Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Trudy on April 29, 2011, 09:05:03 pm
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Well, we're off to a good start this camping season. I was out cleaning the PC today and managed to lock keys inside. :-[ I asked my hubbie where the spare key was and he said, "Inside the motorhome!" :'( Well, he tried to open the door from the hinge side after taking pins out, but that didn't work. Any ideas anyone? I'm afraid I know the answer to this one.....locksmith, right?
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I don't know of a single RV dealership that DOES NOT have master keys or at least a guy with a key that will fit that can riffle the tumblers.
Don't even ask how I have come by this valuable information, on more than two occasions.
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Deaar Trudy,
I volunteer as a mechanic at our church where cars are donated, fixed up, and given to people in need, mostly single mothers who lost their transportation due to excessive hardships. I share this because I get into many donated vehicles with keys locked inside. Most vehicles are opened with a very thin metal stock, about 1/2" wide and 2 feet long with a notch cut into one side. You slip it between the door window and the rubber strip on it's bottom. You fish around by the door lock lever, key area, or door latch, hook it on something, either push down, push sideways, or pull up using the notch to hook it on something. With patience and a little bending of the metal, you should be able to unlock one van door. That piece of metal I describe can be purchased at most auto parts stores for around one dollar. It has so many different names, a "correction, SLIM JIM" being one. Here is what a nice one looks like with multiple notches. I have one at home that I made myself out of scrap tin. If you make one, just be sure there are no sharp edges to scratch or cut anything.
(http://www.trueswords.com/images/prod/c/TS-SLIMJIM_540.jpg)
It is so easy to break into a vehicle without damage to it.
The only thing you could do to make it harder for a thief is to chain or cable the two van doors together on the inside, assuming the door handles are hollowed to allow a cable to be get strung through them. That way thieves would have to break glass and crawl through the broken window.
Then there is consideration to the RV entry door. It too needs to be secured with an extra latch close to the floor that they could not reach through a broken entry door window.
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;) ;) They have "slim jims" in the parts stores here too, and a law on the books saying possession is a felony with intent. :'(
Illegal to have, but, not to sell. Ouch. (WH) Must be Oklahoma. Yep.
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Trudy - As the guys said, getting in the Ford doors rather than the RV will probably be easier...
Jack
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Thanks everyone. We don't have any rv dealerships nearby, so Lonnie is off to buy a Slim Jim. He was familiar with them. Hope he doesn't get arrested!! lol
I'll keep you posted!
I should start a new thread of "mishaps we've had with our motorhome". Ours is getting longer by the day!
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I have a fear of closing the door and remembering the keys are still inside just as the door clicks shut/locked. So I have a key hidden inside one of the storage bins, plus I have replaced the keyed bin locks with combination locks.
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Our 2350 had aftermarket automatic door locks that actuated when the engine was started, which led to having the doors locked and engine running. Fortunately, the CG owner had a 'Slim-Jim' and was able to unlock the cab door.
From that time on I had an extra key in a magnetic holder hidden away on the outside so the automatic door locks couldn't get me again.
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A hidden key sure sounds like a good idea.
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The wind blew our door shut and although not locked, the slamming apparently caused the door to lock. We were both outside to put in the awing because of coming wind storm. My keys were inside. My wife’s purse was inside with the second set of keys and the cell phone. Both sets of keys to the tow car also inside. Wind and rain on the way. :beg A nice neighbor let us use their cell phone to call AAA. The AAA guy had the Ford door open in 10 seconds.
We now have a magnetic key box hidden inside the propane area which can’t be locked. Also, we now have a new PC and the awning is powered with a switch inside and the door has pneumatic strut which holds the door. Cool.
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Good news! Lonnie wasn't having any luck getting cab door unlocked with Slim Jim so he decided to give the bedroom window a try and it worked. I got on a Ladder and crawled through the window. Whew! Now we need to make smarter arrangements with our spare key for sure.
Thank you all sooo much for your help and advice! Now, any suggestions where I could pick up a new BRAIN???? :lol
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A hidden key sure sounds like a good idea.
OK Folks, ready for this!
This is how I hide the keys to my motorhomes, trucks and so on.
Step#1 I take 2 keys cut the handle part off of each
Step#2 insert the business end of the key into the passenger door where it will "hide"
step#3 insert the business end of the key into the ignition switch where it will "hide"
Not for most of the people on the planet, but it works for me!
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very funny. roflol roflol roflol
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I Love It Grimes34!
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We insurance guys really really really love when vehicles are stolen, especially when we ask the insured if they left the keys in the vehicle and the answer is yes!!! pyho
David
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We insurance guys really really really love when vehicles are stolen, especially when we ask the insured if they left the keys in the vehicle and the answer is yes!!! pyho
David
Do people really steal motorhomes?
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Someone in our neighborhood kept his nice huge class A in his pole barn which is next to his house. They went on a flying vacation 5 or 6 years ago and the motor home was gone when they returned. It was never found. The insurance company suspected it is in Mexico when they are not found. We are not a border town either here near Chicago.
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Grimes:
In 21 years I have had one that I can remember. Kid took it and went on a joyride into a ditch and landed on its side. Total loss. I would say it does not happen to often, but one can never be too careful...
David