Review on LATCH.IT - Keyless RV Door Lock For Secure And Convenient Entry by Kevin Campos

I purchased this unit from ebay during one of their lighting deals. I already had it in my wish list and was alerted by ebay that it was one on sale for a limited time (lighting deal). I jumped at the opportunity to purchase it for what I considered a fair price.Before I put this on my wish list I researched similar RV locks here on ebay. It seems there are many different brands of this style of lock that all look identical or at least very similar. This brand though, Latch-It, is the one I decided I would keep my eye on.Installation - They aren't kidding when they tell you the minimum size opening this lock requires. You would think all RV-type locks like this would be similar, but the standard RV lock I took off my enclosed utility trailer didn't need as large an opening. I'm a contractor, so I had all the tools and skills necessary to enlarge the opening. What was frustrating though is that I went ahead and enlarged the opening to the stated required size and it still didn't fit. From there it was just a game of trial and error, where I continued to enlarge well above the size they state is needed until I could finally get it installed.Operation - The concept is ideal. I need to get in and out of this tool trailer many times a day and I always lock it when I step out. I just used the push buttons on the keypad of the lock for the first few months, as I wasn't keen on carrying around another key fob. However, once I tried the key fob I was immediately sold. I'm now more than happy to carry the extra key fob every day, as it is so convenient to use.The Keypad - I have two complaints for the key pad. The first, and most annoying, is the need to keep the lock button depressed down for something like three seconds to activate the locking deadbolt. Three seconds doesn't sound like much, but do that multiple times a day for five days a week and it ends up seeming like an eternity. The second annoying item on the keypad is how they double up the numbers, so there really is only five buttons. I'd just prefer they'd somehow squeeze ten buttons in there, but this is not really that big of a deal.The Latch - The latch is horrible. When outside, you have to not only stick your fingers behind the latch handle to pull it out, but you simultaneously have to push with your thumb on the back of the latch handle. The pivot point geometry is either wrong, or the latch mechanism is just garbage. While this is a big annoyance to me, I'm used to it, so I instinctively both pull and push on the latch to get it open. No one else can figure it out without multiple attempts though. I use this enclosed cargo trailer and both my tool trailer and my construction site jobsite office. I have many different people try to open this door throughout the week and they all struggle with it, so it is not just me. You also have to operate the latch handle to get the door to shut. The original RV lock that came with this trailer worked as you would expect, where you could just apply slight pressure to the door and it would latch. There are only two ways to get this latch to close, one is to manually open the latch handle with your hand and then keep the latch handle open while you close the door, then while holding the door shut you can then slowly release the latch handle. The same is true from the inside, while the inside latch handle does operate decent enough by just putting your fingers behind it and pulling (no need to press with your thumb like the outside) but you have to manually open the latch handle while you simultaneously pull the door shut and then once shut, you can slowly release the latch handle. You cannot just simply close the door shut from the inside like you would expect.The Deadbolt - It is actually the deadbolt that is moving in and out when you use the keypad or the key fob to lock and unlock the latch. The deadbolt is very finicky and will often not fully disengage when you try to unlock it. You will have to try to unlock it multiple times, sometimes re-locking, then trying to unlock again, etc., back and forth in order to finally get it fully unlocked. Now, this is likely legitimately caused by weak batteries sometimes. It is however definitely not an issue that can always or even mostly caused by weak batteries. During the Winter, the batteries deplete rapidly. I've started using Energizer Lithium and they last longer, so I would recommend those. Fresh batteries just doesn't always fix the issues with the deadbolt not retracting fully and there is no other rhyme or reason I can figure out, as the problem comes and goes.The Key Locks - If you are like me, you would only use the actual keys as a last resort, like having weak batteries in the unit or some other malfunction that prohibits the use of the keypad or key fob. These key locks are not suitable for Northern climates for sure. They may not even be suitable for wet climates, but up here in Michigan they are almost useless. It is 50 degrees out as I type this review on April 21st. My deadbolt was acting up so bad this morning, that I had to try and get in using the keys. Unfortunately, the keys just won't work because these locks are not suitable to be exposed to the element. Luckily, after about the 20th time of trying to get in with the key fob, the deadbolt retracted just enough to allow me to open the door. I immediately got on my computer and started righting this review before I forgot once again to do it.Bottom Line - I may have just got a bad unit. I probably should have reached out to the manufacturer/seller long ago, but I'm just too busy during the day when I'm having these issues and then when I get home at night I have other responsibilities and I try to put the day behind me.Would I Buy An RV Lock Like This Again - Yes, the concept is great. When the system works as it should, it is fabulous. When it doesn't work, it is very frustrating though. I am going to have to purchase a replacement lock soon, as this one is just too unreliable at this point. I will be researching the other brands available before taking another chance on Latch-It though.