[VAC] Deadbolt FUD?

[Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dave and Andy,

In the past, some dead bolts have been mounted in such a way that the door
frame isn't damaged. I've had one of those deadbolts in my 1977 Excella 500
for 25 years. This trailer hasn't sat around in a park all those years, nor
has it been driven only on smooth highways.

The frame has no signs of damage and the dead bolt works as well today as
the day it was installed.

Based on a sample of one person (me) who has used his Airstream extensively
(dozens of times deep into Mexico, several times on the Alaskan Highway and
at least 50 times crisscrossing the USA), I'm inclined to believe a dead
bolt can be installed either correctly or incorrectly.

Never having had mine apart since it was installed at a WBCCI rally by a man
with motor scooter who towed a small wagon with a generator and a supply of
deadbolt locks, I'd say he knew how to install it correctly (perhaps as
Gerald outlined in one of his two notes on 6/24).

Andy, as a repair man for Inland RV, I suspect your experience has been
exclusively with those deadbolts that were not installed correctly. It's
only natural that people with problems would seek out your service.

Likewise, it's only natural that people who haven't had deadbolt lock
problems would not seek out your services, which means you might not be
aware of successful installations.

Dave, if it was me, I'd expand my range of search for Airstreams of similar
vintage to you which have  deadbolts that have been troublefree for 15 or
more years. By closely inspecting them and becoming exquisitely sensitive to
all aspects of the installation, you may decide the installation of a
deadbolt in your Airstream can be done correctly (perhaps by you).

Terry

mailto:tylerbears@airstream.net