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The back door?

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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After watching a news segment about a fire on a motor home near the entry door, and the occupants caught inside, I wondered why the occupants didn't just go out another door.

Then discovered there wasn't another door.

I know this is just a slice of the pie, but take a look at these layouts. If that one single entrance is blocked, how do you get out? Push the window out, right? But are all the windows "easy to get through"?

https://www.roamingtimes.com/rvreports/2/four-winds-hurricane-class-a-motorhome-floorplans.html

Any motor home owners here? Are there at least two doors?
 
We owned an old '77 Winnebago a number of years ago and it had a door about midway back on the right, and a driver's door at the front left. As far as I can remember most of the windows slid sideways, but I don't know how far or how easy it would be to escape through them. That is a good point, though.
 
Never thought about it as I don't design them, however; it angers me that those who do design these things don't consider the fact that most RV owners are older folks who aren't exactly the jumpin outta window types.
 
I have 1977 Ford Huntsman with kitchen and bathroom in back. Main door is just behind cabin and cabin is a van with 2 doors. Windows on each side are kick outs and are over couch and dinette seats, so even older people ( like me can get out ) just the fall outside might kill you.
 
Our Ford Econoline Camper we had for several years had the normal doors in the cab and of course the rear opened like a regular van.
 
:lol:
 
That's why I buy a camper small enough to not get trapped in the far end. But thinking about it, the stove is right inside the sliding door, and you cannot open the rear hatch from the inside. that's probably not the best combo. I don't use the stove really anyway. I also think you could kick out the rear windows if you were desperate.
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Seems the operating issue is "I *think* we could get out."

hmmm

Actually, pretty amazing that the designs I (quickly) checked out online, don't mention emergency exits. For a large vehicle that usually has gasoline/diesel and/or propane inside ... seems the designers are overlooking something. And many of the buyers.
 
Years ago we had a friend who worked in the home/business alarm business. He insisted that we keep a proper sized fire extinguisher in the walk in closet of our master bedroom. The secondary purpose was putting out a fire. The primary purpose was something big and heavy enough to go through a drywall wall if we needed to get the kids. He was very good at lateral thinking.
 
GregW said:
Using a pressurized canister as a hammer would not be my first choice.
Click to expand...

true, but in a fire..... (And assuming you had emptied it already)
 
Correctly located and functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should give you time not to have to break through a wall to get to your kids.

We had a tragedy here many years ago involving a camper. Six year old was in the back of the camper while his grandfather was cooking on a grill by the door. The grill caught fire and quickly spread to the trailer. The six year old could not escape.
 
The rear window in our RV is designated and well marked as an emergency exit. It's right over the head of the bed, with a couple of red handles to open it without relying on a "heavy object". I assume they think we could use the rear bumper as a step, but that probably wouldn't happen.
 
I think that they would not put a second door because it would take up valuable bed- cabinet bathroom space
I don't think safety is a big selling point with them rolling easy bake ovens
 
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