Locking Vito while side door open

[Julesa14296]

Hi, I have a Vito and from time to time need to keep a side door open for ventilation in the van whilst it's parked, but need the van locked. With the tailgate I use a karabiner clip or a ventlock to complete lock connection, but can't do this with the side.

Does anyone know how I can get round this or if there's anything I can buy to 'lock' the side door open? Many thanks!

 

[Giantvanman]

I will stress that I don't have technical knowledge of this but I wonder if a matching set of door and jamb contacts with relevant wiring joining them together would work by fooling the system…………
From existing door jamb contact to new door contact to new wiring to new jamb contact to existing door contact, 'completing the circuit' when the door is open, as it were.

Best wait to see if any of the van guru's or sparks reply before forging ahead because there may well a simpler (definitely more elegant) solution!!

 

[BTB 500]

Hi & welcome.

Not entirely sure what you are after here. Do you want a side door partially open, or fully open? I assume the former as there would otherwise be little point in locking the vehicle! So I think you would need two different things:

1. A strong physical fitting to secure the door in a partially open position (equivalent to the ventlock you use on the tailgate).

2. As Gvm says above, something to link the electrical contact pins/pads in the front edge of the door and frame. The problem is that cutting/removing this might well cause the door(s) to unlock.

So I can't see a reliable way of doing this. Do you not get enough ventilation with the tailgate open & ventlocked, plus the front windows ajar? What's the ventilation for?

 

[Julesa14296]

Thanks for your replies!

Yes, side door partially open to get a through draught as I have dogs in the van and when there's no breeze the van still gets hot with tailgate open. I used to be able to use a ventlock on my old van (Despatch, but lock was at the front of the side door on that, whereas it's at the back on my Vito) but just didn't know if I was being a bit dim with this one and missing something!

 

[Dec]

Any way of jamming the upper and lower door tracks so the door can only slide open the desired amount.

Dec

 

[BTB 500]

Yes, side door partially open to get a through draught as I have dogs in the van and when there's no breeze the van still gets hot with tailgate open.

We tend to leave the tailgate fully open (no ventlock) if we have to park somewhere that's not secure and the dogs are in the van (obviously caging with locks on the doors is needed for this). Worst case we would leave the side doors open too and make sure there was nothing in the van worth nicking. We have proper motorhome-type shades for the windscreen and front side windows, which help too.

You could also look at vents/fans ... I wouldn't personally want to put anything on the roof though as a major plus of the Vito is that it (just) clears car park height barriers.

 

[Giantvanman]

Thinking laterally here, how about fitting a dualiner window, one with the opening section like this https://van-x.co.uk/mercedes-vito-driver-side-sliding-window.html

There is a section within the window that slides open.

Could even have one either side for a full cross breeze………downside is fitting windows (fairly straightforward to do) or sourcing replacement used doors.

Alternatively, if it is a standard van (no windows in rear), the door stays open on full open (as it were) and I am sure any decent fabricator can make up a mounting frame and a locking (padlock) steel mesh inner door or removable panel. It would mean fixing mounting plates by drilling holes though. I have seen this on Landrover Defender rear cargo areas before.

 

[Julesa14296]

That's great - I never thought of dual liner windows! it's got windows already in the side doors so I'll def investigate that, thanks!

Yes I'm with you on that one Bill, (as is hubby!) I don't want roof fans either, I've got motorhome screen covers too and they're brilliant, I think the windows is the way to go - thanks for the link. Vans caged like yours so this should work a treat.

Thanks again both of you, I'm really grateful for the advice!

 

[BTB 500]

You're welcome

BTW if you're who I think you are (running working cockers), I judged you at Olympia in December

 

[Giantvanman]

Glad to be of help.

 

[Julesa14296]

Ha ha! Yes Bill, that's me lol! What a small world and thanks again for a fantastic day - it was my dream to compete there and it was one of the best experiences of my life, I loved every minute of it!

 

[Marku]

Not the same on the Vito? Forgotten what it was like on our Vito when we had it but given the similar systems with the Viano isn't it the same? With the Viano you can lock the front doors and open the side and rear or just open the driver's door by selecting it with the key. Often need to open the back while leaving the front locked - very handy.

 

[zenman63]

Yes the vito is the same, you can keep the front locked and just open the rear.