Combination lock on a slam latch?

[kohai]

My Prime Time Crusader has slam latches with a key lock. With 4 of us running around the trailer helping with arrival/departure, etc, I'm always asking for the keys which drives me nuts.

I see that there is a combination lock for locks that use a lever on the compartment doors, but I can't find a solution for a combination lock on a slam latch style door. Most of my doors are slam latch.

Any ideas?

[Lantley]

paulinemay wrote:
There IS a real theft danger here if you're storing your trailer at a storage facility. I speak from experience. Our 5th wheel was broken into not once, but twice. Thankfully after the first time and having to replace the flat-screen TV, we learned not to store anything of value in it.
After the second break-in at the same facility, my DH installed crossbars on all storage compartments as well as padlocked the front door, all with combination locks. Not aesthetically pleasing to look at, but does the job.
The OP's concerns are not unreasonable here. Also, we now live in a home where we have property large enough to store the trailer ourselves. Definitely a factor in our home purchase too. (And I can camp at home!)

I agree there is a risk for RV's in storage. Unattended things like bikes,chairs and coolers may disappear at some of the more unscrupulous CG's.
Yet I stick by my comments that it is very rare for a theft to occur inside of an RV that is being used especially at a CG with others Around vs. a remote boondocking scenario. Continuously locking and unlocking compartments is not necessary.
While combination lock would alleviate the need for a key, even spinning the dial is more hassle than I care to deal with.
Ultimately my point is by locking the compartments the only person I'm keeping out and inconveniencing is myself. A genuine thief will access the compartments in seconds. It won't matter if the compartments are locked or not. IF a thief shows up it will come down to do your want damaged doors and missing stuff or just missing stuff!
The redeeming factor is fortunately a bonafide thief seldom if ever strikes occupied campers in a CG.

[paulinemay]

There IS a real theft danger here if you're storing your trailer at a storage facility. I speak from experience. Our 5th wheel was broken into not once, but twice. Thankfully after the first time and having to replace the flat-screen TV, we learned not to store anything of value in it.
After the second break-in at the same facility, my DH installed crossbars on all storage compartments as well as padlocked the front door, all with combination locks. Not aesthetically pleasing to look at, but does the job.
The OP's concerns are not unreasonable here. Also, we now live in a home where we have property large enough to store the trailer ourselves. Definitely a factor in our home purchase too. (And I can camp at home!)

[fidhleir]

Back when we had a pop-up trailer, I had to laugh at the lock on the door...that was attached to the wall with Velcro.

That said, several of the Southern California beach state parks have signs posted warning of frequent theft problems. It's usually unattended surfboards, beach chairs, and beer coolers. And I suspect you could go down to the beach at the end of the day and find the stolen items abandoned (less the beer in the cooler).

[Pop-Pop_C]

We unlock when we arrive at the campground.
Lock when we leave.

[mbrower]

darsben wrote:
Locking your car with nothing in it is not the best policy. When I used to mange a large run down apartment complex I had one tenant who never locked his car. When there were break-ins and there were a lot, his car was the only one to come out unscathed. The glove box would be open, any loose change would be gone but never any damage. Cars that were locked had windows broken, doors busted etc even if they had nothing valuable in the car because the thieves did not know there was nothing valuable.

I used to keep my tour Pak and saddle bags locked on my Harley until one night some one broke the lock off to get to my ball cap. Cost me $1000.00 to learn to leave everything unlocked if you don't have anything of significant value inside. I have two convertibles I never lock the doors on. I would much rather replace change and CDs than replace a top.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

kgarrett9999 wrote:


Every single camper in the campground has a set of keys to your storage compartment unless you change the locks.

Maybe yes - maybe no - maybe 50/50.....

Since the OP has "slam locks" - the mfgr uses HF351 keys for those.
So the campers with slam locks all have the same keys -
the campers with the barrel type have the CH751 keys..;)

Google "Combi-Cam" for the barrel type - combination locks from Amazon or PPL, etc.

The mfgr for slam locks offers several different locks and keys, rather than the "standard" (for a fee, of course).

BTW - check MH forums for advice on why *NOT* to slam - slam locks!
(You will get to do the screwdriver "thing" like the bad guys - or other trick to get them open when they break)

http://www.iss4locks.com/www.ch751.com/ - Supplier of replacements for CH751

Same stuff in thread from *4* years ago! - with same opinions from some of the same folks..;)

~

[darsben]

Locking your car with nothing in it is not the best policy. When I used to mange a large run down apartment complex I had one tenant who never locked his car. When there were break-ins and there were a lot, his car was the only one to come out unscathed. The glove box would be open, any loose change would be gone but never any damage. Cars that were locked had windows broken, doors busted etc even if they had nothing valuable in the car because the thieves did not know there was nothing valuable.

[C-Bears]

I don't keep my storage doors locked. Any more valuable things, like cordless drivers, impacts, wrenches, are locked in my truck bed tool box.

My storage compartment doors could be pried open just as easily as my truck bed tool box, causing extensive damage to each. I would rather repair/replace my truck bed toolbox than repair body damage on the sides of my FW.

I do lock my entry door to the FW. At night I have a night security chain I fasten. With a master key someone could still get in but with the security chain they would make just enough noise that I would have time to deploy my .357 magnum.

The same theory applies to me rather having them break into my truck bed tool box. They would have to stand up in the bed of my truck and straddle my greasy hitch to pry the tool box open. It would give me a little more time to run outside in my boxer shorts with my 6" revolver and scare the******out of them at least!

[RockyMt]

My slam locks are not 751-double sided key.I lock up all the time-unlock when I arrive and relock when done.I also lock the door then I leave.

[Robin1953]

Lantley wrote:
RV locks are worthless simply because RV doors frames are very flimsy and be open with any type of pry bar or large screwdriver.
Only honest behavior is keeping your stuff safe.
Get any type of lock you want, if a real thief shows up to steal your stuff it will be gone and you will have a bent door frame to show for it.
Leave your worry and fear at home.
Yes you/we are vulnerable while camping,but don't let it bother you it's only stuff.
Focus more on enjoying yourself and your RV junk will take care of itself.
While I'm not against reasonable precaution, locking,unlocking re-locking is way too much work. Keep valuables out of site and let your insurance deal with the rest.
Camping is way more relaxing that way.

My philosophy as well. On 9/11 the first thing I said after it was confirmed that it was a terrorist attack was that I would be d*** if I am going to lock myself away and stop traveling. So I don't worry about stuff nor terrorists...:-)) YMMV

[Robin1953]

laknox wrote:
Make/buy extra keys. Unless you change the locks, they're all a common key. #751, IIRC. Lyle

On my OR the slam latch uses a double sided key. The CH751 was the standard key for the old cylinder locks but I don't think the new slam latches will use them.

[Dick_B]

We keep a set of keys in the Water Heater compartment available for all. It just stays there and no one knows about them except for the RVers that read this post!
I wonder about combination locks on RV's and the possible collection of dirt/corrosion over time.

[kgarrett9999]

Every single camper in the campground has a set of keys to your storage compartment unless you change the locks.

While we were looking for our current travel trailer, the salesman left his key ring on his desk. My keys from my previous travel trailer opened every door and every storage compartment on the lot.

[Lantley]

laknox wrote:

kohai wrote:

Lantley wrote:
RV locks are worthless simply because RV doors frames are very flimsy and be open with any type of pry bar or large screwdriver.
Only honest behavior is keeping your stuff safe.
Get any type of lock you want, if a real thief shows up to steal your stuff it will be gone and you will have a bent door frame to show for it.
Leave your worry and fear at home.
Yes you/we are vulnerable while camping,but don't let it bother you it's only stuff.
Focus more on enjoying yourself and your RV junk will take care of itself.
While I'm not against reasonable precaution, locking,unlocking re-locking is way too much work. Keep valuables out of site and let your insurance deal with the rest.
Camping is way more relaxing that way.

I guess I consider locking things a reasonable approach to helping keep honest people honest. I lock my car even when I don't leave anything in it to steal. I lock my portable generators to my RV. Nothing is perfect but a little effort probably eliminates almost all of the casual theft that does happen. AND, it allows me to relax and enjoy my trip.

Locking things is easier than retraining my brain to be a personality type I'm not. 🙂

It's not necessarily the loss of "stuff", it's the plain annoyance and hassle of having to replace everything and doing without when you need it =now=.

Lyle

I'll risk the chance of the loss vs. the inconvenience and hassle of constantly locking and unlocking the compartments the entire trip.