Forum Discussion

Groover's avatar
Groover
Explorer II
Jun 15, 2014

I had to use my escape window!

I pulled up to the campground office Saturday morning to register for the night but could not get the door open to leave. I could tell that both the latch and deadbolt were releasing but the door still would not open. Business was surprising slow so we had to wait a few minutes before someone came by to ask for help from the outside. He looked at the door and said that it was hanging on something and needed a slot bladed screwdriver to pry the door open. I decided that if anyone was going to pry on my RV it would be me so I asked him to help me get safely out the excape window instead. I happened to have a midsized cooler I dropped out first to use for a step but it was still a long ways down. Once I got around to the door I saw that one of the extra security posts above and below the catch had loosened a couple of rounds and was jammed in the door frame. With the door closed there was no way to tighten it but it did not take much effort to bend the frame enough to let the pin pass. The frame has no permanent damage and I just removed the pin for now and checked the other one to be sure that it is secure.

No harm done other than we were almost late for relative's wedding at the park. It is just amazing the things that can go wrong. That might be an advantage to a class C having 3 doors. I would hate to have to jump out that window in a hurry with no one there to help stabilize me.
Class A
  • timmac's avatar
    timmac
    Explorer
    Jun 16, 2014
    Keep screw drivers, pliers and such inside the RV, when this ever happens again you can remove the deadbolt and door latch from inside and than open door.
  • et2's avatar
    et2
    Explorer
    Jun 16, 2014
    ArchHoagland wrote:
    If you were in the Aluminum Ladder Society, like I am, and had a ladder hanging from your back RV ladder you could have had the gentleman who helped you out get the ladder and set it up next to your escape window.

    Green and blue ladder members would also have had a easy time too.


    et2...I suspect you will never, ever, hear the end of that trick. Perhaps you ARE dumber than you look. LOL


    Hey, we all have those moments :B. That was mine. We laughed our arses off over it. But we did find out they aren't the easiest things to get out of in a hurry. Especially when they're up high. Had to lower her down. It's a good thing she's 5'1" and tiny.
  • tenspeedret360's avatar
    tenspeedret360
    Explorer
    Jun 16, 2014
    Groover, I had an experience with my door when I first purchased my class A. I was headed up the NYS thruway to my dealer to get things on my punch list taken care of, and as I'm driving, people are passing me, waving uncontrollably. I assumed (you know what happens there) they were just saying hi, so I wave back...kinda like John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles....'you're going the wrong way'. How do they know where I'm going....but I digress.
    I look in my side mirror, and my basement storage door is flapping open, I hadn't locked it shut, and it worked itself open.
    I pull over on the right,and again, I'm on the thruway, people flying past me 75,80 mph. I go to get out the door, and the entire thruway has guardrails. I cant get out. I ended up having to cut across the three lanes of traffic, and get out of the RV on the into the left lane, and people flying past me. And then pull my RV back into traffic on the left side. Not a good time.

    It was an interesting experience, and to this day, I can't believe whoever sets safety standards for manufacturers allows only the one single door. My next RV will definitely have a drivers door as well. I don't care the cost. I just don't see me getting out the window if I had to.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Jun 16, 2014
    I carry an extension (Telescoping) ladder inside the RV, I can let it out the window and extend it (From the bottom) till it touches the ground, then climb down and make repairs.

    By the way.. Mine was a different latch problem,, Same solution though, use the window.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Jun 16, 2014
    with the recent lock recall, more instances of being locked in could occur.
    bumpy
  • ArchHoagland's avatar
    ArchHoagland
    Explorer
    Jun 16, 2014
    If you were in the Aluminum Ladder Society, like I am, and had a ladder hanging from your back RV ladder you could have had the gentleman who helped you out get the ladder and set it up next to your escape window.

    Green and blue ladder members would also have had a easy time too.


    et2...I suspect you will never, ever, hear the end of that trick. Perhaps you ARE dumber than you look. LOL
  • chuckftboy's avatar
    chuckftboy
    Explorer
    Jun 15, 2014
    That whole senerio doesn't sound like much fun. Now I have one more use for my drivers door LOL!
  • Desert_Captain's avatar
    Desert_Captain
    Explorer III
    Jun 15, 2014
    Get yourself a two foot piece of 2X2 and notch both ends. This can quickly and easily be inserted as a prop to hold your emergency window (exit), open enabling you and yours to more quickly/safely get out in an emergency. Ours lies at the head of our rear corner bed between the mattress and the wall directly below our escape window .
  • et2's avatar
    et2
    Explorer
    Jun 15, 2014
    LOL ... I can understand this. Had it happen to a new Montana fiver we had. First trip out I was hooking the truck up to the fiver. Getting out of the truck I hear my wife hollering from inside the trailer. She says the door won't open. I open it and walk in shutting it thinking she's nuts.

    Yep, it won't open and we are now both inside :o. Nobody around, so I drop her out the hatch like a sack of potatoes to get us out. Seems they screwed up with the latch. Now I always keep tools inside to get us out.

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