The Best RV Door Locks (Key and Keyless) in 2023

While the typical RV alternates between traveling the country and sitting in storage, one fact remains - you want it to be secure at all times. Good door locks on the RV provide peace of mind when you're sleeping in an unfamiliar location. They also protect the contents of the RV from theft when you're hiking and prevent the vehicle from being stolen. This is why the best RV keyless entry locks should be considered an investment. What are the various options when it comes to rv keyless entry lock?

Top 3 Best Rated RV Door Locks - Comparison

After doing a great research, We could make a short list of  the best RV door locks available on the market and completed a fulfill review for each of them. As our experiences, We hope- Reviews will you guide the right way of buying one of the best from the current market. So let's start... 

This unit is unusual in coming with a wireless key fob. Use it to unlock the vehicle or storage compartment whenever you want. And you can get replacement key fobs if you lose yours.

Note that the batteries have to be replaced in both the lock and key fob for it to continue working.

The 10 digit keyboard creates more than a million possible door codes, making it almost impossible to hack. One downside of this model is that you can’t program your own code. The unit fits almost all types of campers. The roughly 4 inch by 3 inch to 1.5 inch door handle fits most trailers.

One issue is that the inside handle isn’t as solid as the external handle. The push keys themselves are not as durable as some of the alternatives. For example, if you push the buttons too hard, they can get stuck inside the hole.

It needs 4 AA batteries and goes through them quickly. The door handle itself is fairly flimsy. It can break off after repeated hard pulls, and it may break after just a year or two of regular use. While you can get replacement key fobs rather easily, the rest of the unit is not easily repaired.

A minor annoyance with this model is the loud beeping it makes while being used.

One downside of all the features is that it burns through batteries. As it drains the batteries, it may randomly lock and unlock because the sensors are confused.

In other cases, the damaged or malfunctioning control board needs all the batteries taken out and put back in to do a hard reset of the controller.

The automatic lock / unlock button doesn’t always work, either. When the unit is hot, including from direct exposure to the summer sun, the plastic can expand so much that the physical keys may not fit. Nor is there really a key fob.

It comes with a pre-programed code from the factory you can use if you don’t want to program it or in the rare case when you can’t reprogram it.

One downside is the short battery life. Fortunately, the unit does come with a backup key to unlock it. Sometimes the fob won’t pair with it, and then the fob just won’t work. The fob itself often stops working, and it isn’t easy to replace.

A minor annoyance is that the functionality is counter-intuitive. For example, the key and lock knob turn away from the door frame, when the opposite is true in almost every other door lock.

When the unit has internal wiring problems, it glitches out, requiring a reset, or it just stops working. That’s aside from the challenge of holding two buttons simultaneously to program the pin or reset it after the control board gets confused.

Nor can you really get replacement parts.

The internal hardware is sturdier than prior models by the same manufacturer and the alternative products on the market. You don’t have to worry about breaking off the door handle.

However, the striker is prone to breaking. In that case, you’re locked out of the RV until you can get a locksmith to fix it.
An occasional issue is the product coming without all of the components. It varies on whether or not it is missing the tumbler or keys.

A different problem is the lack of compatibility with earlier Trimark products. Be very careful about backwards compatibility with prior Trimark/RV Designer door latches. That’s why we gave the specific Trimark model this one is compatible with.

Note that this door lock is entirely keyed. You don’t have a keyless option.

Another consideration is the cheap thin metal involved. The latches can bend or break. The keys can bend, too. If either happens, you’re locked in the RV until you essentially disassemble the lock from the door. The white enamel is prone to rubbing off and will chip away in time.

This can require some RVs to modify the door frame. If you have the old model of Trimark locks, the new striker bolts are slightly larger than the old ones, so if you do replace the lock but keep your hardware, try to use the old bolts.

You want to find the models that have a durable steel plumber, not an aluminum plunger. The aluminum plungers have a history of breaking and trapping people in the RV. The plastic plungers just break off. Those may last a year of heavy use before breaking. You know that you have a lousy one when it has red lock knobs instead of red ones.

This lock can be a direct replacement for Trimark brand, Bauer and Fastec locks. In every other case, they remain easy to install. However, there are minor differences from the Global locks they are very similar to.

The lock cylinders themselves are not as durable as the exterior hardware. The key is at best rough to insert into the lock. You have to put the key in at an exactly correct angle or it won’t go in at all. If the key insertion gets more difficult, the lock cylinder is about to lock you out (or in) the RV.

The outer casing is plastic. Yet there are no issues with the handles breaking off as you find with other plastic door lock handles. The inner components are metal.

The internal locking mechanism is solid and sound. However, when there are quality control issues, you’ll have trouble unlocking it. If you encounter this, replace the lock before you’re locked out of your vehicle.

It fits doors 1.25 to 1.5 inches thick. The lock itself is roughly 3.5 inches by 4.25 inches. This RV door lock is unusual in that you can flip it over to use on doors that open on the right side as well as the classic left side. It is a rare mechanically global lock. That makes it the best RV door lock for those with a right side door.

If the key just slides in rough, you can add some key lubrication to make that easier. In some cases, this needs to be used repeatedly to easily open the lock.

The matte black body fits into almost any color scheme. The problem is that it doesn’t have templates. If it doesn’t fit your trailer door, you have to cut a hole for it based on guesswork. That also makes it very difficult to install if it isn’t plug and play with your door. (It isn’t going to work on one inch wide doors.)

The deadbolt is solid and strong, but it is hard to turn. The handle can’t be pried off by a thief and won’t break off. However, it can be hard to get your hand under it to open it in the first place.

Furthermore, make sure the key can be pulled out after you’ve locked and unlocked the deadbolt. If anything gets jammed, return it immediately. You don’t want to have to jigger the keys, because this leaves you at risk of being locked out of your RV at any time.

The lock in general is easy to install.

One downside with this model is how hard it is to install. You have to get it right so that the batteries hit the contacts and the whole thing works. The buttons are load when you push them, though they in theory can be muted.

The lock itself is durable, but the plastic handle is prone to breaking if you pull too hard.

What is the Best RV Door Lock Actually?

Here are Various Types of RV locks

01. RV Door Locks with a Key

These are among the most common RV door locks. This makes them cheap. They’re also familiar. That’s reasonable since they are the default door locks for entry to the driver’s cab and living section of most RVs. In many RVs, the same key lets you access the living compartment and driver’s cab.

In other cases, the same key that starts the engine lets you access the RV.

You can choose the type of door lock when you install your own RV door lock. This allows you to install a paddle handle door that gives you an easier way to open the door, and that may have 1 or 2 lock points. Or you could pick a door lock with a larger turn bar handle that you can open with an elbow if the door isn’t locked.

One of the downsides of the RV door lock with a key is that many manufacturers use a universal key for all of their door locks. This means that anyone with a key for your make and model of RV can gain access to your RV. It could force you to pay for a different door lock with a different key out of pocket to improve your security. Then it is hard to get a replacement key should you lose yours.

Another issue you encounter with these types of door locks is dimensional. The door has to be a literal fit, both in terms of the hole cutout and door thickness.

02. Keyless RV Locks

One point in favor of a keyless door lock for the RV is that you don’t have to mess with keys. You can’t get locked out as long as you remember the door code. The downside is that anyone can get access to the RV if they know your door code. Information security is now a necessity to protect your property.

The side benefit of keyless locks is that you can save the pass code into a phone so you can easily keep a backup without the security risk that comes with a sheet of paper shoved in the glove compartment.

Another benefit of keyless door locks is that many of them come with a key fob. Unlock your RV from a distance so the kids can get in even if they don’t know the access code. A major point in favor of keyless door locks is that they fit nearly every RV door.

The hard part for many is changing the pass code or the code for the keyless door lock if it is compromised. Many people struggle to do that. Furthermore, if the keyless entry pad is damaged, you’re probably locked out of the RV. You can call the average locksmith to replace a key lock. Fewer have the skills to replace a keyless door lock.

However, only keyless locks let you use the same entry code for every lock on the RV, assuming you replace them all with keyless locks. Just make sure they don’t get damaged or too wet. Otherwise, they may not work.

03. RV Compartment Baggage Locks

RV compartment baggage locks are specifically for the RV storage compartment or baggage area. These locks are often built into the RV, but some RVs don’t have a lock for these areas. In these cases, you have to pay for an additional layer of security. A compromise that some RV companies offer is a latch with a hole for a combination lock.

Unfortunately, that forces you to buy a separate combination lock and keep track of the lock and its combination. A compromise is using a keyless door lock on the baggage door, but this requires additional engineering to make work.

04. RV Baggage Door Catch

A RV baggage door catch is a specialized lock. It essentially holds the baggage compartment open and keeps it open until you want it to close. These items make it easier to load and unload your RV.

One downside is that they typically don’t come with the RV. You have to buy them separately. Then they have to be installed. Cheap versions of the baggage door catch will break.

Now you lack support for the door or have uneven support. Magnetic door hatches let you open them one handed, but you have to buy 2 pair and install them properly.

05. RV Passage Door & Privacy Locks

A RV passage door is the door that separates the living area from the driver cab in some RVs. The passage door lock or privacy lock only exists when the RV has this type of door. The average RV privacy lock is a cam lock or deadbolt that lets you lock people out of the living section. It is possible to get deadbolt locks. These are more secure.

One benefit of this is that someone who breaks into the driver’s section of the RV can’t enter the sleeping area while you’re asleep. Another benefit is that it guarantees the privacy of people changing or sleeping in the back while others are driving up front.

Note that the lock only slightly increases security. It may not protect you from someone willing and able to kick in the door.

Others: RV Lock and Door Accessories

If you’re buying an RV with keyed locks, you can probably buy replacement keys online. Depending on the make and model of the locks and knobs, you could replace the door latches and knobs to ones that suit you.

This is invaluable if your limited grip strength makes a standard door knob unusable. Or that knob that sticks out is something you keep hitting, so you want to replace it with a flat door handle.

Conclusion

Your RV is an immense investment, and you want to do everything you can to protect it, its contents, and your family when they are within it. This means you must have the best RV door lock possible installed on the vehicle's access points.

The only question is which door lock is best for you, your situation and your vehicle.

FAQ