So the cover is to protect the lock from freezing but what about the cover? Could it freeze in place as well? Have you taken it into freezing conditions yet?
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None of us have it mounted yet as we’re waiting on the aluminum plates but I can say that it’s been well below freezing here the last couple of days and I have the covers in an unheated garage and they open and close just as easily as they do inside the house…. I would assume that if there’s a sheet of ice on them, it’s going to be just like as if the car door has a sheet of ice on it, it’s going to take some force.
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I tried to design a bunch of angles into it to direct water away from areas that could freeze. The top of the cover is slanted, and also on the top of the inner piece is slanted to direct water towards the panel and away from the cover/base interface. But water is a pain and hopefully it doesn’t end up frozen. At least you could break it off if needed. 
I started this just to help out @Dignon and I actually dont see this turning into a product in reality. I priced out having these parts 3D printed since my printer is pretty darn slow and it ended up quite expensive. I actually think these would need to be $80ish for a pair to be worth it, and that is too much in my opinion for what you get. Once we test it out I’ll share the final files so anyone can make them themselves.
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Agreed, it’ll be interesting to see what the cost is to have more printed if the second prototype works. It’s seeming more and more, like this is a fun exercise in proving that the easier more affordable option is to simply replace the latches with a T-handle, or larger levered solution.
In the end, I’m confident this will work, but if not. I’m willing to void my warrantee by installing latches that better suit my needs, than the needs of GFC. No offence guys, but fighting with my latches at 5am every morning during ski season (which is why I bought the camper) will inevitably result in broken latches.
Stoked to get the new version @jedgar and test them out up here in the Cariboo. I think how I would use these is just have 3, and then either leave the other 3 unlatched, or the redneck solution that seems to be working using an innertube. I only ever lock 1 tumbler on each latch out of habit to reduce having two froze tumblers ( a trick I learned years ago on my canopy when the key broke off trying to open it). This betters my odds against getting locked out of my box.
I will be looking at this solution if the covers fail, as we’ve had these types of latches on the line trucks for decades with no problems:
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I’m in a similar position as @Dignon as my thinking is, with these covers, the actual latches will be covered and less conspicuous so that I can just leave them all unlocked but still latched and it wouldn’t be as obvious to passerbys that its “open and accessible” as nobody can push open the latches without sliding the cover off first… wouldn’t stop a determined thief though… annoyed by the early morning frozen latch issues as well
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Nice work @jedgar, I like that design. I was wondering how a rectangular rubber plug with a 3d printed housing might work out. I spent a little time earlier putting a quick 3d model together; I will print it up and try it out this weekend or early next week.
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That looks awesome… how is the housing held in place?
@sstammin We went down that road first and just didn’t have much luck with finding anything that wasn’t hard rubber for the plugs. I was looking for something that went over the mount vs inside of it to keep water from going in the crack and freezing, but I may have been over thinking it.
It is awesome you are working on a solution and I’m excited to see it!
@jedgar Yeah the durometer of the rubber might make them a pain to remove, especially if it’s cold. I will post some pictures when i test it out next week.
@OverlandKyle it’s just sandwiched behind the Southco latch; I modeled it with the older latch, PN is C2-33-25
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@sstammin reason why I ask is because the first go around, we tried that with about 2mm of material and it was too thick to allow the latch to engage…. It looks pretty thick in your rendering so that’s why I ask…. I think you could get away with it if it was .025 ( newer latches )
Edit: I missed the part where you mentioned the older style… that would absolutely 100 percent work
Very interested to see the results. I have a 3D printer to use at work so I could definitely try out the resulting .STL file.
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why not use the prototype to make a rubber mold? then use that to cast rubber pieces? I feel a rubber compound would work better in the cold
I’m not a plastic or resin pro so just speculating
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Perfect timing!.. thanks @jedgar as we have a big snowstorm heading towards the East Coast this weekend, it’ll give me the perfect opportunity to test out the version 2.0 in the very conditions that this was hopefully designed for.
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Installed with VHB double sided tape bonding the plastic to the aluminum… it is a perfect fit and the latch opens and closes just like it did without the plate… I can say that this 100% works as far as fitment … I have a 900 mile round trip this weekend from Ohio to New Jersey and back through that storm so I will report back afterwards
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Great solutions guys! thanks for the ideas here.
I love this camper but messing around with the frozen lock cylinders is corny especially in the sub temps…
Prob just get a torch and hope GFC or another company can produce upgraded locks that are the same quality as the camper, beefy and steezy.
Did a couple nights in summit county…
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At this point I’m really hoping that the powers at be are starting to see what the customers want. I’d say this thread has gotten some traction.
Still waiting on my @jedgar solution, but I don’t have easy access to a 3d printer. In the end I feel that despite the vision of GFC it’s clear that the customers don’t want to mess around with frozen locks. Especially with very viable alternatives available. Even from the same manufacturer, you could just get the bigger Southco latch that has an aftermarket cover already. Whammo problem solved, thread closed. Then we can move on to complain about something else…
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Just my 2cents.
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I can say that @jedgar covers version 2.0 absolutely does work… The covers were caked with ice and the temperatures were at around zero degrees F. Once I got the ice off the cover, it slid open just fine and I was able to lock and unlock the latches as I normally would.
I probably would lube the plastic cover tracks with WD-40 or some kind of lubricant just to make it a little bit easier but its not necessary.
Of course I would prefer to have latches that actually work without doing all of this but until that happens, this will do just fine
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Update to the redneck solution after that winter storm-
Inner tube covered latches- not a snowflake to be found inside latches
White lithium grease filled latches- worked perfect
Unprotected latches- frozen solid
@Dignon 1000% agree different latches same manufacturer easy solution for builds going forward
side note about lithium grease filled latches- they are a little messy
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@jedgar v1 latch cover works on my v2 rear latches.
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It’s a bit snug on the side doors, but by maybe 1-2mm.
Thanks Josh!!!
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