Greetings Scamp folks. I purchased a 1997 16' about 3 weeks ago and have had fun and challenges getting it camp ready. Winding down the long list, our Scamp got a new table top and door gasket today. Since it did not come with a key, I ordered a new outside door handle. As I was replacing the old one it was clear that anyone with a phillips screw driver wouldn't need a key. I've attached photos of a simple mod to keep the handle from being removable from the outside with the door closed and locked. It's not pretty yet it's effective. I drilled the lower handle hole through the inner latch assembly and installed a #8-32 pan head phillips machine screw that's 2 and 1/2" long with a washer and nylock nut. The hole location did not allow the washer and nut to lay flat on the latch housing. There may be other solutions that I'm unaware of being a newbie. A big THANK YOU to Scamp! They have been very helpful, supportive and have a good selection of replacement parts reasonably priced with fast shipping.
"Scamp Security" is better than a tent, but not much. Most Scamps use the same key, and the hinges are easy to remove. I went to the local hardware store and got a garage door handle with a different key.
Yes. I wasn't considering the hinges.
Mark
1) Photo-1: On mine, I put security screws, maybe you can do the same thing if it's not too late. It's more for keeping an honest/lazy person from getting into your camper.
2) Photo-2 Maybe you could remove the screw then put the Locking Nut up against the locking case (Flat wise). Now see if you can run the screw in and catch the locking nut.
3) Photo-3 I've found a way to make the hinges a bit more secure but not yet burglar proof. I got rid of the screws that held the brackets on the door and replaced them with bolts going in the opposite direction. I then was getting ready to replace the two bolts with security locking bolts (meaning once installed, it couldn't be taken off easily) that actually hold the door on the hinges (itself) but thought I'd wait till I was totally comfortable with all the mods I've done to the door so far.
Remember, the key thing is to make you camper undesirable to a thief. Usually, a thief is lazy and will go where there's less resistance first. It's kind of like cars in a parking lot, they (thieves) will try to find unlocked cars (FIRST) to break into rather than one that is locked. As we all know, nothing is 100% burglar proof but why help them.
Hey Scott,
Thanks for the suggestions. I've considered more modifications after realizing vulnerabilities I'd missed with the hinges. The mods you've done is the direction I would go should I continue with this idea. Yes, if someone wants in, they will get in. I think discouraging and slowing down a break in is worth evaluating. Let me know what you come up with for the bolts that hold the hinges together.
Best Regards
Mark
This picture above shows a bolt and BREAK-OFF NUT (The nut breaks off leaving the bolt and the piece that was PART of the nut left on) making the bolt just about theft proof. After you tighten the bolt to your specifications, and then the nut would be broken off leaving it with no place to grab on to to undo.
If at anytime someone would have to use a Hacksaw to remove/cut to get in your camper, YOU probably have a bigger problem. Meaning, who did you piss-off or is your alimony up to date....lol
To use a Hacksaw or some kind of cutting device would require the normal thief to stay at your camper as well as making a lot of NOISE. Personally, if I had to go to those extremes (as a thief), I'd go for a MotorCoach, Motorhomes or a much LARGER RV to steal bigger and better stuff rather than focusing on a 13' camper that requires so much time to break into... It's all about making your camper less desirable to break into than a camper down the road that is unlocked/unsecured. Again, thieves are lazy and prefer the Easy break-in's over the Hard break-in's...
Here's a link to other type of anti-theft nuts/bolts. Just click here!
Here's a link to a video ONLY!!! as an example of how it operates but can be modified to work so that it doesn't have to completely tighten down on any type bolt. *Think* outside the box! Just click here!
You don't have to stick with any of the these ideas, YOU can use any design you so chose... Think outside the box!