Maintenance & Restoration

ted saxton · 10-17-2007, 11:49 PM

news article

Does this look like a fiberglass camper? Photo so small I can't tell? It's sad that they lost their trailer. But the good thing is, they got out alive with their dog.

Vera

Donna D. · 10-18-2007, 05:25 AM

Looks like a Class B Motorhome (often referred to as a camper van)....

Jan Adams · 10-18-2007, 05:38 AM

Looks like a Roadtrek to me and yes, they have one that has a fiberglass body.

Jim Hovind · 10-18-2007, 06:29 AM

Why don't people understand you can't make fried chicken while on the road

On the serious side when I first got the Burro and was trying to figure out why the stove was not heatinh mine caught on fire- luckey for me I was trying to make cofee and had a full pot of water there and only lost the cardboard that the previous owner used to install the fridge. The cardboard caught on fire from a gas leak on the fridge. The flame caught my beard on fire and my eyebrows got singed.

So when you buy a used unit check it out.

And the cardboard got replaced with sheet aluminum.

Dave and Kathie · 10-18-2007, 06:45 AM

Check out 'caravanning, a sad ending' over on jokes. Seriously tho' - this made me think that we need to relook at our fire extinguisher since the article said theirs was too small and inadequate - but maybe that was becasue the fire was already too big. Do you think the ones most of us carry are 'adequate'?
Kathie

Roger H · 10-18-2007, 06:52 AM

Kathie, our small fire extinguishers are "adequate" for a small fire, like a grease fire on the stove. Once it's out of control, though, it's out of control... and most motorhomes/cars/trailers are melted frames on the ground in less than five minutes once they catch fire. A refrigerator that already has the side of the unit involved, or a brake fire that has spread to the tire will likely not be put out by a small fire extinguisher.

Although it may not have been the case in this particular incident, unfortunately, many folks panic when they have an emergency and do nothing rather than take appropriate action... like use the fire extinguisher, or put a lid on the pan that has caught fire, or whatever. It's an old saw, but it's still true as ever... have plans for various emergencies and when you actually have an emergency, if you follow the plan, you'll likely do fine.

Roger

Valerie B. · 10-18-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Attachment 10565

news article

Does this look like a fiberglass camper? Photo so small I can't tell? It's sad that they lost their trailer. But the good thing is, they got out alive with their dog.

Vera

Hi Ted,
I saved the image to my computer, then enlarged the display size. Like some others have posted, it looks to me as if it's a Roadtrek or some other type of conversion van.
Regardless, while they no doubt are happy they got out safely, they're probably unhappy about being out a quite few grand. I feel for them!

Dave and Kathie · 10-19-2007, 06:38 AM

Thanks Roger, good advice (as always). Let's hope none of us have to find out how calm or fast we would be in this kind of emergency.

Steve R. · 10-19-2007, 05:13 PM

We had a fire in a Class C years ago. A nail used to fasten a fuel line grommet near the propane tank enclosure rubbed against the fuel line. It took a number of years for it to wear a hole in the line. But when it did, propane filled the voids under the seats, etc. and when my wife lit the stove... poof. I got everybody out and started to remove the cushions to access the concealed fire. Fortunately I was able to hit the flames with a fire extinguisher before it got out of control.

Vivian · 10-19-2007, 05:34 PM

Keeping an open box of baking soda near the stove is very handy for dousing a grease fire if it is confined to the skillet...and NEVER move the skillet. More damage can be done by trying to put it in the sink. The fire extinguisher should be readily accessible near the door. Getting out quickly is far more important than controlling the flames.

Pete Dumbleton · 10-21-2007, 05:42 PM

And as my ex-wife learned, one should keep the baking soda box on the people side of the stove, not where one has to reach over the fire to get to it... I learned that it made sense to put a fire extinguisher right there by the door rather than running out to get one out of the boat!