Door lock

Bryan · Guru

Door lock

Mike Harding · Guru

No genius of the month award for you! :)

Hard to say without seeing it of course but if the barrel has come out then there is no locking mechanism holding the door closed and you should be able to poke a screwdriver into the barrel "hole" and with a bit of messing around and turning it withdraw the tongue holding the door closed against its spring and open the door... hopefully...? :)

Possum3 · Guru

Aparently a common problem with Dometic Doors - As Mike said if lock barrel is out, insert a screwdriver diagonally in square hole in mechanism and open door by turning screwdriver as a handle.

Bryan · Guru

It works the door handle but the lock won't open

Bryan · Guru

Spoke to a locksmith, he reckons he can open it but I'll need someone else to fit a new lock. Locksmith coming through after lunch.

brickies · Guru

Try youtube had the same problem called a locksmith to fix it , After it was fixed I did a youtube search and they made it look so easy .

Moonraker · Senior Member

Dometic and Aussietraveller door are notoriously bad for jamming up and lock barrel failures. We have had the door lock barrel fail twice now.
You may be able to open the door by prising the door frame gently and at the same time pushing the bolt back if necessary you may need to do this for all 3 bolts if they are all activated using pad screewdriver. I have been able to do this without damaging the door or doorframe. Just need the bolt to clear the frame.
Aussie Traveller on their website has video methods of fixing door locks and getting in to the van when door is jammed up.
I have since fitted a small stainless steel padlock to the door so that we no longer have to rely on the door lock when we leave the van. Pic attached. This is much more reliable and of course no more worry about opening the door or having to leave a window partly open just in case its the only way in!

Moonraker · Senior Member

Moonraker · Senior Member

Having trouble with attaching photo. For some reason is large and upside down. Not had this issue before!
Anyway it shows the padlock fitted.

BAZZA44 · Senior Member

Moonraker have you ever taken into consideration that some scumbag could lock you in your van at night using a bolt or screw etc in the hasp and staple. Could cause problems if free camping.

Barry

Bryan · Guru

Thanks for the responses. Locksmith came and opened the door. I'll get and fit a new lock when I'm back from my fishing trip next week. The van is safe inside the property with 6 foot wall and locked gate.

PeterD · Guru

In case you have not already got it, these will be useful when you get into the van - How to replace Camec door locks - Rev06 2009 -

CAMEC door lock Barrel Replacement - CAMEC door lock Outer Handle Replacement

The Belmont Bear · Guru

A couple of weeks ago my wife unlocked the vans door went inside put her keys on the bench came back outside and pulled the door shut behind her and for some reason it locked itself. When I arrived a few minutes later we were locked out without any keys, after failing to open the door we started looking for another way to get in. Luckily a front storage hatch under a single bunk was unlocked so she crawled into the space and pushed up the bed to get in. The door hasn't done it again but just as a precaution we now keep a spare set of keys in the car - no way would I have fitted through that hatch but it made me think just how vulnerable a van is to a breakin if you don't make sure that everything is locked up when you go out.

Moonraker · Senior Member

BAZZA44 wrote:
Moonraker have you ever taken into consideration that some scumbag could lock you in your van at night using a bolt or screw etc in the hasp and staple. Could cause problems if free camping.

Barry

Yes Barry that was our first thought before fitting it. But we leave the padlock locked on the staple when the door is open or when we are inside. I will get round to putting a clip to hold the staple back against the door but no need to lock it back as once the padlock is locked onto the staple it would be very difficult to stuff around with it.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I have a set of caravan door keys in one of these that I attach magnetically to the inside of a chassis rail under the van. It has been there for over eight years on the road - I check regularly and it hasn't moved.

I used to use one with my vehicles for years as well with a spare key - including my 4x4s that went all over the high country of Victoria and stayed inside the chassis rail.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2x-Magnetic-Spare-Key-Holder-Holders-Extra-Case-Storage-Hider-Hide-Containers-/162044369545?hash=item25ba98da89:g:I9gAAOSw1DtXF2EG

However, in deference to the OP, it wouldn't help if the lock fell out or broke. hmm

Cheers - John

Cruising Cruze · Guru

@ Peter D

Thanks for the link how to fix it
Love the explanation and the music
so simple if you know how

Cheers John

Moonraker · Senior Member

Its a sad fact that we have to lock up everything today.
I remember as a kid in thelate 1950's and 60's where we lived, a village in the south west of England, we never locked anything even the house. Car had keys left in the ignition, older cars didnt need a key to start them like our old Vauxhall Victor Estate. Garage door usually left open especially in the summer. Nothing ever taken.

-- Edited by Moonraker on Thursday 27th of April 2017 12:21:22 AM

Bryan · Guru

PeterD wrote:
In case you have not already got it, these will be useful when you get into the van - How to replace Camec door locks - Rev06 2009 -
CAMEC door lock Barrel Replacement - CAMEC door lock Outer Handle Replacement

Thanks Peter, The how to replace the door lock will be very handy when I tackle it next week.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

The info you blokes provide is TOPs! Have saved the info for possible trouble in the future.

macka17 · Guru

Hmmm.
Locking youself out.

Few yrs ago.(10\12ish)
Travelling South.
Stopped at regular place for lunch and GREAT pies. Meat and apple.

Di put her bag in van and we locked it b4 meal.
headed off.
450km later park for night.
Keys???
Whoops. on table at pie place.

Phone.
No worries. we'll send by courier.

Hmm Still waiting to this day.

Van locked .Tick. Tick.

Screwdriver.
Removed smallest window.
Kid from van next door. Hoisted through window. Spare keys outa Di's bag.
Fine.
Silicon. rescrew Window.

WON'T do that again. will we.

Moral of story.

HAVE spare keys.

DO NOT leave in van.

Handbag fine. as long as you keep with you hey.

Can chuckle now.

Hmm.

Di just looked over my shoulder.

Idiot.................Don't remind me.

-- Edited by macka17 on Thursday 27th of April 2017 02:14:23 AM

SouthernComfort · Guru

PeterD wrote:
In case you have not already got it, these will be useful when you get into the van - How to replace Camec door locks - Rev06 2009 -
CAMEC door lock Barrel Replacement - CAMEC door lock Outer Handle Replacement

Thanks for this PeterD, really useful stuff.

Colin Penrose · Senior Member

I replaced mine about 6 months ago. It is very tricky BUT the best advice I got was to be VERY PATIENT. I laid everything out on a table and did it methodically. Do the handle before the removing top ad bottom snobs. Col P

macka17 · Guru

Coromal have single lock half way down door.
3 pieces and a coupla little ones. Simple.

OH. And good ins for thieves hey.

Any van door.
Will stop a serious thief around 20 seconds.

Like I said. GOOD insurance fixes all