Forum Discussion

n4hwl's avatar
n4hwl
Explorer
May 11, 2017

Motorhome fires

I recently visited an RV junkyard in London Kentucky. I believe at least three fourths of the motorhomes that were there were because of fires in the rear of the diesel motorhome. What is the deal with diesel motor homes catching on fire back around the engine.? I am in the process now of repairing my 2004 Phaeton where the exhaust pipe has melted the floor above it. This easily could have caught on fire I just was lucky. Are these Builders not building these things correctly? There is no heat shielding or anything around this exhaust where it comes close to my floor or the foam insulation along the sides. These fires did not seem to be in any particular brand or model. Looking at the way mine was built I'm surprised they're not more fires.

Ken
Class A
  • kfriceman's avatar
    kfriceman
    Explorer
    May 11, 2017
    I'm thinking that a majority of these fires can be traced back to a poor maintenance history.

    -Kevin
  • K_Charles's avatar
    K_Charles
    Explorer
    May 11, 2017
    How many DP were ever sold, and how many burned?
    So they build houses to catch on fire too? A lot of them burn.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    May 11, 2017
    Over the years I've looked at a lot of burnt MHs at Copart Salvage yards. I would say it's an even mix of interior fires, engine area fires, and refrigerator fires...mainly Norcold 1200.
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer II
    May 11, 2017
    According to insurance statistics I read awhile back, about 75% of all vehicle fires are engine/drive line related. I suspect motorized RV fires would be right in line with the other vehicles.
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    May 11, 2017
    Probably likely that far more motor homes are totaled due to fire than by accident. A lot of damage due to accident can be repaired. Not so much by fire.

    Pictures or news links are often posted here on RV fires on the highway. Almost all those are motor homes.
  • Dale_Traveling's avatar
    Dale_Traveling
    Explorer II
    May 11, 2017
    We have to take into consideration the fuel pressure needed for direct combustion chamber injection of a diesel engine. A hairline crack or any other such defect anywhere and you have atomized fuel looking for a point of ignition. Was one of our biggest worry during my Navy time at sea with gas turbine engines and diesel generators.

    Takes a bit to get a bucket of diesel burning but atomize it and you'll have a fireball.
  • Ed_C's avatar
    Ed_C
    Explorer
    May 11, 2017
    n4hwl our friends had their Phaeton exhaust re-routed under a recall; might be worth a call to Tiffin
  • jplante4's avatar
    jplante4
    Explorer II
    May 11, 2017
    I'll bet several of these are turbo disintegrating and rupturing fuel and oil line.
  • crasster's avatar
    crasster
    Explorer II
    May 11, 2017
    Ivylog wrote:
    Over the years I've looked at a lot of burnt MHs at Copart Salvage yards. I would say it's an even mix of interior fires, engine area fires, and refrigerator fires...mainly Norcold 1200.


    I only run college dorm fridges and home refrigerators in my coach. Once installed, never looked back. It's nice having frozen ice cream.

About Motorhome Group

38,705 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 14, 2025