After touring the Columbia River Gorge last Saturday, my wife and I returned to Camping World at Wood Village where we were overnighting to find that the door key turned to the unlocked position like always – except the internal mechanism remained steadfastly locked. Tried twisting the key fast, slow, hard, easy, to no avail. Tried another key. No luck – we were dispossessed!
Of course, the CW “techies” had already left for the day and wouldn't be back until Monday, and a locksmith would not help us either because we had the key and it turned. In desperation, in cahoots with an enterprising RV salesperson, we set about a B&E caper. Fortunately, I had left my bays unlocked and we had access to tools and a ladder.
Unfortunately, all windows were locked securely. No help there. Tried gently prying at the door but it remained solidly latched and I did not want to ruin it. What to do? Go buy a toothbrush and check into to a motel until Monday?
Eventually, once we had investigated all possible means of forced entry, we managed with certain ordinary tools to get a standard RV double pane sliding window unlatched from the outside without damage (I won't say how in a public forum) and I crawled in. Got the DW in through the emergency exit over the bed, as the door did not want to open from the inside, either.
Later, with the aid of a scotch or two and endless tweaking, I got the door to open from the inside. Field stripped it to discover a small broken spring. Slept that night with the door roped shut but not latched. Replaced the spring in the morning and we were back in business.
Lesson: Even though you have a spare key hidden outside, you can still be locked out. If this happens out in the boonies, you could be in a heck of a predicament or be forced to do serious damage to get in. Having learned this the hard way, I now have a secret method through a window. And I hid a basement key outside as well as door keys, so I can get at my tools, food, drinks, etc.
I can imagine how you must have felt. I locked myself out one time but I had left the keys inside and somehow the door got locked. The locksmith was unable to get the door unlocked and we also finally got one of the small windows to come open and the locksmith wife crawled in, for she was very small. I guess these are the things we will always remember. Glad you got it fixed and was able to get in and not have to motel it.
* This post was
edited 05/12/09 09:04pm by an administrator/moderator *
2004 Gulf Stream 36 ft Sun Voyager triple slide
Workhorse W22 8.1
2004 Saturn VUE w/stowmaster towbar
Two Ole Pharts & One Little Shin Tzu named Isabel
I guess I just learned one use for my driver's door that I can't normally crawl up into. I guess I could hide a compartment key in a magnetic box, and hide a door key in one compartment.
bumpy
Bumpyroad wrote: I guess I just learned one use for my driver's door that I can't normally crawl up into. I guess I could hide a compartment key in a magnetic box, and hide a door key in one compartment.
bumpy
Yep, the driver's door key is the only one we have hidden outside. Spares for everything else are inside. My wife doesn't like climbing in the driver's door, but she has done it to prove to herself she can if necessary.
That was an amazing ordeal. Never a dull moment around the campground or with the RV in about any location.
That would have been a great episode to have on video.
Thanks for sharing.
Larry
05 Fleetwood Discovery, 39J
07 Ford Explorer, Sport Trac, 4 x 4
Blue Ox baseplate, Ready Brute Towbar w/built
in supplemental surge brake system
FMCA, Good Sam's, Golden Age Passport
I have been thru this drama 2 times when the husband left to go to work away from the campground. First time I went in thru the storage compartment and pushed a bunk bed up and got in. It was a process with 2 men each holding a leg and pushing me in the small hole. I would have definitely won a spot on Americas funniest videos. Next time I also went in thru a window. Now I know the trick to making sure the door is locked correctly and I pray this will never happen again. So funny and I wish it had been on video. Funny thing is one of the men pushing me thru the storage compartment always films everything on our trips. This time the camera was off. They wanted a replay and I declined.
Another way in if you have a bed over the engine is to go in that way. You can crawl under and then just lift the bed up. If it is locked it is not a big deal either the screws will just pull out and you can replace it. We left our old unit unlocked all the time. NOw this one has a east west bed and I can not get in that way any more.
John
2001 42' Foretravel U320
2007 Bornfree 24 Painted
2001 Jeep Wrangler
2007 Burgman 650 Executive
Susie and Dolly (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels)
Dolly now in our hearts and thoughts 8-27-05
Doodle a Black and Tan Cavalier
Lolly a Ruby Cavalier
C5man wrote: I returned to Camping World at Wood Village where we were overnighting to find that the door key turned to the unlocked position like always – except the internal mechanism remained steadfastly locked. Tried twisting the key fast, slow, hard, easy, to no avail. Tried another key. No luck – we were dispossessed!
Later, with the aid of a scotch or two and endless tweaking, I got the door to open from the inside. Field stripped it to discover a small broken spring. Slept that night with the door roped shut but not latched. Replaced the spring in the morning and we were back in business.
Lesson: Even though you have a spare key hidden outside, you can still be locked out. If this happens out in the boonies, you could be in a heck of a predicament or be forced to do serious damage to get in. Having learned this the hard way, I now have a secret method through a window. And I hid a basement key outside as well as door keys, so I can get at my tools, food, drinks, etc.
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We got locked inside our brand new Newmar Canyon Star a few months ago.After a lot of banging,pushing,and jiggling,we finally got the door open. I found the mounting screws for the lock were loose,and catching on the door frame. Easy fix. It would have been much harder if we were on the outside of the coach.
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