frozen locks

landpirate

landpirate

campervan untilising nomadic traveller
Dec 18, 2011
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Brighton, United Kingdom
#1
Got back to my van last night and all but one of the locks on my van were frozen. I managed to get in through the back but had to chuck my dog onto the bed and then clamber in. Didn't make for a quick entrance. Anyone got any tried and tested cures for frozen van locks? It wasn't even really that cold last night so I can only see this problem becoming for regular. Don't want to get stuck out in the cold :(. I've googled it and got a few ideas but thought maybe you guys might have a secret technique.
 
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#3
Wow that sucks and you don't have a freaking electric outlet for that handy dandy hair dryer. How about spraying in a silicone lubricant - found at a service store? I have to get some of that for my one lock on apartment (not because of cold - just because it's a stupid @$%$% lock) - but I think that will do good with the weather and stuff for you. http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infsil.html
 
#4
Vodka, straw and a cup. Fill cup with liqour, use straw to blow alcohol into hole keep the spring loaded trap open with a key or whatever is handy. Celebrate success by drinking the rest of the cup.

A can of WD40 heated in some pretty warm water should do the trick though:)
 
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#8
I often have a burning hatred of the cold also Matt... hehe... Don't know why I put up with it.
The only reason to bear with cold weather would be a beautiful landscape... Alaska comes to mind...
Anyway... I digress...
I want to add to the car door lock thing... the magnet idea in the article is good. I bet the most effective method would be to use one of those flexible refrigerator magnets... like the small advertising ones you might get from a business like a pizza joint or tax preparer... with a calander on it.
This pirate ship would be cool too hah... also you have less chance of messing up your paint job... (instead of using a large clunky metal magnet)
that is if your a big baller with a Mercedes... hustling the corner for milk money in Minot North Dakota in January.
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#9
Thank you for all your useful tips. I've sprayed my locks with WD40 and I've got a lighter to try heating my key. Since I started this thread the weather has actually been a bit milder. So i'm yet to put this to the test. I'll let you know how I get on when the next freeze comes.
 
#10
When. I lived in misourri we had this small can of lock de-icer that could fit in your pocket/pack all I remember is it was in a yellow can with a small blue nozzle that said "de-icer" on it.
 
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