Thread: Losing keys
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Old 10-05-2015, 05:14 PM   #7
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Fayetteville, GA, USA
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We had a lock-out experience on about the 3rd trip out in our then new 5th wheel...

One of the things I like to do in a campground is take a nightly 'walking survey' to see all the rigs and tacky lights and campfires and families out having fun. Just after dark but well before quiet time or there wouldn't be anything to see. Matt and I head out about 9:15 pm and get back about 10:15. The key I just locked the door with an hour ago will not fit back into the deadbolt lock. All of our cell phones, wallets, cash etc are all INSIDE the trailer. All I have is this useless door key and the key to the truck. We give up on getting in without help.

We drive up, slowly and quietly, to see the campground hosts. Their lights are still on. Good. We knock on the door and explain our situation.

The host calls the ranger,
the ranger calls the sheriff,
the sheriff calls the 24 hour on call locksmith,
who doesn't work on RVs but knows someone who does,
so the 1st locksmith calls the other,
who calls the sheriff,
that calls the ranger
who tells me the guy will be there in 10 minutes.

The ranger goes up to the gate to lead the guy back to our site. Now I'm getting a bit concerned about the amount of vehicle traffic around our site, with me come and going, the ranger in and out with "Law Enforcement" in big black letters on his truck and now the locksmith on his way.

Right on time, he shows up with the ranger, again, in a Chevy Suburban with not one muffler on it. That thing rattled the rocks on the ground.

I later apologized to my neighbors who claim they heard nothing because they were all watching the Olympics with their air conditioners on.

After some futile tinkering around for about 1/2 hour the locksmith says he can't get the door open without damaging the lock and we should begin to explore ways to break into our own trailer "to recover the key." I explain to the locksmith, for about the 3rd time, that:

1. The door can only be locked from the outside, using a key
2. The key is here in my hand, absence of a key is not the problem, and
3. The lock is already hosed up and I don't mind if you break it further.

So the light comes on!

So he gets a large flat blade screwdriver, drives it into the lock with a hammer and with brute force twists the lock open.

For this he charges me $30. Would have been $75 but since he really didn't "open" the lock, without damage, he just wanted enough money to take the wife and kids to Dairy Queen. They had been waiting in the Suburban this whole time.

Forest River sent me a new lockset and reimbursed me for the locksmith call. And all my campers locks get a dry lube treatment twice a year.
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KU4OJ "Wade" Ships Captain, CFO, Chief Engineer
KG4DQQ "Kathy" 1st Officer, Navigator, Best Friend
2007 F-150 SuperCab - 2009 Rockwood 8280SS
Lot's of mostly Kenwood stuff

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