By Gail Marsh
It happened to us shortly before sunrise. RVing our way from Missouri to Florida, we faced a very long day of travel. We were ready to lock up the RV and hit the road when we suddenly realized that our keys were missing. We used flashlights to search the ground around our rig, and luckily the light reflected off our keys! We could lock it up and be on our way.
As any seasoned RVer knows, life on the road is filled with unexpected twists and turns. One of the most frustrating and potentially trip-derailing situations is losing your RV keys. Whether they slip out of your pocket during a hike or get misplaced in the hustle of packing, lost keys can quickly turn your dream vacation into a horrible nightmare. You need an extra set of RV keys.
Where can I get extra keys?
Check with your local RV dealer or the manufacturer of your RV. One or both should be able to provide extra keys for your rig.
Reasons for the extras
• Prevents lockout. I’ve carefully considered what it would take for me to get inside our rig via a window. Just not sure I’m nimble enough for that anymore! If you’re locked out without a spare key, you might find yourself stranded. You may have to wait for a locksmith to arrive—which can be problematic in remote or rural areas where services are scarce and often expensive.
• Saves time and money. Replacing RV keys, especially modern ones with electronic components, can be both time-consuming and costly. Having a spare set can save you the hassle and expense of ordering new keys or reprogramming your RV’s locking system.
• Emergency access. In emergency situations, quick access to your RV can be crucial. Whether you need to grab essential medications, documents, or tools, having a spare key handy ensures you can get what you need without delay.
• Reduces stress. Knowing you have a backup plan can significantly reduce stress and allow you to enjoy your travels more fully. Peace of mind is priceless when you’re far from home and your RV is your primary mode of transportation and accommodation.
A different option
We removed the original keyed RV entry door and replaced it with a keyless entry system. Our system included a key fob remote in addition to the keypad entry. We love our system, but it doesn’t help open the basement storage bays. We still needed an extra set of RV keys!
Extra keys
You’ll need to figure out two things: How you plan to keep your keys together and where you’ll hide/put them. Here are a few suggestions.
• With a trusted companion. One of the safest options is to give the spare key to a trusted travel companion. Whether it’s a spouse, friend, or family member, having someone you trust hold onto the extra keys ensures they’re always within reach when you’re together. I also have a full set of keys in my purse and Hubby carries a full set in his pocket. We also have an emergency set inside our tow vehicle’s glove box.
• Magnetic key box. A magnetic key box like this one can be discreetly attached to the underside of your RV. Choose a spot that’s not immediately obvious to deter potential thieves, but still accessible in a pinch, perhaps on top of the RV frame. The box should be weatherproof to protect your keys from the elements. We’ve stashed our magnetic key box underneath the entry steps out of sight.
• Inside a lockbox. A small, portable lockbox can be kept inside your RV’s propane tank or unlocked water supply compartment. Realtors use locks similar to this one. Even if a would-be thief finds the lockbox, they won’t know the combination.
• Hidden in plain sight. Consider hiding your spare key in a less conventional but easily accessible spot. For instance, this key keeper slips inside a hitch receiver.
• With a neighboring RVer. If you’re traveling with a group or regularly camp with the same RV community, you might arrange to swap spare keys with a neighboring RVer. This provides a mutual benefit and an additional layer of security, as you’ll both have backup keys readily available.
• DIY. A do-it-yourself key keeper idea is to place the keys inside a plastic bag to protect the key from dirt and moisture and hide the keys in a discreet spot within the engine compartment of your RV. (Hint: One RV blogger suggested placing the keys inside a zip-type plastic bag. Then add a drop or two of WD-40 to help prevent rust. Zip the bag closed and then put that bag inside a second zip-type bag as an extra layer of protection. Tightly roll up the bags and use duct tape to hold it in place.)
Do you keep an extra set of RV keys? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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RVDT2703
On a road trip in my travel trailer from Boston to Orange, Virginia I took a break at Cracker Barrel in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania. Back on the road and several hours later at a gas stop just over the border of Maryland in West Virginia, I walked back to the camper to grab something from inside and discovered that I didn’t have the keys. In the midst of an “Ohhh Nooo” moment I saw the terrifying image of my keys sitting on the table back in Wilkes-Barre. I called the restaurant and sure enough they found the keys. Thankfully for me they overnight shipped them to Virginia. I had a 2nd set of keys BUT they were back home. That won’t happen again I’m sure…….
Keyless entry door is a must. Remember everyone has a 751 key.
The 751 is normally only for the compartments.
My TT has the Global keys and every lock is keyed the same. But there are 89 different key numbers.
Chances of someone having the same key is pretty slim.
There are places to hide a spare key like the outside refrigerator compartment, the water heater door, under the propane tanks (if a TT) and even the stinky slinky holder.
I have a spare door key in my wallet.
You should be able to hide them under the tanks in a 5th wheel too. I believe it is illegal to have a lock on doors housing the propane tanks.
Keyless entry locks also fail. Keyed entry is the better option.
Absolutely. I changed out ALL locks on BOTH of our trailers to use the same semi-unique key. The manufacturer has around 100 variations in its systems. Each of us carries a key, There is one inside the tow vehicle. A trusted neighbor has one. Our house has another.
Fact is most thieves know most outdoor hiding spots. Don’t hide a key outside for a RV in storage. And remember, when the battery dies on that keyless entry, you still need a key to get inside and change the battery.
Thieves know all the “unique” places people hide key boxes. “Hiding” a spare key anywhere on your RV is not a good idea.
AirTags. I use AirTags on my key sets because I like to set them down on camping tables, pedestals, in compartments and at fee kiosks. If they’re in the hand I need, I set them down. Attaching a short lanyard didn’t really help either but with an AirTag, I can find them in minutes.
We also leave a window unlatched in case the internal door latch linkage decides to disconnect. When that happens, a locksmith can’t help ya anymore than a great Bluetooth connection. I’ve heard it’s not if but when we’ll get stranded outside our rig and the latch does nothing.
My BB (Beautiful Bride AKA DW Dear Wife) carries an extra set however what has helped find our keys when they magically disappear is Apple AirTags (or for non Apple phones a SmartTag).
I keep a spare set of keys for the outside compartments and the door, but not the ignition key, only have two of those still. I got the outside compartment and door keys off Amazon.
Our motorhome is 10 years old. We went to Ace Hardware and had duplicate keys made. Fortunately our rig is old enough that the key to start the motorhome doesn’t have a chip in it, or else we would have to get it at a Ford dealer. (We actually tried 3 different Ford dealers but none of them had the blank. Ace Hardware did.) I keep the spare key for the engine hidden in the RV itself. The keys for the doors and compartments are hidden somewhere on the outside of the rig. I feel the urge to hide another set outside just in case the magnetized key box falls off in transit.
I keep a spare set of trailer keys in the tow vehicle and a spare set of TV keys in the trailer.
I was locked out – once – when I closed the entry door and it locked! The driver door was also locked as it wasn’t in use. I called Good Sam Roadside and they sent a lock smith out – at no cost to me, I had him make 2 extra door and ignition keys, which I paid for, and now have one hidden on the motor home in a magnetic box, another at home and the ones on my key ring.
We always kept an extra set of door & ignition keys in a lock-box in the LP gas compartment. And when we were in the motorhome I kept another set on my belt.
Thank you for the suggestion, Gail! Yes, we keep an extra set of keys in our towed vehicle. We also have a keyless entry numbrer pad connected to the front door. It allows us to choose whether to unlock the front door, or the front door AND storage bay doors. Have a great day and safe travels!
One of our cats is hyper playful & loves chasing a laser beam. He’s also smart enough to know where the “red dot” comes from. The laser pointer is on a keychain, and it sits on the dining room table. He has been known to get up on the table and grab the pointer in his mouth when he wants to play. I left my set of keys to our trailer on the table, and they had disappeared by the next morning. Best guess is, our playful little furball saw a keychain, equated it with his favorite toy, and ran off with it. Thankfully, we had bought the camper new & the RV dealer had changed the original locks out for Global locks. I got the code off my wife’s set of keys and Global sent new ones.