Community Forums

hohenwald48 · 03-30-2019, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis123

I use to steal RV 's. Try hitting your emergency window fairly hard at the latch. Sometimes it may jar the latch open. If that does not work break a window that you can crawl into and tell your insurance company about the tree limb that hit your window. PS, i was just kidding about stealing RV's

I'm gonna assume you're kidding about the insurance fraud too.

dix39 · 03-30-2019, 07:25 PM

When ours did that I crawled through the drivers side window, but thankfully I had left it unlocked.

Best of luck.

Steve

Donlock · 03-30-2019, 08:38 PM

Drill a hole to pull back the bolt then use a pop rivet to close hole.
Locksmith should be able to do that.
Don

Wingchop · 03-30-2019, 08:45 PM

When this happened to me, I took a pick device ($3 at Harbor Freight) and slid it between the two horizontal sliding windows by the driver side. Once even with the latch, I rotated the pick which flipped the latch, slid the window open and crawled in. The only magic was getting my rear end through the window.

Tha_Rooster · 03-31-2019, 05:01 AM

Op, tell us how did you get in?

Shallow · 03-31-2019, 09:13 AM

Thanks a million for the advice! I now have a few more tools in my head to get in if locked out.

Locksmith spent about 2 hours trying to get in. Ultimately he drilled into the locking mechanism and had to forcefully manipulate the latching parts. Something was definitely broken between the lever and the latch bolt.

Once inside, we removed the latch bolt. Will use the dead bolt to secure the door for the weekend.

cavie · 03-31-2019, 09:25 AM

next time the emergency window is the easiest and cheapest to replace.

lce3 · 03-31-2019, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shallow

Thanks a million for the advice! I now have a few more tools in my head to get in if locked out.

Locksmith spent about 2 hours trying to get in. Ultimately he drilled into the locking mechanism and had to forcefully manipulate the latching parts. Something was definitely broken between the lever and the latch bolt.

Once inside, we removed the latch bolt. Will use the dead bolt to secure the door for the weekend.

Thanks for letting us know. Glad it worked out but you sure must have been relieved when you were back inside.

Quincy · 03-31-2019, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hohenwald48

I'm gonna assume you're kidding about the insurance fraud too.

Quincy · 03-31-2019, 09:29 AM

Anyone who has an RV should not have to drill a hole in this or break that or use a can opener on that other thing. My goodness just call a locksmith and borrow a beer from a neighbor and relax!!!

Ucbyrickg · 03-31-2019, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster

Find a drill and bit the size of a large paper clip. Drill a hole in a window frame just below the window lock at a upward angle so you can push the paper clip thru the hole and unlock the window. Stay as far away from the glass as you can and still hit the lock. Absolutely no reason to break a window or destroy anything.

I think that would work on my style.

JerryP · 03-31-2019, 09:43 AM

I took my new to us 2013 Canyon Star to the local Ford dealer. (1 hour away). They were moving it into the bay for service and temporarily parked it blocking their main entrance. Driver got out and left the keys inside with the motor running. High winds that day slammed the door and it locked. They called me to see if I had another set of keys. Since we had just brought it home from Florida we had managed to misplace the 2nd set of keys.

I told them to get a locksmith. As it turned out, a tow truck driver was at the dealership at that time. He had a huge ring of misc keys. He started trying them and one of them opened the door. Problem solved.

Since then, we found the 2nd set of keys and I had another 2 sets made. I hid one of the sets somewhere on the RV, so that I can find them if this ever happens again.

Doesn't make you feel that secure about locking your door. A determined thief can get in any door with a tire iron. I guess the key is to lock your doors and keep your insurance paid up.

Regards,

Jerry

Brockx · 03-31-2019, 09:56 AM

For what its worth at this point.

Sometimes the whole door lock panel, will shift a little from many door closings or a hard slam. Both MH's that I own(ed) had a panel on the outside of the door that can be bumped around a little (piece of wood and a striking device) to square it up and release the bind.

I have a hide-a-key and I have a window unlocked, if someone crooked wants in they will break something regardless.

Dutch Star Don · 03-31-2019, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quincy

Anyone who has an RV should not have to drill a hole in this or break that or use a can opener on that other thing. My goodness just call a locksmith and borrow a beer from a neighbor and relax!!!

Having a second set of keys or hiring a locksmith is useless if the door lock breaks internally and jambs the door lock mechanism, which is what occurred to the OP. He was lucky enough that they just had to destroy the lock to get the coach open. Hiring a locksmith may also be problematic in places like 80 miles inside a National Park.

****For those in Class C's or Class A's with a power driver's window****

Many of us have tapped into the power window switch and added a second set of wires and ran them to an area where you have battery power and is unlockable with a hide a key, like a storage bay, or to a compartment that has power and no locks. In an emergency, like a broken door lock, you can just power down the driver's window.