I might of found the solution (somewhat) of how NOT to accidentally lock yourself in your camper (Dealing with ONLY the key outside turning by accident).
Forget the DEADBOLT in this post!........ Instead, focus on the door handle… I came on this by accident when reinstalling the handle VERTICAL instead of HORIZONTALLY. I noticed that the key on the key chain would stay vertical and therefore preventing the problem of the key slowly turning only halfway around (that would start the locking operation of the lock). Either the key was fully up (unlocked) or fully down (locked) while on the key chain. THE KEY CHAIN ACTS AS A WEIGHT PULLING THE KEY VERTICAL. See pictures…
I did have to spray WD40 while the BACK of the handle to make it easier to turn.
Anyway, maybe someone else could try this and see how it works for them… There are two screws that holds on the handle on the door (don’t over tighten when reinstalling the handle).
The first picture is of the old way I had my door handle. ......The next three pictures is how my door handle is now positioned.
I will give this a try. Even though I have never been locked out yet..I certainly do not ever want to be.
Hi, I’ve never been locked out myself but have heard from and of those that have. I noticed before repositioning my door handle vertical, that letting go of the key after unlocking and sometimes just putting my hands on the lock with the keys while opening the door my key in the door lock would allow my door key to turn HALFWAY to its resting position (Sometimes just by vibrations alone while moving around in the camper).
It wasn’t till I heard from others about this problem that I decided to test it myself and found the latch to be locking while the key was turned halfway.
Test it yourself, simply put your key in the door lock and then unlock, and then slowly turn the key ONLY halfway the other direction. At that halfway point you will notice the door lock LOCKED!
After seeing how easy it was to accidently lock one’s self in the camper, I started to ALWAYS remove my key after unlocking.
Since I’ve repositioned my door handle VERTICAL, I Now can leave the key (on the key chain) in the door lock. I’ve shake my camper door etc and the key stays perfectly vertical and didn’t turn.
FYI: This doesn't really mean much but look at MOST locks on houses, compartments, even other RV campers with the NORMAL RV door lock, and most cars and I’ve notice their locking hole to be vertical too. Amazing, I never put that much thought into a door lock keys position until I came across the Scamps door lock problems.
I checked it out and you are 100% correct. I put mine vertical now also,
Thanks for the tip.
Bill