To dead bolt or not to dead bolt

[roger66ogden]

Not sure if everyone on the form is aware of this but the dead bolt on the entrance doors of the camper DO NOT automatically unlock when you try to open the door from the inside. An idea to use instead of dead bolting your doors while inside (safety hazard) is to lock the handle from the outside and then go in and shut the door. This will keep unwanted entry while you are inside but won't trap you in like locking the dead bolt in case of an emergency when you have to exit quickly. Just can't forget your keys....

[JohnB]

Hi Roger,

On the keys part... my wife and I managed to lock everything inside the truck while filling up for water at the camp spigot. Cell phones, wallets, truck keys, and camper keys are all inside the truck looking out at us ... Thank goodness for On Star and the camp rangers to help get us out of that.

Ever since that episode... I have spare keys for the camper in the truck and an extra truck key hidden outside on the camper.

[roger66ogden]

Hi John.
I have locked myself out of the camper. Latest was last weekend at 7am while going out to start the generator. Luckily we have a camper key stashed and I could get in without to much trouble. I can only imagine locking my keys in the truck how big of a hassle that must have been.

[j52wf]

If I locked the handle and go inside, I could not get out at all without unlocking the handle, which can only be done outside. You are effectively locked in. At least deadbolt can be unlocked from inside. Only takes a second to flip the lever.

[J&A Lima Oh]

How many are aware that there is a recall on the locks on some of these campers, I ran across it by accident. When you lock your deadbolt, try taking the key out with it turned to the 9 o'clock position. If the key can be removed, and if someone tries to get out from the inside, the lock can jam, trapping the person inside. Wesco now owns FIS, the original manufacturer. They have a list of locks that are recalled, plus any that the key can be removed in the wrong position.
https://www.wescofastec.com/fic-cylinder-recall