Community Forums

max49 · 10-27-2015, 05:22 PM

I've got an '05 Damon Daybreak but I decided to post it in GD instead of the Damon forum because other manufacturers probably used this door latch, lock mechanism or what ever you call it. It's brand is "Trimark" and it's obviously trouble.
When my rig was brand new before I took the first trip the handle would not operate and open the door. Luckily and a little unusual is that I have a driver door so I stopped at the dealeron our way to our destination when it was less than a week old and fortunately the dealer had a replacement latch. Replacing the latch is not that hard but if it breaks while the door is closed as mine did twice , it is a very difficult maneuver and also requires a little luck to get it open.
We were at Vegas , at Sams Town RV park last week and got up to let the dogs out and guess what? It broke again and we were locked in. Thank goodness the motorhome was not on fire and thanks for having a drivers door.
I could not get it open, what a freakin hassle.
But I got 2 lucky breaks, I called an RV dealer up the street and he had a replacement "Trimark" latch. They are very proud of this dangerous POS and I had to pay $143 for it.
My 2nd lucky break came when I got back to Sams Town, I happened to see a mobile RV mechanic charging another motorhomes AC unit so I asked him if he'd help me when he got done.
He did and it was not easy but he got the door open. I was watching and all of a sudden the door opened. We all gave him a round of applause and I asked how he got it open and he said he really did'nt know, he was just jiggling things the same way and it surprised him when it opened. He said he has changed the latches before but the door was always open when he changed it. Another $130.
I don't mean to be a negative nellie but if you have a Trimark door latch, this could happen to you. If you don't have a driver door, this can be even more dangerous.
It's kinda sad what RV manufacturers get away with, if this was on a car that you could get locked in or out it would be recalled ASAP
Has this happened to any one else?

timetogo · 10-27-2015, 05:29 PM

Junk happens. Good luck......

98FPA · 10-27-2015, 05:48 PM

Obviously if a RV dealer had one on hand it is apparently a high rate failure issue.

traveler of california · 10-27-2015, 06:24 PM

Had a Trimark on myWinnie and had problems with it. Got locked out and fortunately had a window open. We did adjustments several times and eventually replaced the lock. Must say we always left a window unlocked after that.

brabono · 10-27-2015, 07:00 PM

Had to climb out window. Unfortunately no one to help so we tore it out . Unfortunately the door looks bad now. Found a rv repair and they put in another Trimark after a two day wait. We were in Montreal without a tow. We now just use the deadbolt. So far two years later it's still working.

max49 · 10-27-2015, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brabono

Had to climb out window. Unfortunately no one to help so we tore it out . Unfortunately the door looks bad now. Found a rv repair and they put in another Trimark after a two day wait. We were in Montreal without a tow. We now just use the deadbolt. So far two years later it's still working.

I thought about what you said about only using the deadbolt and thought that was a good idea, but after further thought I realized that would not have helped me , it was not the lock part that broke, the part that releases the close latch breaks.

RRR · 10-27-2015, 10:10 PM

I thought there was a new fanged super duty upgrade to the failing Trimark latch. That's what my research came up with whom mine bit the dirt.

Scarab0088 · 10-27-2015, 11:34 PM

There are many threads here about the flawed TriMark 60-650...like
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f84/trima...ry-264663.html

This lock was used in many brands

It is not "if" they fail, it's "when"

TriMark has stopped making the 60-650 and is selling the 60-1650...but it's not a direct swap/fit
We changed ours before failure.

Safe travels

MSHappyCampers · 10-28-2015, 07:32 AM

Scary!

Thank goodness mine is a different lock!

OLYLEN · 10-28-2015, 07:54 AM

MS But yours fails also. Is normally an adjustment that can be done for preventive care.

LEN

Grey Ghost I · 10-28-2015, 08:00 AM

Had that happen on three motor homes. Now I take the lock apart and super glue in the unlocked position and add a separate deadbolt. No more lock worries.

Ray,IN · 11-01-2015, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveler of california

Had a Trimark on myWinnie and had problems with it. Got locked out and fortunately had a window open. We did adjustments several times and eventually replaced the lock. Must say we always left a window unlocked after that.

An older RV technician told me to always leave one window unlocked for this reason. He said he has been locked out while working on someone's MH. He sets up a stepladder, crawls through the window and disassembles the door mechanism, then installs a new lock mechanism. He said it always fails in the lock position due to the electronics.

Cat320 · 11-01-2015, 05:34 PM

We got locked out by a grandson. Fortunately we had a spare set of keys in the tow car...and it was unlocked. However, we now keep a spare set in a magnet under the coach.