For 30 years, RV door locks is one of the things that for years saw no real change. For the most part, one had a normal household entry handle and knob. Maybe some would have a knob on both the exterior and interior of the recreational vehicle. The small difference of another similar lock would be a round knob on the exterior and a flat handle on the interior.
There were some truly different locks and recreational vehicle motor homes, but in this article, we are most discussing the RV door locks often found in travel trailers.
The aforementioned door locks often used until about 10 years ago. There was a significant change in the style block that manufacturers began to use. This new RV door lock is sleeker in appearance. It was flat on the interior and exterior. Both handles inset into the main body of the mechanism. There were two large changes in this lock over what had previously been used.
First, entire mechanism was flat both inside and out. The new lock gave the overall look of the door a much more modern appearance than the old style lock. With a handle that is inset instead of protruding three inches out it also helped alleviate the doorknob catching on something.
Secondly, the new style had a built-in dead bolt lock. Previously one would have had a household type looking doorknob and then above it one would have a dead bolt lock. The new product allowed for both the entry lock and the dead bolt to be incorporated into one mechanism. This was a change that is hugely accepted and liked by most consumers that previously had a unit with the old-style locks.
The newest evolution of RV door locks is the same housing, but can be opened remotely. This is often referred to as keyless entry. This is making a significant splash into the RV marketplace. One of the best keyless entries in the market today has all the components built into the mechanism itself. Some producers of this style lock have placed part of the mechanism in another part of the door.
Having all the components in one housing will make repairs much easier. While this keyless entry is making its way into the marketplace, the overall style of the lock has not changed.