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Old 04-17-2022, 05:59 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Oregon
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Year: 1984
Coachwork: Bluebird
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locking emergency door?

Im making another post today,

so i’m traveling from OR to LA and will be spending a minute or two on the road in my gutted bus. The main door has an internal lock that works fine and the back emergency door has an external spot for a lock, however the emergency doors on the side (pretty much are glorified old french doors) has a weird system.

there’s a distinct hole where i can kind of put a pin in the middle of to keep it locked but was hoping for a better and rest-assured alternative?

i’ve tried a longer lock over and under through the handle but the locks i’ve found are either too long or too short.

any suggestions?
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Old 04-17-2022, 09:16 PM   #2
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I secured my rear and side exit doors by cutting off the outside handles and riveting sheet metal over the openings (leaving the internal handles intact and functional). If you don't need to ever open these doors from the outside this is as secure as it gets, and they can still be opened from the inside easily and quickly in case of an actual emergency.
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Old 04-17-2022, 09:38 PM   #3
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You don't need a lock, you just need to keep someone from opening that handle from the outside while sleeping on the way home. Anything that will keep that handle from moving, and won't fall out will do the trick here. A stout piece of rope, a nut and bolt with a couple of washers, even a couple of nylon wire ties will do the job. Any would-be intruders can't gain access to the lock from the inside, and won't be able to generate enough force to break it from the handle outside. When you get the bus home you can find something permanent.
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Old 04-18-2022, 07:42 AM   #4
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I just put a C-clamp on mine that is easily slid sideways for me to exit if I had a fire or such and needed out quickly...
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Old 04-21-2022, 12:27 AM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
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ill go with the nut and bolt solution, thank you so much!
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Old 04-21-2022, 12:28 AM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
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ill see if i can find one of those before my trip. I'm sure they have them at lowes. thank you!
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Old 04-21-2022, 12:29 AM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: May 2021
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thanks for the reply!
i actually was looking for something temporary just for the trip to avoid any unwanted visitors. i plans on using both my emergency doors in my build
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Old 04-21-2022, 08:08 AM   #8
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I dont like the idea of any emergency exit being bolted shut that takes more than a couple seconds to get open... ever see how quick a bus fills up with smoke if the dashboard catches on fire??
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Old 04-21-2022, 09:00 AM   #9
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: May 2021
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there’s two emergency doors on the bus, the front door and back door can be locked normally from the inside. just not the side doors.i also highly doubt my bus will catch fire anytime soon but i understand your concern
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Old 04-21-2022, 12:56 PM   #10
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The nut and bolt arrangement will be fine. The nut only needs to be on finger tight since it's only job is to keep someone outside the bus from turning the handle during a single trip to get the bus home. With the nut on the door side of the bracket, it would only need a finger to keep the nut from moving while the bolt is turned to remove.

But, Cadillac Kid is right otherwise. I never would have suggested a nut and bolt arrangement for anything other than a single trip like this. Even if it's just finger tight when it's put on, it may corrode and sieze over time. You may forget how it was secured and a fire isn't going to help you remember. An actual door lock that can be can easily and intuitively opened from inside, but needs a key from the outside is the long-term solution.
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Old 04-21-2022, 04:36 PM   #11
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Don't forget that if you have roof top hatches they're probably designed for easy access from the outside and can't be locked. Two sticks and zip ties can cure that.
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Old 04-21-2022, 07:21 PM   #12
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Thanks! yeah, i only plan on using it for this trip. in the long haul i plan on turning the french doors into actual front door with a normal door handle and lock and getting rid of the main door for a passenger seat spot. i might not even use a nut and just shove a long bolt through it and call it a day
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Old 04-21-2022, 07:21 PM   #13
Mini-Skoolie
 
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the one thing i don’t have that i wanted: roof hatches. i’ll get lockable skylights some day <3
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Old 04-21-2022, 07:44 PM   #14
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i chose to be able to lock/unlock from in or out
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Old 04-21-2022, 07:48 PM   #15
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i did the front also
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Old 04-21-2022, 09:13 PM   #16
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If you go with just a bolt, give the outside handle a good, hard rattling then check and see whether it's possible to shake the bolt out. You may have no choice but to use a nut.

Or just get a clip-on carabiner, in the rope section at Lowes or Home Despot. It'll work just as well, then when you get home, you have a carabiner.
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Old 04-21-2022, 11:56 PM   #17
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lock for door

Shortened the handle a bit to clear key, I am sure you could make some adjustments to even eliminate that.
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Old 04-25-2022, 02:50 PM   #18
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rear door locking idea

Just throwing my two cents in here. I quite liked this method when I saw it. I haven't gotten to installing the lock on my rear door yet, but am going to go with this method when I do. I like how you can lock it from inside/outside and quickly get out if needed.
The relevant info starts about 4:00 in.

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