Do you carry any sort of emergency ladder inside your rig?

[Wrong_Lane]

I was reading a recent post on being locked in your rig. Most Class A's only have one door leaving us exposed to a long drop in an emergency.

The concensus on exiting emergency window exits is that they are a long way off the ground (over 6 feet in most rigs) and jumping from them may result in injury.

I have been wondering if anyone carries any sort of rope ladder or flexible ladder you can throw out the window, hook to the sill and climb down eliminating the drop.

If you do have some sort of ladder for use with the emergency escape windows what is it and where did you find it?

[bluwtr49]

I'm not about to dick around with a looking for a bloody escape ladder...those fumes are toxic. I'll take my chances with a 6 ft drop. If you have a pet, it's on it's one.

[popeye766]

I BELIEVE IF YOU ARE ASLEEP AND THERE IS A FIRE YOU ONLY HAVE SECONDS TO GET OUT... it will be a challenge out the window to say the least... adding to it is trying to hold the window open for your escape.....I have made a long 5/16 rod that hooks the window frame and holds the window almost completely open....... forget fighting it...we carry 5 up to date extinguishers and my wife and I have drilled getting out of that escape......not all that easy.....but believe me we will do it....Ive seen a motor home burn up in the time it took me to take 12 pictures....frightening.......
tom

[Mr_Mark1]

Don't you think the smoke detectors would go off before any serious fire would start? I have operated our bedroom emergency window and it's easy to open. The only problem is that the strap for the exterior window awning would give you a big 'wedgie' if it's not unhooked first! LOL!

We don't keep a ladder inside.

MM.

[RayChez]

Panic time! I never have checked how our bedroom escape window works. LOL! That is pretty high for an old person to jump, but I guess if your life is at stake it is not too much of a decision.

No we do not keep a ladder in the coach. Our ladder is in the basement compartment.

But something to think about is a good size fire extinquisher in the bedroom. It might extinquish the fire long enough to where you could go out the front door.

[AllegroD]

None for us.

[John_Wayne]

You tube has a video by Mac the fire guy on how to get out. Worth looking at. And also a once or twice a year thing to do is open the escape window and treat the seal, if not treated it could become so stuck shut it will not open.
Had trouble finding it on you tube go to Mac the fire guy .com

[okgc]

Bumpyroad wrote:

FIRE UP wrote:
. But, unless you keep that emergency ladder tied to a wall on the inside of the coach, which would, in most cases, be in the way of normal day to day living in the coach, and, look hideous anyway, trying to get to that "emergency" ladder in a semi-panic situation, and, deploy it, might could cost you and your loved one(s) your lives.
t

yep, in any of the 4 RVs I have had, there would have been no place to tie/fasten a ladder to in the first place.
bumpy

We keep the lower section of our factory rear ladder in the bedroom closet. It is kept out of the way in place with a small screw and wire tie. Very easy to just grab and go. This was suggested here online about 2 years ago.
(An old sock keeps it from rattling against wall.)

[Bumpyroad]

FIRE UP wrote:
. But, unless you keep that emergency ladder tied to a wall on the inside of the coach, which would, in most cases, be in the way of normal day to day living in the coach, and, look hideous anyway, trying to get to that "emergency" ladder in a semi-panic situation, and, deploy it, might could cost you and your loved one(s) your lives.
t

yep, in any of the 4 RVs I have had, there would have been no place to tie/fasten a ladder to in the first place.
bumpy

[FIRE_UP]

Well Gang,
After over 35 years on four different Fire Departments, I've seen my share of RV fires. In some cases, we were close enough to the incident that we beat the 911 call and were at scene before even being dispatched. Folks, just about EVERYTHING in an RV is flammable. Don't kid yourself on newer technology of things, upholstery, floors, dash systems, window treatments, "plastics" by the tons, and much, much more, being "flame resistant". ALL will go up in flames as soon as it gets hot enough. And, it GETS HOT ENOUGH SERIOUSLY SOON!

As many of you have seen, there's not much left after an RV fire. A frame, possibly some of the skeletal structure, engine, trans and some steel components. Even most aluminum will turn into a giant puddle in a short time.

So, my point, they go up SINCERELY fast! You might be old, you might be even a bit frail, and you might have a hindrance like bum leg or arm etc. but, GET OUT! And, get out NOW!

If you break a limb, or a hand, or get scratched up in crawling out ANY WINDOW available, (fires don't always start in the same place) at least you'll be alive to talk about it. But, unless you keep that emergency ladder tied to a wall on the inside of the coach, which would, in most cases, be in the way of normal day to day living in the coach, and, look hideous anyway, trying to get to that "emergency" ladder in a semi-panic situation, and, deploy it, might could cost you and your loved one(s) your lives.

All RV fires are different in terms of progression of spread, starting point etc. but, as stated, about 99.9% of them end up the same. So, it's up to you, your choice. I certainly don't mean to cast dispersions on good thoughts but, due to the type of fuel(everything mentioned above) involved, the surrounding circumstances,(you're in an enclosed "Box", not a large residence) so, time is of the essence.
Scott

[raindove]

gbopp wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
I think if there is a raging fire, locating, deploying, and using a rope ladder would not be my primary focus. will take my chances diving out or sliding out of my window. and a rope ladder lying against the RV wall would be difficult to use. if you can turn around and get your feet on a ladder rung, you can easily just drop to the ground.
bumpy

I agree. With a fire burning, it's releasing a lot of deadly fumes. Get out as quickly as possible. Even if you break or sprain an ankle it will be worth it to get get away from the fire.
I think many of have seen RV fires posted on the forum. They burn hot and fast.

I saw an RV burn one day, in person. Was leaving the drug store and saw the flames across the intersection. I was less than a block away, and up on a hill, so could clearly see. Traffic was backed up and not moving. It was incredible how fast that thing went up. Scarey. Luckily the person and their pet got out safely.

[gbopp]

Bumpyroad wrote:
I think if there is a raging fire, locating, deploying, and using a rope ladder would not be my primary focus. will take my chances diving out or sliding out of my window. and a rope ladder lying against the RV wall would be difficult to use. if you can turn around and get your feet on a ladder rung, you can easily just drop to the ground.
bumpy

I agree. With a fire burning, it's releasing a lot of deadly fumes. Get out as quickly as possible. Even if you break or sprain an ankle it will be worth it to get get away from the fire.
I think many of have seen RV fires posted on the forum. They burn hot and fast.

[Bumpyroad]

rgatijnet1 wrote:

I assume that there are at least two of you in the coach so if you are first one out, the second person can land on you, to cushion the drop. Naturally, you can also volunteer to be number two out the window. 😉

aha, a good reason to push the DW out first, land on her.

sort of reminds me of years back when I worked in Rockville at an 18 story building. one of the doctors noted that the local fire dept. only had ladders that would reach the 7th or 8th floor so he tied a heavy rope to the radiator in his office and was ready to slide down about 12 stories. 🙂
bumpy

[BobR]

An RV being a small, confined space with propane and fuel, I would want to exit as fast as possible. I wouldn't want to take the time to fiddle with a ladder and would jump. I think you are better served having a few hammers around to break glass to jump out to safety.

[Coyote74]

Pray in the emergency and go at the same time, if you need a step, than maybe a large cooler or something close to the body of RV. still allowing an area for a jump or fall out the window.