Don't get locked in!

Actually, even Good Sam had a blog post about it.

http://blog.goodsam.com/dont-become-a-victim-of-rv-lock-in-or-how-to-fix-an-important-safety-fault

For most of us, it really wouldn't be an issue (kicking it out, going out thru emergency escape), but in the middle of the night, in an emergency situation, things could go wrong quickly.

Thank you crazyro for your post. It may save a life and is more positive than some of the people who have read it.

I agree that the idea that kids are locking people in their trailers is an urban myth.

However, I suspect it could accidentally happen - perhaps a bear checking out the trailer could accidentally lodge the bar in the locked position. So, if a person is uncomfortable with a single exit that could possibly be compromised, then making a modification to lessen that discomfort is a good thing.

I call Bravo Sierra on this old wives tale. The assist handles are designed to swing out with very little pressure. Try it on your own and you'll see that with very little effort, the handle will swing out of the way and not even leave a mark on your door or handle.

Jim

I can open the slide window and move the hand bar if necessary. As far as fire if you a$$ is too big for the emergency window I suggest one of the number of diet plans on the tube. I would also consider campgrounds without a bunch of punks running around. I have also run the odds of a punk closing the hand bar assist and a fire breaking out in your RV it's about the same as a meteor crashing through your RV while your sitting on the head taking care of business. A non issue.

stickdog wrote:
I can open the slide window and move the hand bar if necessary. As far as fire if you a$$ is too big for the emergency window I suggest one of the number of diet plans on the tube. I would also consider campgrounds without a bunch of punks running around. I have also run the odds of a punk closing the hand bar assist and a fire breaking out in your RV it's about the same as a meteor crashing through your RV while your sitting on the head taking care of business. A non issue.

Having a bad day? In many RVs, the issue with emergency windows isn't that the owner's a$$ is too big, it's because the window is placed awkwardly in regards to the interior, too small for anyone over the age of 5 to get through, or too high on the outside from which to safely drop to the ground.

toedtoes wrote:

stickdog wrote:
I can open the slide window and move the hand bar if necessary. As far as fire if you a$$ is too big for the emergency window I suggest one of the number of diet plans on the tube. I would also consider campgrounds without a bunch of punks running around. I have also run the odds of a punk closing the hand bar assist and a fire breaking out in your RV it's about the same as a meteor crashing through your RV while your sitting on the head taking care of business. A non issue.

Having a bad day? In many RVs, the issue with emergency windows isn't that the owner's a$$ is too big, it's because the window is placed awkwardly in regards to the interior, too small for anyone over the age of 5 to get through, or too high on the outside from which to safely drop to the ground.

Right on!

Burning alive or having a bad fall 3-5 feet out a window?

On all the trailers we have had all these type of handles.
Each trailer we have tested it. With just a slight push of the door the handle popped over to the open position.
Even our new one I forgot to put it out and the slide out started going out and popped it into place.

Short of putting a bar across the door I don't see how you could get stuck inside.
But like others have said that card board door is doing to stop you.
And a simple few hits of the wall will have you throw to the outside.

I have seen folks RVing who can't walk around their rig without using it as support. I have seen folks RVing who don't have the strength to open a jar of pickles. I have seen folks RVing who have severely broken their ankles, hips, etc., just tripping over their own feet.

While most folks may be able to break through an RV door, not everyone can. Whether it's due to osteoporosis, current or past chemo treatment, phobias, genetics or whatever, not everyone is capable of breaking through the RV door or going out the emergency window.

And, considering the pretty much universal agreement that RVs are built horribly, I don't think I'd trust that the manufacturers installed that bar correctly so it wouldn't lock someone in.

So, if folks offer ways to keep the bar from sliding into its locked position, or recommending tests to make sure you can pop it open if it did lock, I say good. It doesn't hurt anyone and just might keep someone from seriously injuring themselves, physically or mentally.

I don't think it warrants "this is silly and unnecessary".