Practicing an emergency exit from your RV may save your life one day—you never know! It’s always good to know what to do, especially if there’s going to be more than one person involved in an emergency exit.
Make sure you read this article by Mac “The Fire Guy” McCoy about creating a plan in case there’s a fire in your RV. You’ll never regret having a life-saving plan!
Have you ever practiced an emergency exit from your RV? If not, this is your reminder to do so! Get your partner or family together and take some time in the next day or so to practice.
In order to have an emergency exit, you need to remember that you need to make sure that your doors are not obstructed.
In the rear doors of my Sprinter van I have a bicycle rack that can swing away 90 degrees from the back of the vehicle with bicycles even on the rack.
If you don’t plan on this in advance and you cannot open the back doors you’re going to have a problem.
I see some people are posting comments about going out a window, but, RV’S especially smaller ones like a Class B don’t have large windows. Hopefully you’ll never have to bolt out of the RV.
Thanks I needed to laugh today. Thinking about the fire dept getting my fat {bleeped} out that window would be the picture of the day. Just thinking about makes me die laughing.
Just plan on hurting yourself exiting an RV emergency exit. I venture to say that many RVers I know are not capable of using an emergency exit. It’s better than dying is my strongest endorsement. Know how to open it, but exiting is not user friendly.
I actually thought the escape door in “ my bathroom” was for a accident in case of a roll over. Thank god I have a great sense of smell.
Mac McCoy, aka “Mac the Fire Guy” used to give his RV fire safety seminar at many of the larger RV rallies. He URGED people to test the escape window(s) on their RVs and even arranged for rally attendees to actually exit from a Class A motorhome at some rallies (it’s harder than you would think). At the very least, he wanted people to just open their escape window so they would know EXACTLY what was involved (it took me OVER TEN MINUTES to get the escape window on my Super-C open!). Sadly, Mac’s health deteriorated and he had to give up presenting at RV rallies. It’s been several years since I last saw him. Mac IS missed. 🙁
As a current fire inspector and fire safety educator you should always know two ways out and practice them, also to add to that is you have an emergency escape window you should exercise it a few times a year. As for escaping from a window, have a stick to keep the window open, lay the comforter out the window over the bottom the of window. I lay belly down on my bed and start sliding feet out the window and ride the comforter out. Now that you’re out you’ll have something to cover up in. If you choose to use your main exit, there are a few things to keep in your bedroom, the first thing is an extra fire extinguisher you can use to clear your path out and the other is a fire blanket to cover yourself as you crawl out (I don’t have a blanket yet but have heard about it.) The last thing is stay low and go, toxic smoke will build up fast in recreational vehicle, so time is important, don’t waste it looking for items.
check out the RV fire Marshall on youtube.
We actually practiced the escape window when our daughter was younger. She had just had a fire safety demonstration in school. After a couple of attempts we decided that to use it you need to go stomach down and feet first and use a blanket to protect you from the edge.
I actually have a “bug out” bag by the emergency egress door. Back before we had a door I would open the emergency window at least once a year and clean the seal..
Ray from Love Your RV always puts a step ladder next to his emergency exit window after he sets up. I think this is a great idea if you have room for such a ladder.
We have planned but not practiced. Put a pillow over the window sill and go out feet first, dropping about 5 feet to the ground from our Class C. Another good reason not to have a Class A–they will have to drop a LONG way.
Our travel trailer has 2 doors, one in kitchen and one in bedroom. Hopefully that would be sufficient. Our emergency exit window is large enough but I doubt I could make it out without injury so no, I am not going to practice!
We considered it until we recognized how unpleasant climbing over the bottom lip of our exit widow is. Yes, we have elevated our risk of dying inside our RV should it catch fire. Consequently we have ordered (dealer stock was essentially nill when we decided to downsize) a DP with an exit door. All things considered, we opted for a Newmar with a reusable (and ultimately possibly leaking around the seals) exit door midship in the bathroom. We will conduct a practice run or two once we pickup the unit, sometime late-spring.
The design of our escape window is useless. We would burn to death trying to get out rather then running out the door. The door is located near the bed and the likelihood of a fire starting in that area of the TT is extremely low.
The question should probably be, “Have you ever practiced an emergency exit OR had to use the emergency exit?”.
my wife has serious mobility issues. that along with other issues is why we are considering selling our MH after 35-seasons.
I, like others, know that a ‘practice attempt’ would require emergency care. I’m starting to think that carrying a battery powered SawzAll would be the best answer to getting out of a 5th wheel window. That drop, from the window, would leave me in a broken pile of bones on the ground.
The escape windows in our Jayco were made for an agile 13 year old. No sense in wasting valuable time. We keep fire extinguishers at hand, our smoke alarms up to date, and a portable fire proof safe for important papers and resources.
Good planning
Us too. Our motorhome has 5 fire extinguishers inside (bedroom 1, kitchen-bath doorway 2, front door 2) and two in outside bays (by front door 1, electrical bay 1). These are various sizes and types depending on location. We also replaced the large non-opening rear window with one that opens. Now we can step out onto the roof ladder. We are NOT agile 13 year olds! The fire safe is in an outside bay.
Years ago on a trip I checked the window to make sure it wasn’t stuck. I thought it was hinged but it is two u-connections that hold it in place. It went flying into the woods. Thankfully it didn’t break. When I went to place it back on it wouldn’t seat because of all the silicone. I had to tediously remove all that silicone seat it and then apply a good thick silicone bead. I just recently tested it to see if it would still open but much more gingerly and yes it did open, and close.
I answered yes because at the beginning of each camping season I check the escape window for proper operation. Then I discuss the escape procedure several times with wife and grandson who regularly travels with us. We walk through the plan then blindfold walk through up to each exit from normal sleeping areas. I also quiz them now and then not only about escape but also about assembly area. We pre determine a safe area at each new stop. I train and exercise them just like I did my guys on Navy ships.
This is a very good reminder. We must take the time to practice an emergency exit/escape procedure. We have emergency exits through several windows and an emergency door in the bathroom.
Once a season I open the e exits and also an actual attempted exit. Good to know things like feet or head first that is something you should know before you are required to use it. The reason is simple because in an actual emergency those fractions of a second saved because of familiarity about its location and operation and method of exiting may be the difference between life and death. There is proven benefit from emergency training drills. Its part of being a responsible owner.
In a true emergency the training displaces panic . As a retired commercial pilot of 35 years recurrent emergency drills are a way of life and are incorporated into my being.
No, but I do keep a Go Bag close by with important papers, passports, money, etc. I also have photos of all this info on my cell and on the cloud, just in case!
No… have you seen the size of those windows? One would rip their body to shreds trying to get out.
I agree! If we ever have a fire, we’ll have to run through it. I’m tall, but not heavy, and I don’t see how I would ever fit.
I have no idea how larger people could ever fit through the window escapes I see in most RV’s.
Our trailer has two doors, which was one of the requirements. The emergency exit is harder to access than the doors.
I do open the Emergency Window the first time we take it out of the winter storage in our Barn to make sure it is not stuck shut. We are too old to just practice for fun and could break some bones if not an emergency.
I agree, we are in our upper senior years and it definitely looks like an act of acrobatics to use the emergency exits so I put up the escape ladder in case we have to use it but we don’t go through the window. We will probably fall during the escape so no need to break something during practice.
If I practice going out the emergency exit window I’m pretty sure I would require an emergency trip to the ER. However in my mind I have thought long and hard about going out it and how to do it.
The big thing that I did was replace the useless powder fire extinguisher that is by the door with four liquid ones that I bought from Mac the fire guy in quartzsite Arizona. Their placed strategically through the RV and I will hopefully be able to get to the door to get out. In my not so humble opinion the powder extinguisher by the door is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen if you’re by the door get the heck out and worry about insurance and replacing later your life is worth more than fighting with the powder extinguisher. On a side note the powder from those extinguishers is toxic to pets. Also that powder has a habit of packing down in the bottom of the extinguisher into brick like consistency due to the shaking and vibrating of the RV while on the road
Going through the emergency (window) exit is a one-time ordeal.