Locked out - with a key

[Foomaster]

So my ‘73 Overlander has decided to lock me out. It’s a KT lock.

I think it is forgone conclusion that something is broken in the lock.
See video https://youtu.be/cIArtV_5Npk.

So the question is, how do I get the door open, so I can remove the lock and repair it.

Everything is locked up, so trying to figure out best way to get in. Remove door hinges, drill out key cylinder, pry a window, find someone to crawl in a access hatch.

From those whom may have done this before, what is the best way?

[Wazbro]

Unscrewing the hinges is a bad idea, there is a nut that either wont come off all the way or will drop off into wall of trailer requiring cutting wall to replace nut and/or tighten it.

[Jada]

I’ve had to use the access hatch for the same situation

[cole3444]

Don't drill your lock they don't make them anymore. My Granddaughter went through one of my hatches and opened the window next to my door and removed the screen and the chrome knobs on the arms. I was able to get in and get the three screws out that holds it in place then slowly pryed the housing out on the back end and put a pair of pliers on the latch rod pulled it and unlocked the door. Good luck

[Belegedhel]

I assume that the video you reference is your lock, or at least someone's latch with the exact same symptoms. If so, the good news is that the part that is broken might be as simple as replacing a roll-pin (but when is life simple?). The other good news is that the way these locks work, is that when you turn the key, it drives a little shaft up into the strike, thus immobilizing it. It looks like your issue is with the latch mechanism, not with the locking mechanism, in other words, technically you can still unlock the strike and manually move it. Drilling out the lock cylinder is definitely not going to get the door open, because the lock mechanism is working, it is just the linkage between the latch and the strike that is broken.

Since the door closes from the outside in, the strike should be visible. Using a couple of small screwdrivers, and perhaps a putty knife, you might be able to reach into the door crack and press the strike back far enough to get the door open.

Beware that you could have two problems: The locking mechanism may have failed in the locked position, and then when you grabbed the latch handle and jerked it to open it against the locked strike, the linkage or roll pin failed in the latch mechanism. If you find that the strike cannot be manually moved even though you think the lock in in the unlocked position, then this is probably what happened.

Looking ahead, though, if a replacement KT latch can be found, they are super expensive. There used to be repair parts kits available, but I haven't seen those offered in a long time. If your latch is not working because of some KT specific part has failed, the latch may not be repairable without having some part created from scratch, or parts from a donor unit. There are several threads on here about options for replacing the KT altogether.

Below are a couple of pictures of the inner workings of the KT. One shows where the latch meets the strike, the other the back side of the lock cylinder, where it moves the little bolt into place.

good luck!

[RJMarquar]

I agree with Jada. We got locked out from our Airstream when the deadbolt slid shut from travel vibration. We sent a young kid in through one of the hatches below a bed. He was in and had the door open in less than a minute

[slofoks]

We had a similar situation with our 1966 Overlander. The easiest way for us to get in was to remove the rivets on the large astrodome and I was able to drop down into the trailer that way. I am 6' and 195 lbs and it was no problem to get in. Our side hatches were under the fixed bed so that was out in our case. The astrodome was very easy to put back with just a few small rivets. Good luck!

[Lumatic]

Take a butterknife and slide it between the gasket and frame on one of the windows. You should be able to use the knife to open the window latches. after going through this problem several times I put a locking hasp on the door.

[karenwin]

This happened to me a couple weeks ago. The key wouldn’t even go in all the way and it definitely wouldn’t turn the lock. My brother sprayed some Liquid Wrench into the key hole and it still wouldn’t turn. He ended up tapping the key while in the lock with a hammer. It took a few taps but it now works like new!

[Belegedhel]

Just happened to look at Vintagetrailersupply.com and discovered that they are now carrying quite an array of repair parts for the KT latches, so if you can get into the trailer without destroying the latch, it can be repaired.

https://www.vintagetrailersupply.com...page?q=KT+lock

good luck!