Today we were prepping our new Jayco Talon for its next outing when we noticed the bottom of the entrance door was sticking out farther than the top of the door. Upon closer review, it almost looks like someone tried to pull the door open from the bottom. The bottom of the door was very easy to pull back almost enough to get past the thickness of the door. It seemed rather flimsy. Since the bottoms of the door is at belt height, it would not take much more pressure to rip the door open it seemed.This got me thinking about adding a deadbolt to the bottom of the door to help secure the trailer while it is in storage. I know adding another deadbolt will not stop someone who really wants to get in but it may help prevent an easy smash and grab.Has anyone added a deadbolt to the bottom of the entry door? If so, how easy was it to install?Thanks.

Why take time to rip open a door when a window is easier and faster to go through?

That just means more damage to repair when they pry the door open.Locks keep honest people honest. Small crowbar and no care about damage and I'm certain I could get your door open in under a minute even with the extra dead bolt...plus I won't find out about the dead bolt until I've jammed the crowbar in and gave it a few good yanks destroying the door and door frame.

So i’ll Mark you two guys as a ‘no’ for installing a second deadbolt. I get and understand that someone will get in if they really want to so don’t respond if that is all you have to say. For the record, I’ve had a trailer broken into and ransacked while sitting in a dealers yard waiting to be winterized. The dealers response was ‘sorry, that’s why we keep our units unlocked’. Fortunately insurance covered the stolen tv and the cost of the door and frame replacement.The other side of my thought (besides preventing my trailer turning into a meth lab) was for the thermal aspects of the door. Campers are bad enough thermally so adding a deadbolt on the bottom of the door may provide a better thermal barrier since the door would be closed better. Now, how to lock and unlock through the screen door is another question but you see where I’m going with this.

You have to think about emergency exits in the middle of the night.

I guess my thought on this you would want to use a key twist type dead bolt on the bottom just like the one used in the middle. With same key too... What you would not want to happen is the deadbolt might engage itself by closing the door real hard and catching you off-guard and get locked out of your own trailer...I am kinda like the others on here that locks are for the honest people... The bad guys are going to get in no matter what you do... Did you notice any scratches or mark/dents showing it was pryed at the bottom??? My plastic slide panel on my sitting 2004 5th wheel door has finally cracked on one end and had to be removed... I always chuckle at my off-road POPUP trailer that has a key locked door but all one needs to do is slide their hand in behind the velcro window/door flap and unlock from the inside. Sometimes when approaching the door with arm full of groceries it is faster for me to do this instead of sitting the grocery bags down and getting my keys out of my pocket hehe... Roy Ken

Has Anyone Added a Deadbolt to the Bottom of the Door?

4x4van
Explorer III
May 15, 2018
The dealer was right; they leave RVs unlocked to prevent damage "when" thieves show up. I've heard the same from several other dealers as well.

A deadbolt at floor level would be a nightmare to lock/unlock from inside. If it's use would only be for storage (locked/unlocked from outside only), fine, but again, it won't stop a thief that wants in, it will only increase the amount of damage to be repaired.

I would be more concerned about the (lack of) quality of the door itself.
zcookiemonstar
Explorer
May 09, 2018
The best thing you can do is have good insurance and don't keep anything that would be hard to replace inside. Maybe you should find a new place to store your RV. If you keep it at home then put up some motion sensor lights around it.
valhalla360
Navigator
May 08, 2018
As an individual, you can break the rules but the manufactures have to be careful that the door opens easily from the inside in an emergency.

A separate deadbolt would like be a deal killer for the manufacturer.
Lantley
Nomad
May 08, 2018
RV security exist only in our heads. You cannot lock a cardboard box!
Lantley
Nomad
May 08, 2018
B.O. Plenty wrote:
Instead of extra locks on the door...I lock my steps so the can't get them to deploy. It would be pretty hard to want to climb in and out of my trailer with no steps. Especially if the next one is easy picking. I don't try to make mine bullet proof, just a lot less appealing than the one next door.

B.O.

Interesting idea.The thief may not realize they cannot use the steps until the door is already broken/open. However I guess they may still move on at that point without entering your rig, but you may still have some damage?
ugeesta
Explorer
May 08, 2018
RoyB wrote:
I guess my thought on this you would want to use a key twist type dead bolt on the bottom just like the one used in the middle. With same key too...

This was my thought. Make a deadbolt only that has a keyhole on the outside with a lever on the inside and a grab handle to pull it shut like on the regular door handle.

Sure it wouldn’t prevent the determined thief from getting in but at least it may stop the thief looking for a quick easy access of the fool that wants to yank on the bottom of the door tolally bending it out of shape.

It would be nice to see the manufactures installing a three point lock system but that is just a pipe dream. That would cost way more than they would be willing to spend.
valhalla360
Navigator
May 08, 2018
ctilsie242 wrote:
The advantage I see about high security cylinders is that if someone picks the lock, insurance won't cover it. If someone physically breaks in, there is a signature present. However, this is moot with the high deductibles and having most stuff not covered if there is a RV theft.

Your insurance won't cover if someone picks the lock? Never heard of that. Mine would cover it unless they can prove I somehow was involved.

Of course as you say, if they get in easily, they might take a couple hundred dollars worth of stuff (TV is the only item really worth taking and even that is a questionable item).

If you make them damage the door to get in, it's easily going to be north of $1000 damage which means you get to pay the $500-1000 deductible.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
May 08, 2018
Instead of extra locks on the door...I lock my steps so the can't get them to deploy. It would be pretty hard to want to climb in and out of my trailer with no steps. Especially if the next one is easy picking. I don't try to make mine bullet proof, just a lot less appealing than the one next door.

B.O.
toedtoes
Explorer III
May 07, 2018
I agree with bob213 about crooks not picking the locks.

What we see on TV about how burglaries work is based on "professional burglars". However, most burglaries are done by teenage to early 20s males. They are not picking locks - they are smashing windows and prying doors.
ctilsie242
Explorer II
May 07, 2018
The advantage I see about high security cylinders is that if someone picks the lock, insurance won't cover it. If someone physically breaks in, there is a signature present. However, this is moot with the high deductibles and having most stuff not covered if there is a RV theft.