.  Then you can just climb in and go unlock it.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #7 –
I drilled and tapped a small hole just behind (aft) of the bolt "handle" and a short stainless steel machine screw holds a small stainless steel strip that keeps the bolt from moving.

No photos right now-- we are not at the coach.

Brett Wolfe
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #8 –
Your getting close.  The dead bolt is by itself mounted in the door above the latch and has it's own key.  The slide pin is next, it goes into the jam.  It's fixed now so it can't move.  The third and lowest lever actually locks the latch assy that you pull to open the door.  It is the one that the key in the door handle latch locks and unlocks.  I have a friend who runs a RV park in Branson and he said it happens so often there that they have a set of master keys to use when someone in the park gets locked out.  He said most RV parks have them.  I'm going to ask the guy at the camp ground next time I'm down there.

Bill and Doris
93GV OKC
Bill and Doris
93 GV gas

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #9 –
Quote from: spoiled122843 –
The third and lowest lever actually locks the latch assembly that you pull to open the door.  It is the one that the key in the door handle latch locks and unlocks.
And this is the one that locks by its self or very easily and has you locked out?  And you want to stop it from locking.

http://www.trimarkcorp.com/en/index.aspx

http://stores.ebay.com/trimark-RV-door-handles-latches (Trimark Ebay Store)

http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/ptl_entrance_door_adjustments_preferred_door.html

I have seen a fix for the door latch/lock on one of the other RV web site.  If I run across it, will post it here.

One other thing:  Most RV locks are keyed the same or similar.  Pretty much standard in the industry.  One of your neighbors keys will probably unlock your door.  But if the previous owner had the locks cylinders changed out, you can forget it.  Some folks, but not all, have those lock cylinders changed for security reasons.

I recently replaced my deadbolt and had great difficulty  finding the right length.  Could not find it at RV parts stores.  Finally found it at a locksmith shop.  He had one and he said that they are becoming rare.  He was suprised he had it in stock.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #10 –
In three years ownership of a Grand Villa, I have never used that lock so I recommend securing it so that it is inoperable. Since the campgrounds have a master key that locks sounds like its not very secure. I use the separate dead bolt lock exclusively.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #11 –
 ;D In the four years we've owned our '94  U300 GV my wife has had the bottom slide lock "latch" so that the paddle handle would not operate from the outside. >:D  Not the dead bolt !! but the latch for the door handle. Ours is a metal pin that sticks out inside of the coach near the bottom of the inside door handle. this pin moves in a groove (channel) in an arc to latch the outside paddle handle and the inside latch handle.. Ours moves very easily and has at times been moved well prior to the door being opened or closed, just waiting to lock you out... The first time my DW got locked out while I was gone, she had to clime in to the coach through the living-room window. (I would have liked to see that)  :)) :)) :)) and she was not a happy camper!!!!!!.  >:( So I hide a key for that lock and told her where to look if it ever happened again.  Well,  the next time it happened she went to get the hidden key and couldn't find it, so back thought the living-room window for the second time, Really not a happy camper....  >:( a short time later I received a call from a very angry DW as to why I moved the key.. I tried to explain that I did not move the key too no avail. When I got back to the coach and went to the location of the hidden key it was not there,  ??? ..... it had vibrated to the rear of the drawer under a small box, it could have been found by looking just a little bit longer/harder,  :-[  It also happened again when we were both present, So that locking devise and its ease of operation is a problem,  ;) our cure is to put a piece of tape across the channel that the slide bolt travels in while camping and to remove the tape when traveling and keep keys handy.......  :) :) :)
The selected media item is not currently available.
Gerry & Brenda
CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FL
1994 Grand Villa - # 4466
U300 Unihome - 6V92 Detroit
4 speed Allison - Jake Brake

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #12 –
It appears that the former owner of our coach used one of the "Realtors' key safes" that was attached in the propane/fuel bay. I assume he kept spare keys there. I don't have the combination. I haven't removed key safe, but will probably cut if off and discard it.

Some kind of combination safe or innocuous container in the fuel bay might be a good place to keep emergency keys.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #13 –
If the bays are locked how can one get to keys -

Every thief knows where to find keys - really bad idea to stick a keys outside -

I've a belt key clip with set for coach and truck right at door - solid habit to take them with me no matter what upon exiting coach - Saves a lot of grief with keys clipped to belt
Virginia Cunningham
Motorcader # 16992
'99 U320 40'
'06 Black Silverado 2500HD 4x4 Crew Cab

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #14 –
We keep a set of keys attached to the tow...
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #15 –
Every set of couples we regularly RV with have a complete set of keys for our coach and toad in their coach, and vice versa.
Steve & Ginny Hill
96 U295 36'/Wrangler
Tampa

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Virginia, Jim And Cricket –
Every thief knows where to find keys - really bad idea to stick a keys outside -
Every real thief knows that he can just buy a number of certain pre-cut keys at Camping World and be able to open the doors and storage bays of most RVs.  As I stated before, those concerned about security have a locksmith change the cylinders so they don't have that problem.  But that is still not going to stop a good thief for gaining access!
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #17 –
How did we get so far away from the orginial question?
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Front Door Latch closing question

Reply #18 –
When I bought our Grand Villa, It was suggested to us to "only use the deadbolt lock because the doorlock isn't as reliable", so for the past 7 years that's what we've done, with never (knock on wood) an issue.  However, that sliding rod lock has given us fits on occasion.  It will slide just enough when we close the goor to catch in the hole.  I have used a strip of duct tape over the head of the rod to prevent it from moving, but I think I will go with Dave's suggestion and fill the hole with silicone, then put a strip of tape over the silicone.
 
So, everyone uses the lock in the main assembly and doesn't use the deadbolt?
Don Hay
'92 Grandvilla, U-280
The Hayfever Express
Build #4055
'97 GEO Tracker
Life is like licking honey off a thorn.