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Locking Fuel Caps
Has anyone purchased a locking fuel cap?
Where did you purchase it?
Has it worked properly?As many of you know, I park all over in all kinds of “lovely” places because of our manner of work. We also spend nights in rest areas and truck stops while traveling, without a second thought.
The only time I lost fuel was in a pretty nice campground in Colorado. It was not “resort” nice, but nice. We left the bus there for two nights to drive the car to Durango and ride the train. When we returned, we were down 100 gallons at about $4.50 a gallon.
I thought about a locking cap then, but never followed through. With diesel north of $5, I am interested again. I keep the cover locked on both sides, but those are pretty common keys.
I understand that locks will not deter determined professional thieves, but a good lock might send them to an easier target.
Our bus is a 1995 XL and the filler neck looks to be 2 1/4 inches wide, threaded on the outside. Does anyone have a link to a locking fuel cap that will work on our bus?
Thank you,
Davy
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12 Replies
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My three Prevost coaches all had a fuel door that was lockable. Wouldn’t yours have the same???????
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My three Prevost coaches all had a fuel door that was lockable. Wouldn’t yours have the same???????
Yes
I keep the cover (Fuel door) locked on both sides, but those are pretty common keys.
In fact, it was locked when I lost 100 gallons in the campground.
Davy
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We changed the locks on the fuel doors of our coach to some that were more uniquely keyed. It was easy to do. I think that we had to swap the “wing “part of the lock from our original locks to the new ones for a more precise fit.
Or have the original locks re-keyed, if you can find a locksmith.
Just another possibility.
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Thank you for input. That is certainly doable.
Davy
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Belt and suspenders
Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL -
Gates # 31823 = locking, vented
Gates # 31803 = non-locking, vented
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Amazon carries both of those Gates Part Numbers
Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL -
I saw a post a long time ago from a Prevost owner who had bought a new to him coach. One of his first projects was to replace all the little keyed alike locks similar to the fuel door with a combination lock. I thought that was a good idea. But not good enough to do it myself.
Stealing 100 gallons of diesel is a major undertaking.
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Then there’s the argument you put different/ better lock(s) on it and they take a crowbar to the fuel door. Instant $1000+ body repair bill. It would be cheaper if they just took the fuel even at today’s prices.
I learned about this concept when some meth heads broke into my prior storage room. Caused multiple $thousands damage trying to pry open entry door (they failed to get it open). While in storage, there’s nothing inside they can carry off quickly that comes to the cost of fixing the door. Read somewhere some coach fleet operators just leave them unlocked for this reason.
My solution has been motion detecting cameras in the storage facIlity and in the bus. I have UPS protected cellular wifi both locations. Alerts my cell phone if anyone gets near the building or in the bus.
For use while traveling something that integrated with the rear facing side cameras would be neat. You could also use 2 slightly rear canted Ring doorbells – one on each side of the bus mounted just aft of the doors. Install a loud electric alarm siren you can trigger from your phone such as with a wifi controlled outlet adapter.
If you have the Ford keyless entry pad, you could also add sensors to the fuel doors that would activate that alarm system.
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Thank you. Lots of information.
Are those Gates numbers for caps you have ordered and used? They say 2″ and I believe mine measures 2 1/4. I will recheck in the morning.
Davy
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2″ NPT is 2 3/8″ O.D.
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I believe our fuel caps are unvented.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL
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