Outside fresh water door lock won't open

[willbrackman]

I purchased a used Airstream and was given a whole pile of keys. Unfortunately, none of the keys seems to unlock the outside door (curb side) to the fresh water supply.

I've tried every key multiple times, used a bunch of graphite, and turned these keys as hard as I dare but the door won't open.

Is there a way for me to "break into" this compartment without too much damage and then later replace the lock? I'd take the trailer to a locksmith but that would entail a 75 mile round trip and a lot of hassle?

Thanks for your ideas.

[reddogfox]

Most fresh water supply doors use one of a few standard keys that are common across the RV industry. Check with the nearest RV dealer they should be able to help you.

[Gene]

I find the outdoor shower and fresh water tank door locks can be very hard to open with the proper keys and lots of graphite. I jiggle them, push them in, jiggle the doors, etc., and eventually they open. They are cheap locks and don't work well. Check to see if the keys have burrs on them and gently file them off. Possibly you can drill them out and take the remains to an RV store and get new ones.

Gene

[Wabbiteer]

Drilling is rather extreme, the double-cut key is hard to duplicate and who knows if they key you hold is a 4th or 5th generation copy. I had an Airstream Dealer down in the SW desert country mail me a couple for very little money, they just taped them to a card and sent it business envelope

[Silver Goose]

CH751 is a common key for the water hatch door. If you have one of those keys, that's what I would try working with.

[Gene]

Yes, drilling is the last resort and you have to be careful not to use too large a drill bit so you don't cut the door. The attempt is to destroy enough lock so you can get it out and much destruction may be necessary—not something I'd do unless I'd tried every other thing I could think of. It is possible someone replaced the lock with one with a strange key.

Keep jiggling.

Gene

[Ag&Au]

According to the attached chart, the water door key for 1995 is a CH 751. However 1994 was a Deco 1. If the CH 751 does not work, perhaps you got a left over lock.

Ken

[willbrackman]

It looks like I need to get a hold of a CH751 key. I looked through all of the keys that I have and there's nary a CH751 in the bunch. Anyone know of an RV dealer that'd sell me one by mail?

[epperp]

Check with a local locksmith--the one in our town had a stock of the common compartment keys. Found the ones for water, battery, storage compartments there.

[epperp]

The local locksmith also had the blanks for the (Trimark, I think?) entry door key and cut spares for me. Got all the spares for our 1994 in one stop.

[epperp]

One last comment--our water compartment door lock is also a pain to open. Every time I'm convinced I have the wrong key, but tipping it as I insert the key or jiggling the key, somehow just when I'm ready to give up, it turns easily.

[Silver Goose]

Got any friends or neighbors with an RV? This is not a Airstream unique item. Maybe you can borrow one to be sure it's right. It might fit their baggage compartment as well as water hatch. That lock is even used on yard sprinkler control boxes and things like that which aren't RV related. If you have a Lowes or Home Depot nearby, try them... There's lots of places online that sell them, even eBay! Just do a search for CH751.

[Elf1]

Ebay has MANY of them ....try this link- they can get it to you in a day if need be-
RV Camper CH751 Baggage/Luggage/Compartment Door Keys | eBay

Originally Posted by YankeeDoodle

Got any friends or neighbors with an RV? This is not a Airstream unique item. Maybe you can borrow one to be sure it's right. It might fit their baggage compartment as well as water hatch. That lock is even used on yard sprinkler control boxes and things like that which aren't RV related. If you have a Lowes or Home Depot nearby, try them... There's lots of places online that sell them, even eBay! Just do a search for CH751.