Keys locked inside

[out of sight]

New Airstream. The door was unlocked and when we closed it it suddenly locked by itself. Had to cut the screen to get back in. Going to ask for a warranty repair.

[GMFL]

Best plan is to Always keep a extra set of key in the tow vehicle

[Kanusport]

We have been using just the deadbolt to lock the airstream. We carry that deadbolt key on the car keys and have a spare in the car which has a keyless entry so we can always get in. I guess on the bright side you are only out a screen and not a window. Not sure if this will qualify for warranty but who knows. Best of luck.

[OTRA15]

Recent Spare Key thread FYI:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...ey-191244.html

[out of sight]

I guess my question is, what causes the door to lock by itself? Has anybody else experienced this? It never happened with my previous Airstream which had the same lock.

[SteveSueMac]

Hi out of sight - welcome, and sorry for your troubles.

Hoping this link takes you a a host of threads in these forums on related topics.

https://www.google.com/search?q=airf...iw=375&bih=628

It’s fairly common - shouldn’t happen - really wish AS fixed the root cause - but you’ll find some solutions here (including sets of keys outside the trailer, and a fix for if it happens while you’re in the trailer) that are helpful short term.

Good luck and happy camping!!

[OTRA15]

Apparently this is fairly common, out of sight.

"door locks itself" results: https://www.google.com/search?q=door...com&gws_rd=ssl

BTW the new search function in the blue box above [desktop version of this site] works great to reveal earlier posts on AirForums.

Good luck,

Peter

[Rocinante]

Yup, common. Even if you never deliberately lock anything but the deadbolt, the other lock can lock itself without warning if you accidentally, just once, close the door just right from the outside. Always keep an extra key to the trailer door somewhere outside the trailer.

[Julie-Bob]

Full set off keys hidden somewhere on the outside of the trailer. A full set of trailer keys in the truck. Never leave home with just one set of keys

[AirstreamInc]

Originally Posted by out of sight

New Airstream. The door was unlocked and when we closed it it suddenly locked by itself. Had to cut the screen to get back in. Going to ask for a warranty repair.

Hi out of sight,*

We're sorry to learn about your door locking by itself. Please send us a direct message with your contact information and the last 6 digits of your VIN so we can share it with our Customer Service and Technical Support team.

You can also reach Airstream Customer Service and Technical Support at*customer_support@airstream.com*

Thank you.*

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by out of sight

New Airstream. The door was unlocked and when we closed it it suddenly locked by itself. Had to cut the screen to get back in. Going to ask for a warranty repair.

For future information - the WINDOW screens can be punched inward with your fist. Locked windows that swing open from the bottom are pretty easily opened from outside with a coat hanger. Just turn the handle straight down. Once open a small to medium sized child can open the door.

As a preventative measure, becaust the lock handle moves so easily adding any kind of resistance to the handle itself is a good idea. I put a soft rubber washer (stovetop grid washer) over the lock handle that presses against the cover on the lock. Just a tiny bit more resistance whem I lock it, but haven't had an "oh spit" occurance yet. You could also make a "lock in open position" gizmo with a small piece of metal that would work like the catch on the outside access doors. Or hook a rubber band or spring up to add resistance to moving into the locked position.

Of course keeping a spare set of door keys is just too sensible... but where to stash them so a thief can't find them? Inside the sewer cover? Eeehew but...

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Best plan is to Always keep a extra set of key in the tow vehicle

Great advise...we have 2 extra sets of keys! One in TV and one in wife's purse...which she often leaves inside the AS!

[SilverWind]

The lock in our 68 Caravel locks itself from the inside. It's a recent NOS replacement for the original that did the same thing. So, apparently it's a 50 year plus problem.

The inside lever on the top lock sometimes slips and locks. Experienced the same thing on our 2005 Interstate and on our 2017 25.

Never leave your Airstream without a set of keys, keep a spare in your tow vehicle and hide a key somewhere else on the trailer.

BTW.....Airstream seems to use the same deadbolt key on many of it's models. So, if you locked yourself out of the deadbolt (which seems rare) ask around someone may be able to let you in with their key.

[Acheron2010]

Put spare set of keys in a real estate lock box inside the propane tank cover.

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by Acheron2010

Put spare set of keys in a real estate lock box inside the propane tank cover.

Same here, we lock it to one of the bottles.

[OTRA15]

Wondering if you the OP are still following this discussion? Your last post was almost two weeks ago.

Thanks,

Peter

Originally Posted by out of sight

I guess my question is, what causes the door to lock by itself? Has anybody else experienced this? It never happened with my previous Airstream which had the same lock.

[rmkrum]

IIRC, Inland RV used to sell or give away a felt(?) washer that you can put on the lock lever behind the plate to add friction to keep just closing the door from locking you out. I have a push button combo lock box that holds a set of spare keys mounted to part of the trailer structure that I can easily reach. The actual location is, of course, classified as my eyes only...

[The Flamingo]

Patrick at Colonial Airstream warned us of this happening so we always keep a key in the TV as a precaution.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by The Flamingo

Patrick at Colonial Airstream warned us of this happening so we always keep a key in the TV as a precaution.

We do something similar - but isn’t it nuts that AS hasn’t fixed the root cause of this issue which has been pointed out - with myriad fixes by fellow campers - in these forums????

I love my AS but this is the silliest damn thing - the Sales staff in the dealer network have to warn you to carry extra keys because AS won’t spend $2/door to fix the problem? Charge me $25 - I’ll pay to never be locked in or out again!

Sheesh - I do love you AS but c’mon now!

🤨

[csrichey]

Had same thing happen to us on our 2018 International. Had to go thru back emergency window ended up cutting and bending screen. Tried to get a new one and they changed the screen design from square corners to rounded so I can’t get a replacement. Now we keep a set of keys outside. It has happened on two other occasions. Good luck with warranty!