Rigs + Gear: The Future is Keyless
New RV Lock Technology for Class A and Class C Motorhomes Makes Life Easier at the Campground
Image Caption: Photo Credit: RVLock
From the moment the first pin-tumbler lock appeared on the scene, the problems related to keys have been no secret. Dealing with a lost, worn, or broken key can mean the inconvenience of being locked out of your RV, car, or home—and often results in an expensive visit from a locksmith.
Just carrying keys can be a hassle for many of us. Both of our cars and the exterior locks on our home have keyless entry, as did our Winnebago travel trailer. Unfortunately, when we upgraded to our current motorhome, I discovered that there was no keyless-entry replacement available from anyone for the OEM TriMark double lockset it came with. Until now.
RVLock offers the Atlas Keyless Handle Lock for Class A and Class C motorhomes (MSRP: $299.99). Designed to replace the TriMark lockset on our Tiffin and those found on many other motorhomes, the Atlas provides traditional key access while offering the options of user-programmable combination code access and a wireless key fob for locking and unlocking.
Photo Credit: RVLock
Gone are the days of stuffing keys into pants pockets, rummaging around in a purse to find a key ring, or forgetting where you last left them. Coming and going into your motorhome is as easy as pressing a few buttons— no key required. Getting locked out of your RV is nearly impossible, as you now have three ways to operate the lock. There’s also no need for the kids to have individual keys to come and go —or lose. The rechargeable battery pack is also a nice feature.
We installed the Atlas Keyless Handle Lock on our 2019 Tiffin Allegro Open Road motorhome. We were informed by RVLock beforehand that for the Atlas to fit properly, there needed to be a 2–3-inch measurement between the lock frame and door frame (referred to as a backset on a traditional lock). With that confirmed, we removed the old lock and began the installation.
Replacement is straightforward, as the Atlas is very similar both dimensionally and mechanically to the OEM lockset, with the one difference being the old lock needed two keys, and the Atlas needs only one. There is a bit of juggling of the parts involved, so an extra set of hands is very helpful. On our Tiffin, the presence of a support bracket interfered with the battery pack on the Atlas, but it was easy to remove and discard as it was not needed. Depending on your RV’s make and model, you may not even encounter a similar issue.
Once installed and adjusted following the directions in the excellent video on the RVLock website, it takes just a few minutes to program the Atlas’ lighted keypad with your own four-digit code (numbers 1-8; no 0 or 9), and then the two included wireless fobs. If you have other RVLock keyless products, like compartment locks, the wireless fobs can be programmed to operate them as well. As is becoming more common with products these days, there is no manual or printed literature included, just the info you can get from the manufacturer’s website. An e-mail to RVLock gave us the information we couldn’t find on the site regarding rechargeable battery life and extra keys.
Photo Credit: RVLock
Battery life will vary depending on use, but RVLock says that you can expect to get between 4–6 months between charges with regular use. The Atlas will beep and flash the keypad when it is in need of recharging. The indicator light is solid when charging and goes out when complete. Extra keys can only be purchased from RVLock as they are a proprietary design to prevent unauthorized duplication.
Understand that the Atlas controls only the deadbolt portion of the lock. The key is still required to lock or unlock the lower latching lock from the outside, which we almost never use as the deadbolt is secure enough. Even though keys are no longer needed, we still keep one in a magnetic hide-a-key box in an inconspicuous place in the unlikely event of battery failure (or code forgetfulness). In more than three years of using RVLock products, we have yet to have to use this key but appreciate the peace of mind. We finally have a keyless replacement for this very ubiquitous lockset.
Photo Credit: Rick A. Diaz
1: The OEM lock outer half (left) compared to the Atlas Keyless Handle Lock (right). Despite similar mechanisms and form factors, some serious development and engineering went into the Atlas, as with all of RVLock’s products.
Photo Credit: Rick A. Diaz
2: This bracket on our Tiffin Allegro Class A had to be removed for clearance. The bracket itself was not the issue, but its mounting screws interfered with the Atlas battery pack. It is not needed for proper mounting or operation.
Photo Credit: Rick A. Diaz
3: We laid the Atlas lock halves on our workbench and connected the cables so we could program and test it before installation. All codes are retained in memory even after disconnection. While tightening the three mounting screws snugly is best, be sure to not overtighten.
Photo Credit: Rick A. Diaz
4: Once installed, we plugged the Atlas into a USB port just to make sure it had a full charge. Our coach has a power station pop-up in the kitchen counter that’s conveniently located next to the entry door within reach of the included USB-to-USB-C cable. A power brick is not included.
