Luggage Compartment Locks

[Busnut83]

Ok its time to lock my luggage compartment doors !!!!! 1983 njt mci-9.... 3 on each side... First question? 3 on one side I can use pad locks , they have a flange that meets the handle,,, is this secure enough ?
The other 3 do not have the flange,,, the rivet holes are there but the flange is gone... I now leave the bus parked unattended and worry that anyone can open the compartments.... What would some inexpensive ways to lock the compartments be ?  As always thanks,,, no sense of me reinventing if you have already secured yours... The handle and door is stainless steel,,, thought i could drill,,,,wrong !!!!!

[Utahclaimjumper]

I have locks on my bay door handles, you have to be careful in your thinking when it comes to locks, they normaly keep out the "honest" guy, the mean crooks WILL find a way. Thats the problem. If you do a great job of locking up you will probably see a thousand dollars of damage for a hundred bucks worth of junk. I keep mine in my 45 foot garage when not actually in it or a secure place.>>>Dan

[Gary '79 5C]

There are many ways to secure the bay doors. My PO had installed air cylinders which locked all four, springloaded with air to open. I got tired airing up just to open the bays and removed these and installed four brass padlocks keyed alike. I now never find it a problem, and usually leave the lock on the door hasp, without the springloaded latch, giving a look like the bay is locked.
On the road, and while parked while traveling I do secure each bay.
I was looking at using the spring loaded ones, with a three way valve, or maybe installing a small pressure tank with checks to only air up the locks, but due to time, I have bigger fish to fry in the scheme of things.

When home the bus is in the hanger, safe & secure.

[MattC]

I can't take credit for this answer, I read it somewhere but can't find the source.

JC Whitney, and other companies I'm sure, sell electric door lock kits, they come in 4 packs and 2 packs.  They are reported to fit easily and just need 12volt wire to the bay door and I'm sure some custom fitting. Buy one of each, then you just have to figure out how to get an Eagle, GMC, or MCI logo on your two fobs!

Matt

[JackConrad]

The handle and door is stainless steel,,, thought i could drill,,,,wrong !!!!!

You can drill stainless. Use a cobalt bit and go very very slowly. and use lots of lubrcant (I use WestLube). I use a cordless drill on the slow speed, pull the trigger for a few seconds, release trigger,  pull trigger for a few seconds, release trigger, and continue this way. It you keep constant pressure and spin the bit enough to heat the tip of the bit, it is now trash. If you get the stainless steel too hot it hardens that spot, then forgetaboutit.  Jack

[cody]

Our iggle bay doors are secured with padlocks, the PO had installed a heavy eye bolt in the upright between the doors, he had to cut a slight notch into the side of each door but with a metal bar that fits over the eyebolt and overlaps both doors with a slot cut into it for the padlock it makes it easy to secure two doors with a single lock.

[Damn Yankee]

I have cam locks on my baggage doors. Look much better than padlocks. Here's a pic of the ones on my MCI


I installed the same kind on my 4104 when I had it and bought them from Butch Williams. He can be reached at butch at rvlocks.com or call him at five seven four-six six four-three three one three. You can get as many as you need and keyed alike. Last time I spoke with him he was working on a nice entry door locking handle using a cam lock.

[belfert]

My bus originally had air locks, but they only worked when the bus had air and the battery disconnect was on.  I ended up dismounting the air locks.  If someone wants them they could have them for the cost of shipping.

I've gone without locking my luggage compartments since then.  I live in a good neighborhood and there is nothing to steal anyhow except a microwave.  My eventual plan is to get new cargo bay handles from MCI that have locks installed if they still sell them.

[Len Silva]

I would be wary of either electric locks or air locks if there were no other way to get in if they failed.  While I never got around to it, I had considered electric locks with an emergency cable release such as used on garage doors.

[belfert]

My air locks had a pair of schrader valves inside the bus that could be used to release them in an emergency.

[johns4104s]

My 1981 MCI 9 have what looks like factory locks, I will try and post photos, We had a lessons at the Eagle Rally in Louisiana by Paul.

john