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WyoFree · 11-05-2021, 06:54 AM

Hi guys, I have a new River Ranch coming my way and I’m wondering about how their keyed? I understand most house doors are the CH751 key and the basement doors are Southco R001. I’ve not heard from Columbus yet but I certainly hope a luxury coach wouldn’t be built that way. Especially when the River Ranch has 16 basement doors.

Can you keep the slam latch and just replace the locking mechanism? My coach is coming with full body paint and i’d not want to replace the painted slam latch with black.

**hamm2018** · 11-05-2021, 07:16 AM

The entry door will probably be 2 locks, top common key for Columbus, bottom, deadbolt, is for your unit.
I would bet the storage would be R001 key.

The door key so the dealer can access your unit for repairs. We changed our door locks with RV Lock electric door locks. Our storage we are planning on changing to electric locks, but at $180/each, need to save up for it.

WyoFree · 11-05-2021, 07:36 AM

That would be almost $3,000 for just my basement. Are you saying you cannot replace the lock without replacing the entire slam latch?

**hamm2018** · 11-05-2021, 07:44 AM

We had a friend who had his locks rekeyed, by a locksmith, for the same reason.
They had misplaced their keys and when we got back to the campground could not find them. So we used our key to open their door and storage areas for them.
Next week he had the locks rekeyed because he had no clue all baggage doors were the same and the top door lock was common to our brand.

WyoFree · 11-05-2021, 07:58 AM

Hi hamm2018, I’m still not 100% sure I understand your message? Are you saying that I can have a locksmith come out and rekey all my locks? And not effect the slam-latch or even replace the lock for that matter?

**hamm2018** · 11-05-2021, 08:01 AM

Call and ask a locksmith if it can be done and how to do it.
I am not sure how he did it, but he had all the locks changed to match is door key, which he also had changed out.

amosnandy · 11-05-2021, 09:41 AM

I can only give my personal experience. On my previous coach, 2000 HR Endeavor, my door keys would unlock about 1/2 of all the campers in my seasonal park. Compartment doors about 1/4. I had to replace one handle with the lock in it for one compartment. I fully expected to have to take the new Tri-Mark $35 handle and lock to a locksmith to have it keyed to match. Out of the box my old keys worked and so did the new key with the new handle.

On my new to me 2006 Winnebago Journey the doors are different but the keys from my old coach unlock the compartments on my new one.

I have thought about checking to see if a locksmith could re-key my locks to be unique to me, but I think it would be several hundred dollars.

I have a good friend who is the general manager at a local RV dealership. He has a key ring with 8 keys on it that will open 95% of all the RVs that ever come in. He has another key ring with about 40 keys and says if the small ring fails, the big one has never failed him.

Pretty scary huh!

amosnandy · 11-05-2021, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyoFree

Hi hamm2018, I’m still not 100% sure I understand your message? Are you saying that I can have a locksmith come out and rekey all my locks? And not effect the slam-latch or even replace the lock for that matter?

Pretty much any lock can be re-keyed. Just how many codes are available and how much it costs depends on the type of lock.

So yes. A locksmith should be able to take a lock cylinder out and rekey it. In fact I can do it on a lot of locks. Working in the body shop we sometimes replaced door locks. Would pop them apart, take the key number and match the key and put he correct pins in the correct order an you have a matching lock.

69Stang · 11-05-2021, 09:59 AM

I had my deadbolt re-keyed. I took it into the locksmith and it cost my $8 and that was with 3 new keys. I couldn't believe how cheap it was to have that done. A new lock was $135 from Tiffin.

You'll have to call a locksmith and see what they can do once you get the RV.

kdauto · 11-05-2021, 10:15 AM

I re-key automotive locks and I am certain any RV lock can be rekeyed as well. No idea on the cost, nor on how effective rekeying is. It seems like any of these flimsy locks would be easy to break into anyway. Some of the handles come apart if you pull too much and some lock can pop out easily with a flimsy pocket screwdriver.

Old-Biscuit · 11-05-2021, 10:27 AM

Rekey all you want.....

A large flat screw driver from the 99 cent bargain bin will open those compartment doors just as fast as using a key

Unless the slam latches are really unique a Locksmith can easily remove cylinder bolt and rekey them

WyoFree · 11-05-2021, 10:42 AM

Hi guys and thanks for that. I get your point about flimsy locks and slam-latches. I just don’t want to make it too easy. Especially on the main door!

I was talking to a guy the other day who said he was overnighting at Cabalas. When he got up in the morning and did a walk-around he noticed his curb side basement door was ajar that he checked before going to bed.

His toolbox, and other items were missing. They never heard a thing from their bedroom. He said the guy must have had a key.

WyoFree · 11-05-2021, 10:50 AM

Hey Old-Biscuit, Do you recommend redoing the locks? I’d not be interested in changing out the slam latches because they are color keyed to the Coach.

Not that I know a lot about a slam-latch but the ones on the River Ranch seemed right sturdy!

JHinman · 11-05-2021, 11:02 AM

https://shoprvlocks.com/

Check with these guys. You can replace locks and latches, or just replace the lock itself.

I am thinking of replacing all of the CH751 locks just to have a bigger key. The head of the CH751 does not provide much room to grip.