Essential RV Gear - Chickery's Travels

RVLOCK Keyless Entry Door Handle Installation and Review

We recently purchased two of the RVLock V4.0 Keyless Handles for our Heartland Cyclone Fifth Wheel RV. These replacement locks for the RV entry doors have a keypad, remote keychain fob, and standard keys. In this article, I will review the entire process of ordering, installing, and programming the new locks.

Ordering

I chose to call RVLock to order my locks and the process was simple and fast. Tasha was on the other end of the phone and was super friendly. She took the order, credit card information, and shipping information over the phone and told me when the items would be shipped. It took less than 5 minutes, including the wait time before she answered.

Shortly after the order was placed, we received an email with installation instructions. The email contained links to YouTube videos demonstrating the installation process. I watched the installation video once and was confident in performing the installation.

Receipt

After a couple of days of anxiously waiting, the locks arrived. They were delivered much faster than Julie and I were expecting them, which was a nice surprise. Inside the outer packaging were two boxes holding the V4.0 keyless entry locks and the two plastic bags containing our RV Key Latch locks for our propane storage doors. There was not any damage to the products upon receipt.

Installation

We were in Pensacola, FL when we received the locks. Unfortunately, it was raining almost every day. Since the installation should only take about 10 minutes, I waited for a break in the weather and went for it. Here is a video showing the installation of the V4.0 keyless entry locks and the RV Key Latch locks.

The installation was quite simple. The old locks were removed and the new locks were installed within 10 minutes as claimed by the manufacturer. It was as simple as removing some screws, taking out the existing handle and lock, and putting in the new lock.

Programming the lock with a custom code was also easy. It took longer to think of a code than it did to program it. Programming the keychain remote fob was just as easy.

The other “bonus” that RVLock does for the customer is key all of the locks you order the same. So, only one key is needed for all of the locks. This is great! We are tired of carrying around a set of keys for the RV when one key and a FOB can do the job.

Watch our installation video below:

Overall Impressions of RVLock

Overall, we are very impressed with the company and the products. First, they have great customer service. The ordering process was very east and efficient. Everything was complete after only 5 minutes, as indicated above. Before getting off the phone, the customer service representative told me the products would be shipped the next day…and they were. Also, they arrived within a couple of days. Except for Amazon Prime, this is a rare occurrence.

The follow-up email with installation instructional videos was also a good customer service action. The videos were simple and easy to follow. Many times, companies will provide written installation instructions with poorly drawn pictures and you are forced to search the Internet for a good video. After watching the video, installation was easy, as advertised!

Lastly, the products work! These locks provide additional security for your RV and belongings. Also, the convenience of the keypad makes going out for a run or other exercise easy because there is no additional items to carry.

The only upkeep for these locks is the V4.0 locks have 4 AA batteries that need changing at some point. Since we have only had ours for a week, we have not yet determined how frequently they need to be changed.

We definitely recommend these locks and this company. They are customer-focused and make a good product. Just to be clear, we have no affiliation with RVLock, we simply like the product!

RV Lock Installation and Review: Watch how easy it was to install our new keyless entry locks on our RV.

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11:47 am by Julie Chickery

RV Misery Can Be Overcome By The Generosity Of Others

Yesterday the fates collided and everything went wrong at the same time. I had to drive our 44′ fifth wheel for the first time, under less than ideal circumstances. Don’t feel sorry for me, though. This is a cautionary tale and much of this misadventure was my own making. In addition, I encountered some truly amazing people during my ordeal.

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A Series of Unfortunate Events

Procrastination

Yesterday I was rewarded for three years of procrastination while my husband was away on a business trip. You see, we have a 44’ long monster of a fifth wheel RV that we pull with a dually truck. Sean has always been the driver up to this point, with me watching and asking questions, but never doing it myself. I kept thinking I would try it on the next trip… So now that he is out of town, guess what happens?

Loss of Power

The night before last the power to the RV went out. We’re in Florida, and it is August, so it was hot. Luckily we have a generator. I was able to run it until 11pm per the campground rules. After that I was able to get a bit of a cross breeze between the two bedroom windows overnight.

I turned the generator back on in the morning and made it to the RV goods store when it opened in hopes that a new power cord would remedy the problem. It didn’t. Then the generator failed. To recap, we’re in Florida, in August.

And no, we didn’t have a surge protector or electrical management system. Dumb, I know. We do now. You see the damage was caused by a power surge.

No Mobile Repair Technicians

I quickly began calling (and leaving messages) for every mobile RV repair technician in the area. Guess what? Every single one was booked solid or unwilling to go through the security procedures to get onto the military base we’re staying.

This lead me to the realization that the only way this sucker was getting fixed was hitching it up and driving it myself. While terrified at the prospect, I really had no other option, so I began calling service centers to see who could do it. I learned that many could… next month!

The Kindness of Strangers

Finally, at about 3pm, I conveyed my predicament to the office manager of a locally owned RV repair shop who asked when I was looking to bring it in. She put me on the speaker phone with the owner, and at the end of my rope, I tearfully conveyed I was sitting in my truck with my cat and they were my last hope. John Mengler of A1 RV Repair in Malibar, Florida, and an angel in my book, said, “Come on down. I will wait for you.”

A1 RV Repair Business Card

Overcome with relief, I was determined to hook up the behemoth and get it down there pronto. I’ve assisted my husband with the breakdown of our site and hooking up the fifth wheel, but never done it all myself. Not wanting to keep John waiting any longer than necessary, I went to work like a bat out of hell. When it came time to hitch up and roll out, a kind neighbor came over and spotted me. And I was off—driving the beast for the first time!

I arrived at the shop at the time John would normally be locking up, but he went straight to work assessing the problem. Bobbie, the sweetest soul I’ve ever met, took me and my cat under her wing. She offered us both refreshment and helped soothe my frazzled nerves. She even offered me (and my little calico cat) a place to stay the night if John didn’t have the right part to fix our power supply’s transfer switch. However, the change in luck kept going, John did have the part. He stayed and fixed my RV that evening! While John was working on the RV, Bobbie allowed me to accompany her on some errands. We even fed her chickens! It was fun and took my mind off things.

I finally returned to the campground at twilight to attempt to negotiate back into my spot. Naturally, I was having difficulty when a lovely couple who had just arrived that day happened by. I was so grateful that they helped guide me in.

Lessons Learned

I should have learned to hitch up and drive the RV from the start. Instead I let fear, and the belief that my husband would always be around to do it, hold me back. That was a very bad choice on my part.
There are good people in this world! It was quitting time for John and Bobbie when I showed up on their proverbial door step and they both stayed to help a stranger in a bind. There are no words to convey how much their kindness means to me. It restores my faith in humanity at a time when it seems there is so much hate and vitriol around us. I will try to find ways that I can “Pay it Forward.”
Protect your electrical system. The problem was most likely due to a power surge, and we didn’t have a surge protector! We promptly went out and bought the one below and will never plug in without it again!

This is an affiliate link to the EMS unit we purchased and use all the time now. If you purchase using this link, we will get a small commission with no additional cost to you.

6:06 pm by Julie Chickery

RV Condensation: What It Is, What It Does, and How To Stop It

Do you shower, wash clothes, cook, or even breathe in your RV? If so, RV condensation will be a problem and there is one item you need: a dehumidifier. In this article, I will tell you why.

Condensation and Humidity

Each of the items above creates an increase in moisture in the air. Yes, even breathing expels moisture in the air. Two terms that are important in understanding why a dehumidifier is important are humidity and condensation. Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air. It can be affected by location, other weather, and the amount of space. Weather forecasters usually relay humidity as a percent, also known as relative humidity. Condensation is the result of the air temperature becoming too cool to hold the water as a vapor. As a result, the water turns from a vapor to a liquid.

Three Strikes

In an RV, the space is much smaller than a house, which is strike one. The smaller space has less area for the water vapor to go, which increases humidity, especially if you are cooking, showering, washing clothes, and breathing just like you were living in a traditional house.

Decreased air flow is strike two. Most RVs are not ideal for great airflow. Using the vent fans in the bathroom and kitchen, if you have them, will help. Also, opening windows will increase airflow, especially if you use a strategy that will encourage the air to flow through your RV. The air conditioner also helps with airflow and removes moisture from the air. In extreme temperatures and weather, however, it is not ideal to keep windows open or run the AC (if it is cold). The colder it is, the more you will begin to see condensation on your windows and outer walls.

Lower levels of insulation in the RV are strike three. Typically, the outer walls of the RV are not as insulated as the walls in a traditional home. This allows the surface temperature of the walls and windows inside the RV to get cold, or warm, relative to the air temperature in the RV. The temperature of the air as it gets close to a cold wall or window will allow the water to turn to liquid and condense on the walls or windows.

The Problem

There are problems with having water build up on the surfaces inside the RV. The primary problem is the material will get damaged and cause structural problems. This can lead to expensive repairs and a decrease in time spent traveling while waiting for your RV to get out of the shop. Another major problem is mold. Mold can be dangerous to your health and can cause severe illness. Removing mold can be quite expensive and can result in major structural repairs or even the loss of your RV. The last major problem is insect infestation. After the water begins to break down the material, the bugs will come running.

Best Preventive Solution

A dehumidifier, or two, can be an inexpensive preventive maintenance tool to reduce humidity and condensation. The dehumidifier will pull the moisture out of the air, lowering the relative humidity within your RV. We use four dehumidifiers in our 44-foot fifth wheel. In the bedroom and in the kitchen, we have an Eva-dry Electric Petite Portable Dehumidifier. These are small but hard-working. They are also very, very quiet. We recently had to replace one because it quit working. The other one is still going strong after more than 3 years. The other two dehumidifiers we use are Damp Rid Disposable Dehumidifiers. There is one in the bathroom and one in the garage. Once they are full, we throw them out and buy a new one. They last about 3-4 months.