🚪 Adding Baggage Door Monitors

Living in an RV definitely has its benefits, but baggage doors are not one of them. We have 17 doors on our rig. Yes, seventeen. Two are in the cab and easy to keep track of, and then there’s the main entry door that gets plenty of use. But the rest? They’re storage doors.

The worst part? The doors on the opposite side and way in the back are impossible to see unless you do a full walkaround. More than once, we’ve driven off in our Jeep, only to come back and discover one still open—waving hello to every squirrel in the campground. Ugh.

Time for a Solution

After a few of these “Aww Shit” moments, I decided there had to be a better way. Now security systems keep track of doors and windows all the time, so why couldn’t our rig do the same? It turns out, those systems use simple contact reed switches—a tiny switch that opens or closes when a magnet gets close. Cheap, simple, effective.

Getting Signals from Here to There

But here’s the thing: Our RV is basically two zones, split by water tanks and frame. Running wires everywhere? No thanks. I needed a wireless solution.

That’s where ESP32 microcontrollers come in—small, WiFi-enabled boards that can send updates back to Home Assistant (my favorite smart home hub). I’ve tinkered with ESPHome before, and this felt like a natural fit. A few reed switches, some ESP32s, and a bit of creative cable management later, and the system was up and running.

The Result: Green is Good, Red Means Check Again

Now, with a quick glance at my Home Assistant dashboard (on my phone), I can instantly see if any baggage doors are open. Green lights mean we’re all set to roll. Red means…well, time to take a walkaround and close something up before hitting the road.

We now have peace of mind, the RV looks a little smarter, and there are no more free invites for local wildlife to rummage through our stuff.

Pro tip: If you’re interested in trying this yourself, you don’t need to be an engineer. Parts are easy to find, and there are plenty of guides for ESPHome and Home Assistant. If you can wire up a light switch, you’re already halfway there.

Questions? Comments? Have your own RV door “adventure” stories? Drop us a note—we always love hearing from fellow travelers. Safe travels and happy monitoring!