The subject of using the emergency escape window came up in another thread. I did a quick walk around and discovered the rear window is taller than I am (6 foot tall) and the bedroom escape window is about 2 feet higher than me 6 +2 = feet. I never gave this a second thought till now but I will be ordering TWO OF THESE TYPE LADDERS FIRST THING TOMORROWHas anyone else bought an escape ladder?PS the 6 foot window may not be a big problem for me to use to escape, but is I have guests with small children it could save their lives

I'd never poo poo anyone who does anything that makes them feel that their family is safer because of it. But this issue is a bit like a lot of the homes in NM. They plant cactus or other high thorn bushes under their windows. Serves as a great burglar prevention without the cost of bars on the windows. In case of the need of the occupant needing to use that window for evacuation means either your gonna get a bit eaten by those bushes or they know ahead of time that they need to throw out the mattress first. My MH window is a bit high also but it wouldn't take much to get me to jump out of it or my wife for that matter. Probably wouldn't be a pretty site but we'd get'er'done.

For some of us the window is not a real option with or without climbing aids.

last summer I was living in my camper in a driveway in NY. I opened the door to my camper to let the male dog out, the female snuck out between my legs unleashed and the male who was on a 30 foot leash on a reel took off after her. I had a second to consider my options. I could have let go and risked the dogs getting killed by running into traffic, but as long as I had control of one dog the other would not stray too far. I knew that when the male reached the end of the leash I would be off balance and be pulled from the top step of the camper. I made a decision to sacrifice injury to my body to lessen the rick of my dogs getting killed. That decision put me in bed for about three weeks. Between the bad knees and arthritis all over my body any type of fall is going to be painful and take a long time to recover from. Maybe a ladder isn't important for many people but for me it is a necessity.

Mmmmm...If the coach is on fire I'm going to toss the wife and the dawgs out the nearest window or access.IMO there won't be much time to fiddle with a ladder.Keep a battery in the smoke detector, regularly test the gas detector.Make sure a good large sized extinguisher is close at hand where you are sleeping.We choose not to deadbolt the entry door at night also. Jump and roll...

Thats_Ok wrote:Mmmmm...If the coach is on fire I'm going to toss the wife and the dawgs out the nearest window or access.IMO there won't be much time to fiddle with a ladder.Keep a battery in the smoke detector, regularly test the gas detector.Make sure a good large sized extinguisher is close at hand where you are sleeping.We choose not to deadbolt the entry door at night also. Jump and roll...Absolutely the best advice!

Emergency escape window height | Good Sam Community

silvercorvette
Explorer
May 27, 2013
I have kept a fire extinguisher in every vehicle I have owned for the past 30 plus years. In addition to the extinguisher that came with the RV I also have a disposable in the front and back. It may not put out a fire but it could buy me some time.
Gale_Hawkins
Explorer
May 27, 2013
Diving out head first is the only choice I see for myself too. I have a Halon extinguisher in the bedroom that might knock down a fire for a few seconds to get to the front of the MH.

When the kids where about 10 our son set up a ladder outside then came inside and went out bedroom window but at 2 AM there would be no time to fine or hang one I expect. Chain ladders can work in a house fire where you may have more time than in a trailer fire.
Crowe
Explorer
May 27, 2013
especially a fire, you will have no time to deploy anything.

I beg to differ. I'm going to think out loud for a minute (I do this often). If the above quoted statement were true, then why would commercial aircraft have escape chutes? As weird as this may sound, I wonder if there's any way a chute of some sort could be built into RVs for the same purpose, deployable with just the push of a button. I'm not an engineer, nor am I mechanical in anyway so I don't know if logistically this is even feasible. Just sayin'.
hershey
Explorer
May 27, 2013
Crowe wrote:
especially a fire, you will have no time to deploy anything.

I beg to differ. I'm going to think out loud for a minute (I do this often). If the above quoted statement were true, then why would commercial aircraft have escape chutes? As weird as this may sound, I wonder if there's any way a chute of some sort could be built into RVs for the same purpose, deployable with just the push of a button. I'm not an engineer, nor am I mechanical in anyway so I don't know if logistically this is even feasible. Just sayin'.

Of course it can. But I don't think any of us can afford it. Even if it were mass produced, there would be a lot of equipment to carry around to deploy that chute and deploy it.
Course, thats what they probably said about air bags before their inception.
hooligan
Explorer
May 27, 2013
The ladder may or may not be useful. A fire up forward could be electrical or the fridge. May allow time to deploy the ladder, something more aggressive may require a less cautious departure.
Getting out the window and turned around to hang toward the ground or use the ladder is not a simple task. A hand hold above the window would be valuable and more expedient than a ladder.
I think diving out head first could be a disaster, although we tend to be hard headed, landing on your noggin from 6ft or more would leave most incapacitated next to a burning RV. Old bones don't like high dives either...
deleted-2
Explorer
May 27, 2013
hooligan wrote:
A hand hold above the window would be valuable and more expedient than a ladder.

The hand hold is a very good idea IMO...

To reference a survivor from the the Piper Alpha oil rig gas fire.
There were two choices:
"Jump or Fry"
wannavolunteerF
Explorer
May 27, 2013
Just went out and looked at my emergency window.. 5 ft off ground and not very big.. I know my knees would not do well if I had to jump.. but I am not even sure how I would get out, I may find me one of the ladders, it could stay on bedside table next to window, and then I could manage to get out.. otherwise I think I would seriously hurt myself trying to maneuver out. the other option is hope I can get out bedroom door.. opposite the window but at same end of Trailer.
jetboater454
Explorer
May 27, 2013
If you really worry about a fire and getting out,get 3-4 airbeds from Big Lots or some other cheap place,fill them up,stack them up,place on ground outside the window.

But if you have young kids with you,you may find out they like jumping out the window all day.:B:B:B
Dakzuki
Explorer
May 27, 2013
Crowe wrote:
especially a fire, you will have no time to deploy anything.

I beg to differ. I'm going to think out loud for a minute (I do this often). If the above quoted statement were true, then why would commercial aircraft have escape chutes? As weird as this may sound, I wonder if there's any way a chute of some sort could be built into RVs for the same purpose, deployable with just the push of a button. I'm not an engineer, nor am I mechanical in anyway so I don't know if logistically this is even feasible. Just sayin'.

Escape slides require periodic testing and recertification is addition to the initial cost.

Aircraft do not have slides for low heights like most RVs. If you go out the over-wing emergency door on a 737 you do not get a slide...you get to jump off the wing.

If you are sufficiently motivated to get out you will be out of there quickly. I will be out the window like a shot. Fire is not something to mess with. The smoke will get you very quickly..even quicker in a small place like an RV.
beemerphile1
Explorer
May 27, 2013
While you are messing with those ladders that are almost impossible to use, I will be out the window and a safe distance away or on the ground with a broken leg. Either way I will be outside the RV.

I would jump off the roof to escape a fire. Many people have and survived.

RVs are fully involved in only seconds, that is how long you have to get out.