I'm making this a new post, but referencing a a previous discussion on exiting in a fire. In our Class B we have 4 exits: driver's door, passenger door, cabin door, and rear van doors. We cannot understand how a vehicle the size of a Class A can have only one door! Many folks are not physically able to dive out of a window emergency exit and could easily become trapped in an emergency. And as a driver I could not live without the ease of getting in and out of a driver's door. If we did ever look at "upsizing" I would never look beyond a Class C for the exit door reason alone, as appealing as some of the Class A features might be. Any comments?

Your point is well taken. If you were to design a structure to burn it would look like an RV. They burn quick & hot once they get going. Aside from an LP leak & explosion, however, there is usually time to get out being warned by the smoke detector. What other safety devices would you consider?

ryegatevt wrote:I'm making this a new post, but referencing a a previous discussion on exiting in a fire. In our Class B we have 4 exits: driver's door, passenger door, cabin door, and rear van doors. We cannot understand how a vehicle the size of a Class A can have only one door! Many folks are not physically able to dive out of a window emergency exit and could easily become trapped in an emergency. And as a driver I could not live without the ease of getting in and out of a driver's door. If we did ever look at "upsizing" I would never look beyond a Class C for the exit door reason alone, as appealing as some of the Class A features might be. Any comments?many Class A's have a std or optional driver's door...which does absolutely no good if a fire occurs while the occupants are in the rear sleeping area. just as most apartments have but one entrance it's a calculated risk. our home has three exits...a front door, patio door and rear door...none of which would help us should a fire break out while sleeping. also a calculated risk.

Another thing to consider with an RV is that when you need to exit, the vehicle may be laying on its side...

It has happened before: 1965 Ford Condor

Life is a series of decisions and tradeoffs. A class A motorhome offers a degree of comfort, and convenience not offered in other models. It's what you consider important. Consider this: If you ever travel in a jet airliner, and you are flying at 35000 feet, you don't even have ONE exit! Yet thousands do it every day because the odds of such a happening is small.Some people get into airplanes, climb to 15000 feet and then jump out!!! With only one safety backup! And they call that FUN!!! These choices are what make life interesting.

Exits in an emergency | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

Campfire_Time
Explorer
Apr 06, 2015
On the flip side, for many people the claustrophobic feel of a class B is another issue. Why would I ever consider one?

Nothing is ideal. Every RV is a compromise. We have multiple ways to exit our hybrid in an emergency. But that doesn't make it an ideal RV for everyone.
larry_cad
Explorer II
Apr 06, 2015
Life is a series of decisions and tradeoffs. A class A motorhome offers a degree of comfort, and convenience not offered in other models. It's what you consider important.

Consider this: If you ever travel in a jet airliner, and you are flying at 35000 feet, you don't even have ONE exit! Yet thousands do it every day because the odds of such a happening is small.

Some people get into airplanes, climb to 15000 feet and then jump out!!! With only one safety backup! And they call that FUN!!!

These choices are what make life interesting.
fred42
Explorer
Apr 06, 2015
It has happened before:

1965 Ford Condor
Sport45
Explorer II
Apr 06, 2015
Another thing to consider with an RV is that when you need to exit, the vehicle may be laying on its side...
rk911
Explorer
Apr 06, 2015
ryegatevt wrote:
I'm making this a new post, but referencing a a previous discussion on exiting in a fire. In our Class B we have 4 exits: driver's door, passenger door, cabin door, and rear van doors. We cannot understand how a vehicle the size of a Class A can have only one door! Many folks are not physically able to dive out of a window emergency exit and could easily become trapped in an emergency. And as a driver I could not live without the ease of getting in and out of a driver's door. If we did ever look at "upsizing" I would never look beyond a Class C for the exit door reason alone, as appealing as some of the Class A features might be. Any comments?

many Class A's have a std or optional driver's door...which does absolutely no good if a fire occurs while the occupants are in the rear sleeping area. just as most apartments have but one entrance it's a calculated risk. our home has three exits...a front door, patio door and rear door...none of which would help us should a fire break out while sleeping. also a calculated risk.
Oasisbob
Explorer
Apr 06, 2015
Your point is well taken. If you were to design a structure to burn it would look like an RV. They burn quick & hot once they get going. Aside from an LP leak & explosion, however, there is usually time to get out being warned by the smoke detector. What other safety devices would you consider?

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Exits in an emergency

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