How does the fire escape really work?

[scrubjaysnest]

Our wardrobe sits on the counter but has a tail piece that prevents the bed from tipping. There is also the slide lock into the bathroom wall.

[rvcycleguy]

Originally Posted by scrubjaysnest

Our wardrobe sits on the counter but has a tail piece that prevents the bed from tipping. There is also the slide lock into the bathroom wall.

I'm aware of the slide lock for the bath wall. I always seem to forget it though when I attempt to fold the wall down during take down and it won't budge....

Oh yea, the bed is still locked!

Thanks for the update on the wardrobe piece. That would seem to interfere with an emergency egress with having to move the closet? It's got to go to the floor right? Which blocks the hallway floor to then stand to raise the bed?

[davlin]

Riwright, I have a 3124 KS (2007) model, and just got done doing some repair work on the bed. My son and I removed it for the repair.

Although others have told you differently, the correct answer, unfortunately, is your option #1. And yes, it's going to dump you on the ground. And, yes it's probably going to break the track supports off of the underside of the bed when you do it, so "practicing" is not recommended!

The problems with option #2 are as follows: you can't go out over the top of the bed if you're not already on it, and there's no room to go underneath the bed. You can lift the bathroom end of the bed (while standing in the hall), and while it will slide "out and down" for some distance, it will almost certainly jam before it comes completely out of the unit. Once jammed, it would be almost impossible for adults to climb over the elevated end near the bathroom, and unless you were strong enough to break the bed free of its supports, you would then be stuck in a burning trailer. Also mentioned was the fact that getting out of the bed and into the hall will put you closer to the fire.

If newer units have an exit rear window, that would seem to me to be the way to go, although that window would have to be large enough to accommodate full-sized adults, and it's going to be an even longer drop to the ground.

Dave

[B_and_D]

Originally Posted by davlin

Riwright, I have a 3124 KS (2007) model, and just got done doing some repair work on the bed. My son and I removed it for the repair.

Although others have told you differently, the correct answer, unfortunately, is your option #1. And yes, it's going to dump you on the ground. And, yes it's probably going to break the track supports off of the underside of the bed when you do it, so "practicing" is not recommended!

I can see how this is true with the larger units, but I've tried this on both of our beds in the 2720 and have never had this happen in over 11+ years of ownership.

Perhaps it's because the swing support arms are only so long, allowing them to fold in and not overlap, and in the king bed models, they only reach so far back when the bed is in place.

[davlin]

Originally Posted by B_and_D

I've tried this on both of our beds in the 2720 and have never had this happen in over 11+ years of ownership.

B_and_D, just for clarity, which is it that you've tried? Riwright's option #1, or option #2?

Dave

[Bill]

Dave -

I'll let her reply for herself, but I think she means (in response to your post about damage) that she has lifted the front edge of the rear bed in her 2720, and nothing underneath hung up or was hurt. As I noted above, I have done the same thing on both of my 2720SL's, with the same result - no pain anywhere. So this is option number 2. It may be different on a longer trailer ...

Bill

[rvcycleguy]

Originally Posted by Bill

Dave -

I'll let her reply for herself, but I think she means (in response to your post about damage) that she has lifted the front edge of the rear bed in her 2720, and nothing underneath hung up or was hurt. As I noted above, I have done the same thing on both of my 2720SL's, with the same result - no pain anywhere. So this is option number 2. It may be different on a longer trailer ...

Bill

I re-read the OP and option 1 does not seem plausible. Even with the bathroom pin lock out, don't the support arms keep the front side of the bed from pivoting down?

[Bill]

Originally Posted by rvcycleguy

I re-read the OP and option 1 does not seem plausible. Even with the bathroom pin lock out, don't the support arms keep the front side of the bed from pivoting down?

Mmmm, you may have the wrong mental picture. In either option, the front of the bed lifts up and the rear drops down. In option 1, you put your weight on the rear edge of the bed, which drops down while the front edge pivots up. Since you are huddled on the rear edge of the bed, you get dumped on the ground. In option 2, you stand in the hallway, lift the front edge of the bed, and crawl out under the lifted edge.

Bill

[rvcycleguy]

Originally Posted by Bill

Mmmm, you may have the wrong mental picture. In either option, the front of the bed lifts up and the rear drops down. In option 1, you put your weight on the rear edge of the bed, which drops down while the front edge of the bed lifts up. Since you are huddled on the rear edge of the bed, you get dumped on the ground. In option 2, you stand in the hallway, lift the front edge of the bed, and crawl out under the lifted edge.

Bill

No, I get all that explanation and mental picture. But, don't the support arms keep you from being dumped on the ground? That's why they are there in the first place? Unless you swing in the support arms?, It's a fairly supportive mechanism. In option 2, when you raise the bed, the arms are still supporting the rear of the bed. Now, they might let loose at the pivot bolt, but that's a separate issue. Now, keep in mind that for my king bed, I do have a natural foot and head of the bed which is inline with the TM hallway. In most other units, when you say front and rear of the bed you are are referring to side to side.

[davlin]

Originally Posted by Bill

In option 2, you stand in the hallway, lift the front edge of the bed, and crawl out under the lifted edge.Bill

Bill, must be different with a 2720. On a 3124 KS (which is what the original question was about) you can not crawl out under the bed. No matter how far you tip the bathroom side of the bed up, there is not enough space over the rear storage area to crawl out. You would be relying on "hope" or "luck" that you could knock the bed completely out of the unit. If that failed, you would be trapped. Assuming you "got lucky" :-) you would have to crawl over the very thin aluminum that covers the top of the rear storage space and could easily get hung up in that. The only sure path in an emergency is option #1.

Dave