Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am trying to install a rv style trimark door lock with the dead bolt. To make my wife feel safer wen she goes to bed before I do. I have a 48" wide door with a bar style lock now. My ? Is when I cut this handle in do I need to box some metal framing around it or just as long as I install it above the core support in the middle of the door am I ok? Does anyone have pictures of a similar install? That would be helpful I looked on here and have seen nothing. My trailer is a US cargo 7.5x20. This will be my first time cutting into it and I'm a little nervous.

I'll be installing the same door locks next weekend, if everything comes together.

But I am installing them in wooden doors, not a cargo trailer. But I had the same question as you, in this thread: viewtopic.php?p=950282#p950282

Look it over, maybe you'll see something that'll help you.

Mike...

Accordnc wrote:I am trying to install a rv style trimark door lock with the dead bolt. To make my wife feel safer wen she goes to bed before I do. I have a 48" wide door with a bar style lock now. My ? Is when I cut this handle in do I need to box some metal framing around it or just as long as I install it above the core support in the middle of the door am I ok? Does anyone have pictures of a similar install? That would be helpful I looked on here and have seen nothing. My trailer is a US cargo 7.5x20. This will be my first time cutting into it and I'm a little nervous.

Just make sure you cut the hole the correct size. Basically, the handle bolts together to itself. The hole holds the handle in place. The RV lock basically overlaps the hole all the way around it.

I would make sure you do not cut through a horizontal cross member in the door. Easy to find by where the screws are.

Good luck with the install. I installed one a few months ago. I did take the door off to cut the hole. Made it a lot easier to work.

Just installed mine last week. I cut it real close to size. Had a little trouble fitting. Had to over cut some to get it to slide in. My door is 2 layers of 3/8" plywood with aluminum skin on outside and framed with aluminum. I did not have to build internal frame. Once it was in place it tightened down well and functions great. I had to put diamond plate spacers on both sides of door since the latch is for 1 1/4"-1 1/2" and my door is 1". To get the latch to operated, catch where it is supposed to, I had to cut part of the channel that framed the door so it would set back far enough to catch. I am on a shakedown run for my CT now. I now see that cutting that piece weakened the door because it is flexing and the door is not sealing well at the top and bottom when it shuts. On my do list when I get home is to replace the inside spacer with a piece of 6" wide .125 diamond plate from top to bottom as a stiffener for the door. Of course I will have to cut out for the lock again. Hope this helps.

Earnest

'Just wanted to mention this posting I did back in early September in
the General Section about a keyless digital deadbolt lock.

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52187

There wasn't much interest in-so-far as postings go, but it solved my
need and is very high quality and I only had to drill three 5/16in holes
in the door and none in the door frame/wall, as I used the face of that
for the deadbolt to bear against. Once I determined the exact location
I needed, it was very straightforward and easy to install. It is 'a bit' more
expensive than the average RV locks now available, but not prohibitively so,
and the features of being non-pickable and non-bumpable really made me
choose it - beside it being the only deadbolt I could find that would work
for my situation of an aircraft style wall framing. And the fact I didn't
really want to - or had the tools available to - cut into the relatively 'thin'
thickness of the metal door jamb/wall edge. That would've only allowed
@ 1/8IN or so thicknesss bearing surface for the deadbolt 'tongue' to bear against -
not enough in my view. As installed, the keyless digital deadlock's
tongue has the full thickness of the metal door jamb and the metal wall
framing to bear against. [If the "keyless" aspect bothers you, they do
offer a model that also has a key as well.]

Since a metal framed cargo trailer is very similar to aircraft construction
I thought I would mention this. I am extremely satisfied with my results
and the installation was really easy.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

P.S.: 'Forgot to mention that the lock is mechanical - it doesn't need any
type of battery. A better description would be: "mechanical keyless
digital deadbolt". Also the model I chose/used is a surface mount. That
feature eliminated all the tricky mortising needed with a typical deadbolt.
It looks very nice on the door. Lockey also has those the traditional style
deadbolts as well.

Deleted a Double Post.

Thanks Norm for the update. I will be getting one of those locks.

Thanks for the response that was helpful I may try this weekend myself

My thread, from a while back may be a little helpful, or at least a good warning
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=45165

Thanks Pyrofish for the link to your thread. A couple of pics are worth a thousand words.

That is a awesome build man thanks for the link it will help.