Rear Exit Window

[willyd]

Since I have no book to refer to - how is the rear exit window supposed to work. Thanks for your response.

[Lumatic]

Remain calm, but not complacent. Exit via the rear window asap, hopefully after opening said window.

[Foiled Again]

You have actually asked a very good question. First emergency exit windows are not really great for tall, heavy, unathletic, or physically challenged people. Unfortunately short spry youthful people can usually also run to the exit.

OK, I have a 22 CCD and a 25 FB SE. Procedures for both are listed below.

First it's a great idea to look at and operate ALL of your windows. The glass tends to stick to the rubber gaskets if you don't use a silicone spray on them once a year or so. Make sure yours operate. The only real difference between an emergency exit window and a regular window is that the screen has a little extra loop of plastic tubing hanging down in the bottom center. This tubing holds the screen in place. You can grab the loop and yank it toward you bringing the whole screen with it. (Then you can swear quietly for an hour while you try to put the screen back in, or get new screening fabric and reinstall the tubing.) The whole pane is supposed to fall out when pushed against HARD. Again practice if you wish, but you'll be buying a new window because the one you push out is pebble glass and will shatter.

In my '05 22 CCD, the escape window is over the little desk in the back - yank screen, push window out crawl out feet first, step on bumper, push off and run like hell. On my '06 25 Safari FB SE, the escape window is at the FOOT of the bed. It also has a small inoperable capsule shaped window below it, which I think has been eliminated in the later year models. Short of jumping through the window in a swan dive from the bed, I don't think I could get out. The FRONT window is actually bigger, but of course it has a Lexan protector over it that might be closed AND if you did crawl out through it, your butt would be sitting right on the propane tank - uh d'oh! I bought two extra extinguishers.... I'm fighting my way to the door! (And it's got to feel REAL Dangerous before I camp with the deadbolt locked!)

Practically speaking, I've seen a newer Airstream with a broken window. This was not the designated fire escape window but it just exploded out and broke into pebbles. The screens in new airstreams are plastic not copper or aluminum. I think you could rip that screen out with your bare hands with very little effort and I really think you could just kick any window out onto the ground to make your escape.

What would you do? My best advice? DO a couple of fire drills with everyone who will EVER be a guest in your Airstream. Having a PLAN, walking through it once or twice or even three times a season if your kids are little. This is the best thing you can do to increase everyone's chances of getting out. CHECK your extinguisher. Check all of your propane lines and appliances and SPEND the money to repair or replace them when they are badly worn. When you camp, open the stone shield over the front window; it's a good auxiliary awning and a bad barrier.

Just my two cents.

Paula Ford