Four People, Two Kids and One RV Key Wasn’t Working Anymore

By: Lizzie Dawson – RVD Contributor

When Mike and I bought our travel trailer, I didn’t give much thought to the door lock. There were approximately 847 other things I was trying to learn about owning an RV, and as far as I was concerned, the door had a lock, the lock had a key and that seemed sufficient.

Then we actually started camping as a family.

We’re weekend warriors most of the year with a few longer trips mixed in whenever work schedules and school calendars cooperate. We travel in a Grand Design Imagine with our 12-year-old, our 9-year-old and our dog. The bunkhouse gives the kids their own space, which is wonderful. It also means they’re constantly coming and going from the trailer.

Someone wants a sweatshirt. Someone forgot their water bottle. Someone needs their fishing pole. Someone suddenly remembers the snack they absolutely cannot survive another three minutes without. And somehow all of those things became my problem because I had the RV key.

There Had to Be a Better Way

We’d seen other RVers using keyless entry systems, but it wasn’t until we were camping with two increasingly independent kids that I really understood the appeal.

We eventually installed an RVLock V4 Keyless Entry Handle, and instead of needing a key, the kids know our code. If they ride their bikes back to the campsite before us, they can get inside. If Mike takes the dog for a walk while I’m somewhere else in the campground, nobody has to figure out who has the key. And if we all head to the pool, we’re not trying to keep track of an RV key in a beach bag.

The V4 gives us three ways to get into the trailer: the keypad, a remote fob or a traditional mechanical key. The keypad is backlit, there’s a quick-lock feature for locking the door without entering the code and the lock gives a warning when the four AA batteries are getting low. We still keep the mechanical keys with us as a backup because electronics are wonderful right up until they decide not to be.

Mike’s Favorite Part: It Was Easy to Install

Whenever I find an RV upgrade I want, there’s always that moment when Mike asks, “How hard is this going to be to install?”

In this case, not very.

The RVLock V4 is designed to replace many standard travel-trailer and fifth-wheel door handles using the existing opening. You remove the old handle, connect the wiring between the two halves of the RVLock, secure the new handle, program your code and pair the remotes. RVLock advertises it as roughly a 10-minute DIY installation with basic tools, although you’ll definitely want to check their fit guide before ordering because RV doors aren’t all the same.

That meant no cutting into the side of our trailer, no running wires through the RV and no dealership appointment.

More Than Just Convenience

Convenience was why we bought it, but I also like that the V4 has an all-metal, weather-resistant construction and uses RVLock’s laser-cut mechanical keys rather than a master-key cylinder.

I wouldn’t pretend that changing a door handle suddenly makes an RV impenetrable. It’s still an RV, and we use the same common sense we always have. But I like having a substantial lock on the main entry door, and I especially like not having multiple copies of our physical key floating around between four family members.

There’s also a feature I didn’t know about when we bought it. RVLock offers compatible entry and baggage locks that can be keyed alike, so you can potentially use the same physical key for multiple locks around the trailer. Compatible keyless baggage handles can also work with the keypad and remote system.

I’m not sure whether that’s incredibly convenient or whether I’ve just found Mike another project.

Would We Buy It Again?

Absolutely. The funny thing is that we originally thought of the RVLock as a convenience upgrade for Mike and me. After using it with two kids, I think it’s even more useful for a family.

Our 12-year-old doesn’t have to hunt us down because something was left inside. Our 9-year-old doesn’t need an RV key clipped to a backpack. Mike and I don’t have to coordinate who has the key every time we split up at a campground.

It didn’t dramatically change the way we camp. It just eliminated one of those little annoyances that happened over and over again on every trip. And with two kids, a dog and a campsite full of people constantly asking me where they left their stuff, I’ll happily eliminate anything that means one less person asking, “Mom, do you have the key?”