HELP! I'm locked out but the door's not locked

beeryboats · 10-21-2018, 12:15 AM

Hi all, I need your help. My '18 Windsport has jammed the door closed. It's not locked but it won't open. I set the levelers as I usually do in front of the house and it opened normally. But my wife went to get a coke out of the fridge and couldn't get in. I yanked and gently pried and got it unlatched but that's all. And of course for once both front windows are locked. It's dark and cold here in Indy, so I'm not messing with it anymore tonight, but I need to get in soon. Is there a way in or anyway to retract the levelers from outside? I'm afraid if I pry on the door or frame anymore than I have I'll really screw something up.
Jay

Ok, turns out she was after the rum AND coke. This is not good...

skiptut · 10-21-2018, 12:50 PM

First ensure both locks are unlocked, it's easy to get them one locked and one unlocked. I have had problems with the door on my Windsport 29M after lowering the levelers. The door sticks bad but never to the point of having to pry it open. Last time I was able to raise the levelers and reset them and the door worked ok. Good luck getting back in the RV.

ComputerChips · 10-21-2018, 08:52 PM

Might be the broken RV lock "latch" that many have experienced.

Peterrrr · 10-21-2018, 10:56 PM

You can retract your levelers, if you have access to the hydraulic motor and reservoir. Hopefully it is not in a locked compartment. If it's a locked compartment, check with another local RVer as the keys are normally standard. Here is a video put out by Lippert on the process. Just forget about the part about going back into the coach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT925EGb8pA

beeryboats · 10-22-2018, 11:30 PM

Thanks for the replies. I found the video very interesting and hope I never have to go that route. Good to know though.

I did get in the coach, but it almost cost me my marriage. After beating at the lock pin though a gap with a sharp putty knife and getting nowhere, I went in to get the keys. Sure as &^% the dead bolt was locked. I came unglued at that point. I told her the coach was not locked but she took the keys and messed around with it anyway until she had no idea what she had done. I, thinking she knew what she was doing, assumed it was as I left it, unlocked! And after reading so many posts about the lock breaking inside I was convinced it was broken. Needless to say one window will always be unlocked!

99dart · 10-23-2018, 12:04 AM

I hear ya... I have had a couple instances where my wife did something that I just couldn't understand. Even when I do blow a cork, I try like heck not to be ugly and start flinging crap I can't take back. We all do stupid things and/or forget things, especially now that we are older!

Lt Keefer · 10-23-2018, 01:16 AM

Those better halves.

Peterrrr · 10-23-2018, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beeryboats

I did get in the coach, but it almost cost me my marriage.

I thought the only threat to a marriage happened when you back up an RV and don't follow the hand and spoken instructions.

MickeyGina · 10-23-2018, 06:36 PM

We called the closest RV repair after trying to pry it open or push the bar back with butter knives. Ended up replacing the whole unit.

Mustang46555 · 10-23-2018, 09:20 PM

I just can't resist a good old war story!
Back in my EMT days I responded to an auto accident. The driver was a young girl and still inside one very beat up small car. It was steaming and smoking but no fire present and two other drivers were rocking the car side to side as they tried in vain to get the driver's door to open. When I arrived, in uniform, they gladly "let me handle it" I reached through the broken side window, unlocked the door and opened it to begin treating the driver. I really think the driver recovered fully before their pride did! Try before you pry.

ComputerChips · 10-23-2018, 11:30 PM

Once when I was a locksmith, I was sent to help someone who was locked out of their car... I found the back door unlocked!

sequoyausa · 10-27-2018, 08:19 PM

We had a problem with our doorlatch getting stuck. It was when it had been sitting in the sun for a while. My husband finally just replaced the whole unit! Is this a Thor problem or does it happen in other RVs too?

BillW1 · 10-27-2018, 10:04 PM

This happened to me too but coach was running at the time. I got out to make a last check before driving off and couldn't get back in. It was a 2016 Palazzo.

I was able to find a stiff piece of wire and push back the latch through the crack between the door and door frame and get the door open. When I got the door open I found that the latch had broken in half inside the lock. I could pull the part that normally sticks out all the way out of the lock with my fingers but the door handle would not retract it anymore.

I wound up taking the latch part off and going down the road with the door held closed by the dead bolt. Used it this way until dealer could order a replacement lock.

Cost some money for new lock but it works a lot better than the original one did even when the coach was new. I bet it was defective but it's too late, didn't actually fail until after warranty was already done.

Bill

pkasan · 11-14-2020, 07:32 AM

It happened to me too. I stepped out of the motor home closed the door and then I could not get back in. I had the keys, but they were of no use.

This video shows how I got back in and which broken part caused the lock out.

https://youtu.be/H03E5RA-MEo

This video shows how I got in with not much more than a coat hanger,

I got locked out of my Thor (Axis/Vega) due to a broken latch.

You may also like: