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kartvines · 01-10-2011, 05:55 AM

What year did they start installing emergency exit windows in motor-homes? My 83 Pace Arrow has no signage so I must assume it was after that. With all of the recent post of fires and people dying due to not being able to escape, with the exception of sleeping with a hammer, what has anyone done to make their vintage motor-home safer?

I understand that I must install many alarms, being none are currently in place but beyond that? Beyond fire and carbon monoxide any other alarms needed?

W4MBG · 01-10-2011, 07:03 AM

add a propane alarm to your arsenal. they mount near the floor, as propane will settle to the low spots. also, my rv has no signage either, but the rear window has two red handles and is hinged at the top. the manual says it should have a pull wire that allows the window to be pushed out and fall on the ground. i like the handle/hinge method much better.

mikron · 01-10-2011, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kartvines

What year did they start installing emergency exit windows in motor-homes? My 83 Pace Arrow has no signage so I must assume it was after that. With all of the recent post of fires and people dying due to not being able to escape, with the exception of sleeping with a hammer, what has anyone done to make their vintage motor-home safer?

I understand that I must install many alarms, being none are currently in place but beyond that? Beyond fire and carbon monoxide any other alarms needed?

Smoke/heat detectors with emergency light built in and Coldfire extinguishers can't hurt.

Dennie · 01-10-2011, 07:36 AM

My 84 Pace Arrow has a sign on the rear window and on the window behind the drivers seat.

kartvines · 01-10-2011, 08:47 AM

Thanks for the feedback I guess before my maiden voyage I will go out and buy all of those alarms and install them, I always carry a extinguishers, because you never know, as far as red handle there are none, and I have never seen any signs on any windows so I guess I better take the time to look for them , and if they did not come out until the next year I guess a large hammer is my only other recourse.

I guess I could also buy one of them rope ladder to lower out the window in case we have to exit from the windows being that is a fairly long fall and I would prefer not to get my wife injured as she exits the window in a hurry, of course using all bedding to act as a buffer so no one is cut from the broken glass as we exit. I guess any plan is better than none at all.

scenic route · 01-10-2011, 11:16 AM

kartvines, sounds like you have given this subject some thought. Maybe you should start looking for a emergency exit window out of a dead RV that may fit one of your rear windows. You may find an exact fit with a new one at a reasonable cost??

At any rate, thanks for bringing this up. I'm going to check ours out and pull this window out just to see exactly how it works and to see how difficult it would be to get out of it. Ours is across from the foot of our rear bed over a small dresser with cabinets on both sides of the window. I've only just looked at that thing and thought "I sure hope we NEVER have to use this exit"! At 63 YOA, I think it would be pretty difficult to maneuver out of in case of an emergency...but then, who knows what we are capable of when flames are licking one's backside!

Before camping in your RV, I'd have to agree with the others to get those smoke alarms and detectors in place. Again, thanks for giving all of us something to think about...good thread. Bob

baysidetas · 01-11-2011, 04:57 AM

If you are anywhere near an RV Salvage Yard (e.g. Elkhart) you are quite likely to be able to buy an replacement emergency exit window that would be a direct replacement for one of your existing rear windows without it costing you the earth.

Quite simple to do the replacement if you are handy with a screwdriver and mastic (to reseal the window frame to your RV).

kartvines · 01-11-2011, 05:37 AM

I guess I need to measure the window and head to Walt's in Fontana, and see if they ave a replacement of the exact same size, the only problem with Walt's, in the past before they moved they were spread out and you could find almost anything but since they moved into a commercial building it now seems impossible to locate anything, but I guess it is worth a try.

Thanks for the feedback

duncan1 · 01-11-2011, 06:12 AM

The use of escape windows started in the 70's. I'm not sure of the exact date. All escape windows are to have red handles and nothing blocking the exit. In the early years we started using in travel trailers and 5th wheels what was call an excape hatch. It had to have an opening size of around 28x28 inches. This was used in place of a window. If the 83 unit does not have an escape window chances are it has been replaced. There are many thousands of obsolete windows around Elkhart Indiana in RV salvage stores. If anyone need to exit a unit quickly the best way is to break the glass. The glass is safty glass and very thin. It will shatter in small pieces.

Bob N Deb · 01-11-2011, 11:12 AM

My first RV was a truck camper that had the foof vent as the emergency escape. You might have a look at your roof vent to see if it has a handle that allowes it to flip open. Not very good but better than nothing .you should really consider replacing a window if you can.