Where do you put keys when camping?

[Dixiewixie]

Sounds like a silly question and I’m probably overthinking but a quick search of forum hasn’t quite answered my question?

In my T6, no keyless access / auto lock - nice and easy.

In T7 PHEV, I appreciate I could disable keyless access (even though vw recommends leaving on) AND I could disable auto lock (but having a Tesla as my other car I’ve just got used to getting out and walking away) BUT now getting concerned how to approach this with T7.

We often sit outside van when camping with doors closed (bug wary!) so should I be carrying keys all the time? Conscious it might auto lock or would having key sat in vehicle prevent this ? I assume it would. Does camping mode disable anything here?

Also does key just flash constantly and keep vehicle awake unnecessarily?! Should I be carrying spare batteries?

I miss having a full detailed paper manual for a vehicle rather than a digital one which doesn’t feel like it explains everything in enough detail. And I work in the tech industry

Appreciate any guidance / insight.

 

[sidepod]

Always left in the ignition. Non negotiable. Religiously put there whenever returning to the van. Never lost them in 15years. Never locked out.

 

[JohnCalifornia]

Sounds like a silly question and I’m probably overthinking but a quick search of forum hasn’t quite answered my question?

In my T6, no keyless access / auto lock - nice and easy.

In T7 PHEV, I appreciate I could disable keyless access (even though vw recommends leaving on) AND I could disable auto lock (but having a Tesla as my other car I’ve just got used to getting out and walking away) BUT now getting concerned how to approach this with T7.

We often sit outside van when camping with doors closed (bug wary!) so should I be carrying keys all the time? Conscious it might auto lock or would having key sat in vehicle prevent this ? I assume it would. Does camping mode disable anything here?

Also does key just flash constantly and keep vehicle awake unnecessarily?! Should I be carrying spare batteries?

I miss having a full detailed paper manual for a vehicle rather than a digital one which doesn’t feel like it explains everything in enough detail. And I work in the tech industry

Appreciate any guidance / insight.

I got a brand new ford transit van last year and it too came with no handbook only the digital one in the vehicle. There is a company on EBAY who actually print off every page of the hand book on A5 size paper and put it in a ring binder type thing , all very professional looking for £20 delivered. It was at least 1 inch thick and I think all glove compartments in modern cars now actually only fit gloves in so was a struggle fitting it in there. I’m pretty sure they did all manufacturers vehicles so if you wanted a handbook to peruse through on your camping trips that’s an option. The EBAY seller was called pdf-2-print

 

[colintfcolintf]

Keys on a lanyard around my neck when outside of the van

 

[vbk1975]

Sounds like a silly question and I’m probably overthinking but a quick search of forum hasn’t quite answered my question?

In my T6, no keyless access / auto lock - nice and easy.

In T7 PHEV, I appreciate I could disable keyless access (even though vw recommends leaving on) AND I could disable auto lock (but having a Tesla as my other car I’ve just got used to getting out and walking away) BUT now getting concerned how to approach this with T7.

We often sit outside van when camping with doors closed (bug wary!) so should I be carrying keys all the time? Conscious it might auto lock or would having key sat in vehicle prevent this ? I assume it would. Does camping mode disable anything here?

Also does key just flash constantly and keep vehicle awake unnecessarily?! Should I be carrying spare batteries?

I miss having a full detailed paper manual for a vehicle rather than a digital one which doesn’t feel like it explains everything in enough detail. And I work in the tech industry

Appreciate any guidance / insight.

With keyless entry/start the car needs to understand is the key is inside or outside the vehicle, this determines the functionality and esp. if the vehicle is allowed to be started.

So the system will generally check the key location when you try to perform a function that is based on key location. So generally starting / locking. It is should not start without the key within the parameter of the car body and equally it should not lock with the key inside. They tend to be very accurate and even placing your key in the door bin and having the door slightly open is likely to mean the car won't start.

Just a note: a lot of these systems will also temporarily disable a 2nd key if it left inside and a valid key is used from the outside to lock the vehicle and they will only enable the 2nd key again if unlocked by a valid active key.

The thing to remember will all of this is that system needs to be able to reliably talk to the key and the key to the car for it to know were the key is.

Some systems look for a positive confirmation of where the key is (ie outside before locking) others just treat not seeing it inside as it ok to lock. The keys can get blocked by things like phones, ipads, other metal objects. So if you leave the keys in the van make sure they aren't blocked.

 

[Meoncoast]

Keys on a lanyard around my neck when outside of the van

ditto and over gear lever when in the van camping.

 

[Kimbo]

I give mine to the wife, come and get them if you're brave enough

 

[Souter]

In my pocket at all times when using the van and in a cupboard when in the house

 

[Amcali]

My 2nd key is stored in RFID case in a safe space in my cali - is there a safe space when your top pop is of canvas - but its there in case I loose my 1st key. My 1st key is stored in another RFID little 'bag' which I take with me all the time. FYI: I was locked out once although my keys (without RFID case) where inside of the California.... and this won't happen to me a second time anymore!

 

[Parvus]

Good question to debate as I’ve also struggled with the safe/best option with a T7 and the comfort access controls. I’m nervous to leave the key inside the van incase I get locked out when camping.

Currently I store all spare keys in a RFID case to avoid any interaction, drain on the van or keys. I mostly turn off comfort access via a shortcut and only enable when travelling away for longer periods, otherwise just use the key to lock/unlock.

Whilst camping I switch off comfort access so can only be controlled manually. I’d like to leave the key securely in the van when nearby but nervous it might lock so I keep the key with me.

If the van will 100% not lock with the key inside the van, would be great to know so I could keep it safe inside, probably in a door bin, or a pouch at the rear of the front seats.

 

[Dixiewixie]

Always left in the ignition. Non negotiable. Religiously put there whenever returning to the van. Never lost them in 15years. Never locked out.

Yes makes sense to me but with T7 no such luxury - it’s a start button. If I just leave in the vehicle, so I risk it might lock on me if I’m outside the van?

 

[Dixiewixie]

Keys on a lanyard around my neck when outside of the van

Yes, been there but assume vehicle will lock if venture just a step too far away? Probably need to turn auto lock off when using it for anything other than a daily driver

 

[Dixiewixie]

My 2nd key is stored in RFID case in a safe space in my cali - is there a safe space when your top pop is of canvas - but its there in case I loose my 1st key. My 1st key is stored in another RFID little 'bag' which I take with me all the time. FYI: I was locked out once although my keys (without RFID case) where inside of the California.... and this won't happen to me a second time anymore!

So if you lost key, your spare is in the van? You unlocking via app in this scenario then?

 

[Dixiewixie]

Good question to debate as I’ve also struggled with the safe/best option with a T7 and the comfort access controls. I’m nervous to leave the key inside the van incase I get locked out when camping.

Currently I store all spare keys in a RFID case to avoid any interaction, drain on the van or keys. I mostly turn off comfort access via a shortcut and only enable when travelling away for longer periods, otherwise just use the key to lock/unlock.

Whilst camping I switch off comfort access so can only be controlled manually. I’d like to leave the key securely in the van when nearby but nervous it might lock so I keep the key with me.

If the van will 100% not lock with the key inside the van, would be great to know so I could keep it safe inside, probably in a door bin, or a pouch at the rear of the front seats.

A shortcut toggling comfort access makes sense - will look into that BUT I’d have hoped for some form of protocol from VW as to how they expect us to use this - surely their designers have given this some thought?!

 

[vbk1975]

So if you lost key, your spare is in the van? You unlocking via app in this scenario then?

I would be very very careful about keeping a spare key in the van, in the event of a theft then leaving a spare key in the car can invalidate the insurance if they can determine that to be the case. If recovered they can determine the key last used and some companies will ask you provide all the keys if they suspect genuine keys were used. Even if keys are stolen but the vehicle is not, then key lock change and removal of the stolen keys from the security system can be mandated by insurance companies.

 

[russmcp]

I would be very very careful about keeping a spare key in the van, in the event of a theft then leaving a spare key in the car can invalidate the insurance if they can determine that to be the case. If recovered they can determine the key last used and some companies will ask you provide all the keys if they suspect genuine keys were used. Even if keys are stolen but the vehicle is not, then key lock change and removal of the stolen keys from the security system can be mandated by insurance companies.

Had this very warning when i insured my van yesterday.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I would be very very careful about keeping a spare key in the van, in the event of a theft then leaving a spare key in the car can invalidate the insurance if they can determine that to be the case. If recovered they can determine the key last used and some companies will ask you provide all the keys if they suspect genuine keys were used. Even if keys are stolen but the vehicle is not, then key lock change and removal of the stolen keys from the security system can be mandated by insurance companies.

Interesting.
I put my spare in a key safe in the van last year after 10 years worrying about losing my keys and being abroad thousands of miles from home.
I suppose after 17yrs of ownership I don’t worry too much about theft.
I’m assuming I would get someone to break in to retrieve the keys.

 

[Californication69]

You can physically remove the key thing from the fob. (At least I did on the 6.1, not sure about the multivan Cali)
Hide the key thing wrapped in electrical tape somewhere outside. (You can then open the passenger door physically via the lock)
Hide the fob thing inside a faraday bag inside the vehicle. (Then you can use this to stop the alarm and allow vehicle starting. )
Make sure to purchase the 4 keys on a new van.
This way you will always have two to show the insurance.

 

[Adam8374]

Yes, the physical key is removable in t7 Cali. I permanently store it in a magnetic case reachable from the outside of the vehicle. In case I ever end up without a key, I can always get it and unlock.
but not start the vehicle. I might store the electronic part of the key hidden inside (in an rfid case or without a battery)

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Isn’t there a plastic surf key thingy ? Just to open the door.
I’m sure I read that somewhere.

 

[Lee.Van.Cleef]

The places we go camping we're usually wearing clothes with pockets for keys, so that's taken care of.
When we're in the van ww have space on the calicap shelf above the kitchen side, which also keeps them out of view from outside.
We hadca surf key force previous van, which was handy, but not for this one.

 

[Amcali]

So if you lost key, your spare is in the van? You unlocking via app in this scenario then?

Correct!

 

[Amcali]

Had this very warning when i insured my van yesterday.

Thats fully correct. Nonetheless what's the difference with the situation when my wife keeps the 2nd key in her jacket and the van is stolen while all clothes were in the van.... I still agree to your comments but that's what I would tell the insurance.

 

[Dixiewixie]

Well I’ve spent 3 hours in and about the van leaving the keys inside and not had an issue with it auto locking when it shouldn’t (T7 Ocean). When we decided to walk all the way to the pub (100 yards - staying at Grouse & Claret near Chatsworth.. very nice.. stayed here a few times) we took the keys and it auto locked when we were 10 feet + away. Starting to feel confident .. over confident? We did have signal and the phone app if issues occurred.

 

[juneysan]

With keyless entry/start the car needs to understand is the key is inside or outside the vehicle, this determines the functionality and esp. if the vehicle is allowed to be started.

So the system will generally check the key location when you try to perform a function that is based on key location. So generally starting / locking. It is should not start without the key within the parameter of the car body and equally it should not lock with the key inside. They tend to be very accurate and even placing your key in the door bin and having the door slightly open is likely to mean the car won't start.

Just a note: a lot of these systems will also temporarily disable a 2nd key if it left inside and a valid key is used from the outside to lock the vehicle and they will only enable the 2nd key again if unlocked by a valid active key.

The thing to remember will all of this is that system needs to be able to reliably talk to the key and the key to the car for it to know were the key is.

Some systems look for a positive confirmation of where the key is (ie outside before locking) others just treat not seeing it inside as it ok to lock. The keys can get blocked by things like phones, ipads, other metal objects. So if you leave the keys in the van make sure they aren't blocked.