Combi-Cam locks on storage doors

I switched to combi- cams on a previous trailer..they often got all 'gunked' up with road dirt and were hard to operate.

I just stuck with the CH751's our our present rig...realizing that the these access doors are simple to pop open with a common screw driver - no matter with kind of lock they have on them

As I recall, you have to set the combination to the current setting before it can be changed via the small hole in the knob. As "downtheroad" experienced, road crud can be a problem with them, especially in areas where salt is used on the roads in the winter. Dust will jam them up, salt will eat them up.

Thank you very much for your input.

It sounds like I should simply have the cam locks re-keyed.

I'm not all that against have the 751 keyed lock on my storage door.. Always neat to borrow a key from the neighbor to get in sometimes haha... Anything of any value is kept in the locked bed of my truck anyway...

On the other side I have unlocked a couple of neighbors storage doors that misplaced their 751 key as well haha...

My truck door has the push-button entrance setup so I keep my spare keys in the truck glove box all the time... I'm the only driver of my truck...

Roy Ken

I have used and reused Combi-Cam locks on our last two fifth wheel storage doors (3) without any problems, but we live in the dry West. We park our trailer in the mountains at elevation during the summer to get out of the heat. There is an inner and outer component to the lock so once you set your combination, you can hide the adjustment hole to not be tampered with. I spray with silicone lube every couple of months. Each lock is set one number off from the next to slow someone down.

My dad always told me that locks only keep honest people honest. Anyone can get into your stuff if they want it bad enough or you make it too easy. As a side note we also roll up our 50A cord when we leave our spot for several weeks as we still have to work to have extended weekends off. Anything copper has little legs and walks off. Don't want to come up after a long drive and not be able to hookup!

Have had a few questions about Combi-Locks over the years while at campgrounds or while filling up. Always get a positive response and interest, no problems for me over the last 4 years. Hope that helps your decision. Was absolutely mortified on our first night camping in our trailer when I had misplaced my keys and my "new" neighbor in the next campsite came over and opened our storage compartment with his key! Great neighbor, but got me thinking.

As stated anyone can pry open the doors,quite frankly quicker than using a key.
So a thief can get in reguardless -they just won't be as likely to tear up your camper. Nothing stored in mine-even the TV- that couldn't be replaced cheaper than a pried open door. You may perhaps keep gold coins in yours - or wads of cash :)

If the locking tabs on the combi-cam locks are no stronger than the standard locks, don't bother.

Thieves broke into my basement while in storage a couple years ago. They just popped the doors with a screwdriver or similar. Did not even damage the doors. Just a very small black mark on the door edges and the locking tabs bent at about a 45 degree angle was the only sign they had forced the doors. They did not need to carry spare 751 keys.

popeyemth wrote:
As stated anyone can pry open the doors,quite frankly quicker than using a key.
So a thief can get in reguardless -they just won't be as likely to tear up your camper. Nothing stored in mine-even the TV- that couldn't be replaced cheaper than a pried open door. You may perhaps keep gold coins in yours - or wads of cash :)

You guessed it! How did you know??

The gleam in your eye was a dead give-away :)

See the post I started recently on the same topic at Replacement Locks for Under-Coach Storage Compartments and save yourself the frustration of reading all the same opinions here. We ended up going with tubular locks. Any kind of replacement lock is a little bit of a PITA to change out, but DH did all of ours in a couple of hours and we are happy, even if we are deluded morons in the view of some other posters and subject to the whim of any marauding, screwdriver-wielding passers-by.:W