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Lock broken? Help!

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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13058
Printed Date: 13 May 2025 at 11:14am
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Topic: Lock broken? Help!
Posted By: LemhiRG
Subject: Lock broken? Help!
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2019 at 7:16pm
Hi there! I'm new to the R-Pod nation...I recently purchased a 2017 R-Pod 179 from a private seller. Before the R-Pod, I traveled in my 1991 Astro Tiger XL, so I'm no stranger to odd camper issues, but I'm a little stumped this afternoon.

I spent all week on a shakedown trip, and though I dreamed up a few mods to make the R-Pod work better for my particular style of camping, everything worked smoothly. Today, I went to open the camper after loading it for a weekend away with a friend, and my key got stuck in the deadbolt.

The previous owner mentioned they had it stick once or twice, so I sprayed it with a small amount of WD40, let it sit for an hour, and the key eventually came out. It didn't break off...it exited cleanly.

The problem now is that NO key will work. They get about 80% of the way in and stop, such that I can't turn the key. This is an issue for many reasons, but most pressing is that I have a fridge full of perishable food that can't be plugged in because my driveway slopes too much.

Any ideas on how to get into my camper? I live in a remote location, and the closest RV repair shop is 2 hours away. Is there a way to open any of the windows and crawl in? Maybe the Emergency Exit?

Any help welcomed! 

Attaching a picture of my setup for good measure. Smile



Replies:
Posted By: seafans
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2019 at 7:38pm
Is there any locksmith's in the area of the rv shop?  If you are a member of the good Same club they might have road side Assistance for locked RV's?



Posted By: LemhiRG
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2019 at 8:29pm
Thank you for the recommendation! 

My husband was actually able to shimmy into the tiny window above the bed (he's a beanpole!) and he had to unscrew and remove the entire lock mechanism from the inside to get the door open. Something has gone amiss with the deadbolt.

Time for an entire new mechanism!


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2017 R-Pod 179, Hood River Edition
2013 Ford F-150 FX4, V6 Ecoboost


Posted By: Happy Tripping
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2019 at 9:02pm
I'm glad the emergency has been cancelled. It is nice sometimes to be a bean pole.

As an alternative to going thru the window, (hopefully no damage was done during the process(?)), in a 171/2 and looking at the floorplan, in yours, a storage door enables access under the bed. No damage is done that way in getting access to the interior, but couch potatoes need not apply.


Posted By: LemhiRG
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2019 at 9:12pm
If we couldn't wiggle in through a window (no damage, thank goodness), going in through the outdoor storage was Plan B. I wasn't sure either of us could contort enough to make it work!

I'm bummed about needing to track down and install a new deadbolt and handle, but it could have been worse. An easy fix, as they come!


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2017 R-Pod 179, Hood River Edition
2013 Ford F-150 FX4, V6 Ecoboost


Posted By: poston
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2019 at 10:38pm
Originally posted by LemhiRG

If we couldn't wiggle in through a window (no damage, thank goodness), going in through the outdoor storage was Plan B. 

Also an indicator that the pod isn't exactly secure storage!



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--
Jim
Virginia City, Nevada
2016 R-pod 180
2015 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X


Posted By: LemhiRG
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2019 at 10:55am
We plan to put a lock on the outdoor storage. But you're right, no RV is particularly secure!

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2017 R-Pod 179, Hood River Edition
2013 Ford F-150 FX4, V6 Ecoboost


Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2019 at 12:22pm
Originally posted by LemhiRG

We plan to put a lock on the outdoor storage. But you're right, no RV is particularly secure!
You can get replacement lock cylinders to replace ones in your storage compartment and the shower door. We did that, and now one key opens them all.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost


Posted By: LemhiRG
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2019 at 1:38pm
Originally posted by GlueGuy

You can get replacement lock cylinders to replace ones in your storage compartment and the shower door. We did that, and now one key opens them all.

Great tip, thank you! 


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2017 R-Pod 179, Hood River Edition
2013 Ford F-150 FX4, V6 Ecoboost


Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2019 at 3:22pm
Sorry I did not include a link. etrailer has a selection of them in different lengths https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-RV_Locks-pm-Global_Link.aspx - here .

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost


Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2019 at 2:42pm
I put all keyless entry locks on my pod. I bought the RVlock.com keyless entry for the door, I absolutely will never go back to a keyed door lock again. Then I replaced the storage compartment door locks with combi cam combination locks

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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding



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