Emergency exit for back bed 2619

OneMoBear

OneMoBear

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Joined
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Location
Colorado
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
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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)?? :D

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.
 
Larry is right. Everyone should do this at least once, so that you know what to do in an emergency. Once you have done it, it is really simple, but under duress, it could be hard to figure out. Remember, it is the forward edge of the rear bed that lifts, not the rear edge.

Don't tell anyone, but I actually removed the red latches from the bed in my trailer. They just don't seem to perform any useful function. I know, I know, people worry about thieves sneaking in through the bed, but I don't believe it.

(BTW, I removed the red latches from the slideout as well. Shhh!)

Bill
 
Bill said:
Larry is right. Everyone should do this at least once, so that you know what to do in an emergency. Once you have done it, it is really simple, but under duress, it could be hard to figure out. Remember, it is the forward edge of the rear bed that lifts, not the rear edge.

Don't tell anyone, but I actually removed the red latches from the bed in my trailer. They just don't seem to perform any useful function. I know, I know, people worry about thieves sneaking in through the bed, but I don't believe it.

(BTW, I removed the red latches from the slideout as well. Shhh!)

Bill
Click to expand...

I haven't removed our latches but we've never used them, not even once. I don't think that a thief could figure out that the bed lifts up unless they owned a TM at one time or other. No TM owner would ever think of doing such a thing.:new_argue
 
Well, I gave it a try and decided not to actually climb out.

1. It would be easier with a second person present, to help hold it up. If there was an actual fire and I was alone, I have no doubt that I could get out. I am also pretty sure that my wife would require assistance. She has bad knees and requires a step and grab bars just to get into the TV. She needs a grab bar to go up the steps into the TM. It would be best to have two strong people to assist her, one inside and one outside.

2. On the 2720 there is a sheet metal cover over the top of the rear storage compartment. I would likely cause serious damage to it. In an actual emergency I would not care. But I am not interested in damaging it during a test.

3. The rear bed supports were starting to twist the plastic sliders enough that I was not interested in lifting the bed up high enough to climb through. Again, out of fear of damaging it during a test.

My gut feeling is that in an actual emergency I could get out in about a minute, maybe 2. It would take about 10 minutes to get my wife out. 3 if she was willing to break a bone.
 
The "emergency escape route" by tipping the bed looks to me to be a semi-controlled fall. A young athletic person probably wouldn't have any problem, but us 'experienced' folks would. I don't know if a removable window would be any better unless there was an emergency ladder handy!
 
I agree that it is good to figure it out when you aren't under duress. We were happy that we figured out the spare tire in our garage when we got all the valve stems replaced. We mentioned several times that we were glad we weren't halfway off some busy road . . .
 
I think that you may be amazed how fast a partially handicapped person can move in the face of a fire. Trust me, if your wife had the choice of going head first out that opening or getting burned she may well move a lot faster than you think. She may get hurt in the process but it beats getting burned to death.

Personally.....if I saw that the living area was burning so bad that I couldn't get out, I think that I would kick the back window out and not waste my time trying to get out of bed and lift the platform.
 
I was thinking the same thing Wayne. If there was a fire or other emergency and the door was blocked, there is little in the TM strong enough to keep me from going through... I would rather be broken than burned!
 
Ok, I get it. Thanks for all the help! I think the easiest way to "get it" is to have one person inside and one out. If the outside person just pushes up on it a bit, duh, ok I get it. I also wasn't interested in pushing the test too far but I feel much more comfortable that we could bail out fairly easily if necessary.

Malinda
 
If it wasn't an emergency, and you had a minute or so to get out, it would be fairly easy to just fold down the bathroom and wardrobe and slide the bed in, and then climb out.

If you have a front bed, you'd have to take off the velcro flaps and the latches, and then slide the bed in. You'd then have the tongue right underneath to step down on.
 
My uncle was a fire captain and every story he ever told us about trailers, including mobile homes, indicated that things would happen very quickly. For me, if there were any kind of a threat, I would get out as quickly as possible.

I'm thinking if you could slide the front bed in, you could go out the door ;)

Malinda
 
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