Forum Discussion

dalenoel's avatar
dalenoel
Explorer II
May 16, 2019

Motorhome Keyless Entry Opinions

I have an 03 Monaco DP and am looking to upgrade the entry door to keyless system. I find many lock retrofits for trailers but wonder if anyone has done this on an older motorhome. I don't feel comfortable altering the door much but would like the keyless system that can be custom set to my code.

Looking for any comments on getting this done.
  • If it were me I'd have more keys made. Not worth the trouble. The generic kits may have a tough time fitting inside the very narrow door cavity.
  • You will have a hard time retrofitting a Monaco. Unless the Monaco came with a keyless entry, installing the actuator motor and running the wires thru a Monaco door will be almost impossible. The Trailer keyless entry's for aftermarket are made for the Standard Entry Doors on a Trailer. Motorhome entry doors, especially Monaco's are not the same design as a Travel Trailer door. Your best bet would be to find a Kwikset or Schlage keyless home type deadbolt and see if they will work on the thickness of your Monaco door. Doug

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kwikset-Powerbolt2-Satin-Nickel-Single-Cylinder-Electronic-Deadbolt-Featuring-SmartKey-Security-907-15RCALRCSCP/205568464
  • dougrainer wrote:
    You will have a hard time retrofitting a Monaco. Unless the Monaco came with a keyless entry, installing the actuator motor and running the wires thru a Monaco door will be almost impossible. The Trailer keyless entry's for aftermarket are made for the Standard Entry Doors on a Trailer. Motorhome entry doors, especially Monaco's are not the same design as a Travel Trailer door. Your best bet would be to find a Kwikset or Schlage keyless home type deadbolt and see if they will work on the thickness of your Monaco door. Doug

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kwikset-Powerbolt2-Satin-Nickel-Single-Cylinder-Electronic-Deadbolt-Featuring-SmartKey-Security-907-15RCALRCSCP/205568464


    I have one of these on the S&B house and I am not sure they would hold up to the rigors of MH travel. The inside has a plastic slide out cartridge for the batteries and it's a pretty loose fit. That cartridge has contact points on the main housing. Fine for a house but I have to imagine it would do a number on it travelling down the roads with bumps and motion. Never mind the bolt is much larger than that on a MH and you would have to bore out the slide hole significantly and the catch is pretty different. Could make the door pretty unsecure simply by trying to retro fit it.

    To the OP, what's the reason for wanting to go to a device like this over normal keys?
  • It has been a couple years since I researched one for our 99 class A and had no luck. All that I talked to stated it would only work for doors behind the steer axles.
  • I kinda built our own entry system for our motorhome using a Arduino, we can also use RFID wrist bans as well..
  • Thank you everyone. I had researched a little and came up blank. You all confirmed it and I already have extra keys made so that it what we already do. I also have a couple hidden so we will never be locked out.

    Only Monaco people understand us and that is why it was asked here.