Outside door handle closed while inside?

[J.Fallon]

DW and I stopped at a rest area late one night. As we entered the trailer I wondered if while we were in there and someone walking by closed the outside handle could we still get out. Other than crawling thru windows. The answer is No. I'm going to drill a hole to pad lock the handle in the open position. Any thoughts?


2015 21fbrs
2014 Ford F-150 4x4 5.0

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by J.Fallon

DW and I stopped at a rest area late one night. As we entered the trailer I wondered if while we were in there and someone walking by closed the outside handle could we still get out. Other than crawling thru windows. The answer is No. I'm going to drill a hole to pad lock the handle in the open position. Any thoughts?


2015 21fbrs
2014 Ford F-150 4x4 5.0

I'm not sure I'm following on what exactly it is you're doing. What trailer are you being locked in? and what kind of handles does it have?

[J.Fallon]

On our 21fbrs it has a folding outside grab handle that blocks the door when closed.


2015 21fbrs
2014 Ford F-150 4x4 5.0

[AquaMan]

I think I now understand possibly what you are talking about. Is it the Grab Handle that you are concerned with? If so, can you simply turn it against the sidewall, opposite the door? In all the years I've camped, this has never crossed my mind.

[J.Fallon]

I'm with you. Never thought about it till that moment. It will only move open or across the door when closed


2015 21fbrs
2014 Ford F-150 4x4 5.0

[scootingranny]

Saw this on another thread awhile back so while at the 5er one time, DH went inside and shut the door. I closed the grab handle. All it took was a little bit of a good push on the door and the handle swung open. So that issue for us is now a non-issue. Try it sometime on your particular rig and see.

[itat]

I had never considered that either but now that I have, I think the chances of it actually happening are next to nil. If you want to test it, put a good thick towel between the folded grab handle and the door to avoid marking it up. If I HAD to get out of the trailer in a hurry, I'm pretty sure I'd be strong enough to break the grab handle if I had to!

[oldsmasma]

I worried more about someone folding up our stairs when we had our fifth wheel. Spoke to a camper once who was waiting for his wife to rehab after an awful fall. They had been overnighting at a Walmart when someone folded up their steps. She stepped out bright and early to walk the dog and down she went. I think of her EVERY time I step out of our motorhome and always check the step first.

[Helmsey]

As someone else stated, a good shove from the inside and it will open.
If I am outside doing something and the wife and kids are inside I will shut the handle like that to keep the girls from escaping We tested before we decided to do this and DW had no issues opening the door. If all else fails, they could go out the back door that does not have one of those handles

[Dwilcox]

I don't worry about it, a few years ago the kids did not deadbolt the door after grabbing some of their things at a rest stop, I always look down the side with the mirrors before moving after one of these stops (Slide was out a little once ) so I know it was folded in. Few miles down the road saw it was out, pulled over and as I stopped the door swung open. We always have such interesting conversations after one of these little educational adventures.

[heavynlori]

We use the handle to keep dog from pushing open the screen door when we are inside - he doesn't know he could use his 100 pound chocolate lab butt to escape !! He is still confined in the house with a cheap baby gate too though

[CampingGator]

We have to lift our handle to swing it out or back, so I'm not sure if just pushing on it would work. Fortunately, we have two doors, so it will not matter much. I would think about it more if we only had one door.

[J.Fallon]

I work for Kenny Schrader and camp with the gang at race tracks and I can guarantee that the handle will be closed now that he knows about it. LOL


2015 21fbrs
2014 Ford F-150 4x4 5.0

[bpadamson]

Guess I'll have to brave the current snow storm and see if if opens with a push. . .

[spudston]

Originally Posted by oldsmasma

I worried more about someone folding up our stairs when we had our fifth wheel. Spoke to a camper once who was waiting for his wife to rehab after an awful fall. They had been overnighting at a Walmart when someone folded up their steps. She stepped out bright and early to walk the dog and down she went. I think of her EVERY time I step out of our motorhome and always check the step first.

Most folding steps make a lot of noise when you fold them up. Even if I didn't hear them being folded, my dogs would go ballistic.

I have heard of people falling out of their RV when the steps were up though, usually with motor homes when they forgot to extend the power steps.

[bplantcjf]

I made a small piece (out of metal)(looks like a heavy staple) that goes in the handle slots that keeps it from moving. I won't be able to post a picture until end of Feb. Works good. Someone would have to be looking very hard to see it and know what it is. Very easy to remove and put in if you know it is there. I keep them in an old film canister.

[banda]

I just tested mine. I cannot open the door when the handle is folded against it. May need to find a way to lock it open.

[J.Fallon]

What trailer Banda?


2015 21fbrs
2014 Ford F-150 4x4 5.0

[caper]

I left ours out by mistake and when leaving the CG came too close to a hydro pole when making the turn. Believe me the handle does not move under pressure. I ended up with a 3 inch hole in my new TT.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by banda

I just tested mine. I cannot open the door when the handle is folded against it. May need to find a way to lock it open.

I've read that you can file down the part that holds the handle in each position so that it CAN be forced to move when closed across the door.

I think it was a thread on RV.net that had pictures.