Emergency exit for back bed 2619

[OneMoBear]

I noticed at the RV show today that the newer TMs have a window at the back bed where two handles can be turned and the full window can be raised as an emergency exit (that is what we had with our Bounder). I can think of four pretty easy ways to bail out of the front bed but I'm not really seeing it with the back bed without kicking out windows or dropping the wardrobe and bathroom walls . . .

Am I missing something? I know there has been talk here of lifting the bed, but again, I'm not seeing it with the back bed.

Malinda

On my 2720, if I release the latch the holds the rear bed to the bathroom wall, then I can lift the bed and climb out under neath it.

Or, if you do not latch it, then bad people can gain access while you are away, if they try lifting the rear bed from the outside.

As far as I know, all folding TM's are built this way.

[OneMoBear]

I have casually tried it with ours. I tried it at the RV show today (I was supposed to be working another station so didn't have time for chit chat). Can't imagine how you could make it happen.

[Bill]

We've discussed the bed latch a number of times. The discussion revolves around the rear bed as an emergency exit, and the danger of falling out if the bed is not latched. Here's one recent thread

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ead.php?t=9345

and here is an older one

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ead.php?t=6444

As I recall there are better ones (search on "latch").

Bill

[OneMoBear]

I'm not worried about falling out. I'm worried about not getting out. I have searched this a lot. The answers do not make sense to me. I can't open the first thread and I'm still not getting it with the second.

Bill, I get it with the front bed but the back one seems like a death trap to me and TMs modification seems to confirm that.

I have my 2005 TM 2720 popped open in the driveway. I'll try climbing out both front and rear tomorrow (if I remember) and report back how it worked out.

I think it helps to be young, slender and strong, which ain't me.

I think it may also help to have the rear hitch receiver, because it sticks out a bit. I use it as a step when washing the roof of the closed TM.

[MudDog]

I believe the emergency procedure for the back bed is as follows:

1) everyone has to get off the bed
2) unlatch the bed/bathroom wall latch
3) standing at the base of the bed (where you normally put the step stool) lift the bed upwards.
4) the bed should lift up at least a couple of feet and will stay pivoted up on its own (I did this accidentally once when trying to push the rear bed out from the inside)
5) you then step over the wall of the lower TM tub (between the top of the half wall and the bottom of the bed) and end up stepping out onto the rear bumper.

The only time I could see this used is if you had a kitchen fire and door were blocked - though if two people were on the bed, and both had to get out of the bed so you could un-latch and lift it, you'd probably be pretty close to to the fire while standing in the hallway.

I like the change to the whole window coming out....gives a few more feet of space between you and kitchen fire, etc - though you wouldn't have the bumper to step on as you're going out...so it sounds like it would be a bit further of a drop.

[OneMoBear]

Thanks all. We're pulling the TM out tomorrow to adjust the brakes and we'll see if we can figure it out. Seems like an emergency exit should be more simple than this . . .

Malinda

This past autumn I was in my 2006 2720SL, and the plastic latch that keeps the door closed when traveling somehow slipped into the closed position. So I had a choice of bust out the door, possibly causing damage, or try the emergency exit -- the rear bed.

So I undid the bed latch, and tried several ways of making the bed open up -- finally raising the near (front) part of the bed (not the mattress, in case anyone is thinking that way, but the bed itself). Climbing out was awkward, and with the concrete outside, I had to be careful getting out to avoid getting hurt.

It was an awkward time getting the bed back together, and I may have damaged the tracks that the external support rails travel in -- I'll be double checking on that this spring.

But the most important thing I learned was that had I had an actual emergency need to use that exit, I'd possibly have been out of luck, because it took several minutes to get out. I suspect the problem was exacerbated by having heard that you MUST keep the bed latch in place prior to people getting on the bed, for fear of the rear end of the bed collapsing. Unfortunately, this led me to exploring how to force the rear end of the bed to drop (I couldn't do it), rather than doing it the proper way.

As a result, I'd strongly suggest that anyone who has the bed exit (most of us) give it a try soon, just to see how it works, rather than risk being trapped in an emergency.

[MudDog]

Now why is it that plastic door latch seems to like to close when it shouldn't (when you're inside the TM) and open when it shouldn't (when you're driving down the highway)??

That has happened do us, but one of my kids was outside (had just shut the door and the latch was loose and slipped into the closed position) so he was able to let us out without resorting to the emergency exit. I've also had a couple of times when I looked in my side mirror and saw the door flapping open while on the highway. I make it a practice to check the latch and make sure the screw is tight now.

I wonder if it could be replaced with some kind of latch on the inside (maybe like the hook and eye they have for the lower door when it is folded for travel).

I *think* when you're opening or folding the TM there might be enough room to reach up inside between the lower door and upper door once the doors are split and the lower door is in the travel position.