Door locks and the fitting of them

[Tomo3090]

Please can anyone advise on what door lock to fit to my entry door. I have a Compass Avantgarde 2007 model and when I asked at the dealers to fit a Fiamma "Safe Door" lock, they couldn't because of the design of the door and how it is in the frame.

 

We have a perimeter alarm cat 1 alarm fitted and the cab doors are to a high spec. on this model, (so I'm told by the dealer), but some form of extra security doesn't go amiss.

 

If anyone with an Avantgarde who has overcome this problem can help that would be helpful to say the least

[Terrytraveller]

Hi Stephen,

 

What model Compass Avantgarde 2007 do you have? You have two Cab doors and you have a Habitation door, which door is the Entry Door, I suspect you mean the Habitation Door?

 

If you have an end kitchen with the door adjacent to the kitchen like the 2007 Compass Avantgarde 115, then a Fiamma should fit, but without more details its difficult to help/advise.

 

Regards Terry

[Clive]

Its another topic where you need to "talk to Dave" for first hand advice.

 

 

[Guest peter]

Why bother, if somoene wants to get in they will use a crowbar anyway.

[Derek Uzzell]

There are several versions of Fiamma's "Safe Door" - one type is fitted to the outside of the habitation door and another (called Safe Door Guardian) can be installed on the door's inner surface. I'm sure that, with a little care and improvisation, it should be possible to fit one of these to your Avantgarde's door. However, one snag with all Safe Door locks is that they can only be operated from the side of the door to which they are fitted.

 

Suggest you visit www.harrisonlocks.co.uk (based at Worcester and specialising in security door locks for motorhomes) who can supply/fit superior alternatives to the Fiamma products. Alternatively try www.essanjay.co.uk (based at Poole).

[Tomo3090]

Thanks everyone,

 

The model is the 140. The Fiamma "Door Safe" could be fitted but would mean "nibbling away" ( the fitters words!), some of the door frame and seal and could affect water ingress and the warranty, and this was something I wanted to avoid if I could.

 

The fitters mate also made the crowbar comment! He also showed me a tool he had made himself when he once locked himself out of his own van. It consisted of a "L" shaped flat metal tool that slipped between the window seals and flicked open the window catches. He did a demo and it took him about 2 minutes to open every window in the habitation end of the van! Which is why I wasn't going to bother with extra locks at first! But then I thought that the idea is to deter them into looking elsewhere and leaving my van alone. Some might think this is selfish but isn't that the whole point of a visible deterrent system anyway!

 

I might try that place in Worcester, we are going down that way in a few weeks and it might be worth a detour.

[Terrytraveller]

Hi Stephen,

 

MH's are very flimsy and can be broken into very easily, I suppose the best way is to make a break in as noisy as possible - will your alarm activate when doors, windows and lockers are opened? Have a look at thread http://tinyurl.com/ysxpl9.

 

We have had attempted break in while in the MH at 2.30am, again all documented in the various threads, after reading the thread I have recommended, try a search under alarms, security and locks etc. on this forum for extra hints.

 

Regards Terry