Edited by Bill Hendrix, F761S
Additional Extinguisher
We recently switched from a fifth wheel to a motorhome, and while lying in bed one night, I thought about the location of the fire extinguisher. Ours is at the entrance door, and I would guess most others are also. If you are in bed when a fire starts, most likely in the kitchen area, how will you get to the extinguisher? And how many of us older folks can actually escape through the emergency window in the bedroom? My solution was to buy a second fire extinguisher and locate it in the bedroom. I didn’t want it to interfere with the slideouts, so I mounted it inside the closet. I spent $20 and have great peace of mind.
Max Bell, F447328
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Editor’s note: RV fire safety expert Mac McCoy recommends that a motorhome have at least three indoor foam/wetting or wetting-agent fire extinguishers: one near the door, one in the kitchen, and one in the bedroom. He also recommends that one be placed in an unlocked compartment outside the motorhome or in the towed car. Mr. McCoy conducts fire and life safety seminars during FMCA Family Reunions, including a session about exiting the motorhome in a fire emergency. More information is available at www.macthefireguy.com.
Folding Kneeler
When I kneel to the ground to perform various motorhome chores, getting back up can be difficult. So, I created a kneeler.
I affixed a gardener’s kneeling pad to a rectangular wooden base. I then used screws to attach pieces of wood under the ends of the base to serve as legs. Using glue and screws, I fastened a bracing piece of wood vertically to each end of the base, and vertical wooden arms were attached to the bracing pieces with hinges, so that the arms can fold down. (The hinge is higher on one vertical arm so that both arms fold flat.) Using screws, I attached wooden pieces to the outside of each upright arm to provide added support. Strong glue and long screws should be used for each attachment.
At the top of each upright arm, I used glue and screws to attach pieces of wood to serve as a handle. I cut pieces of a foam water noodle and secured them to the wooden handles for a more comfortable grip.
Bob Frauenzimmer, F186610
San Clemente, California