Replacing the door latch and lock

[deelind]

Dude had his keys for 41 years, took me a month to lose em naturally the unit is locked. Figure I'm going to have drill out the cylinder. The latch is peeling and in rough shape so not such a huge tragedy, however, the $460+ replacement is shocking. I found this one, will it fit a 73 Tradewind? CHROME DOOR LOCK 41246 [41246] - $39.95 : Out-of-Doors Mart!, More Airstream Parts on-line than anyone!

or should I got with cylinder replacement?

Thanks! Dee

[ventport]

Can you get in inside through a storage hatch? Then unlock from the inside, or jimmy a window open. Then you could take the lock apart and take it to a locksmith to have new key made. If you can't get in, why not have a locksmith come out or tow the trailer to him and have a key made. Would be cheaper and less hassle then wrecking the lock.

[Belegedhel]

Take the trailer to a lock smith, or if all of your hatches and doors have a common key, take an unlocked hatch off the trailer and carry it into a locksmith and have a key made. I did this, and I think I spent less than $20.

I don't blame you for wanting to replace the whole latch, but there is no drop-in replacement other than another very expensive KT latch. There are kits that essentially come with the latch you refer to, plus some aluminum patching material and some rivets that, you can buy, remove your old latch, patch the hole, and install the new latch. Takes a little effort, but certainly easier than reskinning your door inside and out, which is what I did.

good luck!

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by ventport

Can you get in inside through a storage hatch? Then unlock from the inside, or jimmy a window open. Then you could take the lock apart and take it to a locksmith to have new key made. If you can't get in, why not have a locksmith come out or tow the trailer to him and have a key made. Would be cheaper and less hassle then wrecking the lock.

Absolutely pay a locksmith -even if it's $150 it's still way cheaper than a new lock!

BTW, getting in through a window is probably shockingly easy, especially if it's the kind where the whole window swings out.
Paula