Chad/Tara, I was a Coast Guard boarding officer and the tip about turning over the extinguishers as part of inspection is right on. Boats, like RV's bounce around a lot and the powder can and does settle. Turning over the extinguisher and tapping with your hand (or lightly with a hammer near the base of the extinguisher) will loosen up the powder and keep it from caking up when you want to use it. Great video as always!
Great video very informative. As a career firefighter I think y'all did an excellent job presenting RV fire safety. Very well done hats off to you both. Also I don't know if you meant to do so but your timing on release date is perfect. Today is the start of National Fire Prevention Week in the US. This year's campaign : "Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!"
Another great video. As a newbie at our first rally (Escapees) going through "RV Boot Camp" in March of 2019 we were introduced to Proteng. The cost was (at first) a concern but we decided to make the investment there, at the rally. The installer was from Europe and told us all about how and why it was installed the way it was. The very long tube covering our rear diesel engine winds around our battery trays and our basement a/c as well as our inverter and electric hook-up. Another long tube covers the front of our coach where the generator is, and wraps through the entire dash electric maze. Of course, there are shorter tubes for the fridge and behind the stove/oven. While we are not fireproof, we are much more confident of our ability to evacuate timely. When we are allowed to attend another rally, we hope to get it re-certified. Cheers!
Thank you for your video on this. Great topic and great job of presentation. I don't think people think about or consider the devastation of a fire, be it in your home, camper, rv trailer, boat or vehicle. And most if they are tent camping don't even think about a fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers are like insurance, costly until you need, then priceless. I really think rv sales facilities should have a briefing on fires in rv. Hey another opportunity for them to make more money -- like they need that. Again guys thank you, if for no more than making folks at least think of it. $1500.00 for protection on $50,000.00 to $100,000.00 or more investment -- cheap insurance.
Extinguishers are cheap. The cost goes up for the fire suppressor systems. I was thinking about a fire sprinkler system as well. Might be worth installing, to dump several hundred liters of water. Although, if the battery is on fire, it might not work or might be self-defeating, since the pump won't have power.
Great video! Thanks for the idea of the fire/smoke alarm integration! I was thinking about fire safety recently and reached similar conclusions. I am planning to install 3x 2kg fire extinguishers, near the driver seat, in the living compartment, and in the garage. I will convert the Mercedes Sprinter, so these are all the key spots. It was a brilliant idea to put two bigger ones on the sides, though! It is never enough. RV fires are easily the worst fires known to man with all types of combustible materials including multiple sources of fuel and metals in one place. Speaking of metals, I have lithium iron phosphate batteries, but also a few HDPE bottles with magnesium and aluminum chips I used for various science projects and giggled when you mentioned magnesium fire! ;) I am researching Blazecut fire suppression systems. I will put one in the engine bay since it can extinguish the fire before the smoke is even noticed. Not sure about the living compartment. It gets very expensive quickly and I don't have a floor plan yet. There are definitely a few spots that would rationalize the use of such a device. I will have a 12v compressor fridge. Fire sprinkler systems are more common in private homes these days, so this is another consideration since you probably have a couple hundred liters of water anyway. Your RV would be a fire engine class! ;)
because of watching this video we had rv maintenance people check our extinguishers and they have to be replaced. tnx for your diligence in being informative to the rest of us rv'ers, we appreciate it greatly.
Oh, I used to inspect and rebuild fire extinguishers and worked at Buckeye Fire Equipment. It's easy to fill them, but you wouldn't want to buy all the fittings, or equipment to do so. Also, don't shake them upside down, to unsettle the powder. Angle the top down about 20° below level and roll it, until you feel the powder moves around. If you shake upside down the powder may be packed into the tube inside and render it useless at time needed. And, always take Halogen fire extinguishers to a pro to test.. See ya
Hey guys, my wife and I love your channel. I am a professional firefighter in South Charleston, WV. I don't know of any fire departments that still refill extinguishers. The best thing to do is Google fire extinguisher refill to find a company that will take care your empty extinguishers.
If you have a bad ammonia order ...evacuate immediately and call your emergency hazmat team ... anhydrous ammonia in your refrigerator is deadly if inhaled for more than 3 minutes...depending on how bad the RV is filled with the odor.
Fantastic, thank you. This mama has been concerned about the possibility of a fire in our RV, since day one. We have the extra fire extinguishers, weâve added an extra smoke detector and have discussed exit routes with our children...but the fire suppression system has interested us since we too saw it on Big Truck, Big RV.. I do hope theyâre able to bring down the price soon. It looks like a promising product, especially for the fridge.
You take off the valve then empty rest out. Weigh the proper powder in clean valve replacing parts. Hook the non Burnable gas to pressure. After you check the hydro test date. And test. The short answer call the extinguisher co. Not a store on corner. There cheaper. They sure are. Now I liking what your saying. Sure glad you didn't get into 2bc. Extinguisher
They refill the powder and charge it with nitrogen from what I have found. What is the issue with BC (US class, I presume) extinguisher? They seem to be popular for vehicles. Is it because it is for liquids + electric fires only, thus they won't extinguish heat or cover the burning material?
I have tears rolling down my face from those bloopers!!! you took such a serious topic and totally blew it out with those bloopers. You two are the best. This was great info though. We just bought our trailer and it came with a rinky dinky white extinguisher. You've got me now wanting to upgrade.
I was really looking forward to getting the THIA by Proteng, So I reached out to them. I was informed by them that if I can not bring my RV to them or an authorized installer (no where near us in the Los Angeles county area) that we can not get the system. very disappointing. no fault of yours but thought I would share. I offered to just by it and install it myself and was informed they could not cover it if it wasn't installed by one of their authorized personnel. then again, I guess stuff happens for a reason. removing our absorption refrigerator and decided to install a new residential Whirlpool fridge. same external size but much larger inside. still would have been nice to have around all of the electrical, inverter, batteries, charge controllers and behind the circuit panel. hope you guys are having a great time.
I'm a recently certified mobile rv tech. My previous vocation for over 50 years was in the electrical product safety industry. An RV will be fully engulfed in fire in 5 minutes after ignition and I preach to all my customers that fire prevention and education is paramount to keep your fun- fun! Anyone in my state that works on your propane system must be licensed and tested to prove competency for your safety. The RV industry self certifies to appropriate safety standards, however, the ability for the materials used in RV's to self extinguish is not part of the certification. It is time for the RV industry to have third party certifications such a ETL and UL.
Thank you so much for this video. My wife and I were talking about this issue this morning. When we get our next rv we will be ready to get her setup properly! Thanks SAFE TRAVELS
I use automatic fire extinguishers through out my rv for a quick fire suppression. I just tape them in places where a fire is more likely to start in an rv. This video is very informative. Thanks for the great info like always.
Chad and Tara, I find this very informative for RV travelers. Thank you for sharing your life on the road, worth every penny for fire suppression systems.
That's an awesome thing about Ring. Said before in another video I have it at home & love it. I will run the same setup you did here for the trailer once I get one. Have friends who had a Genesis THr that caught fire while driving down the highway. The inverter under the bed in the "basement" melted & flamed up. Luckily they were being followed by a friend who saw the smoke & called the passenger so they could pull over. 1 used an extinguisher while the other unhooked the truck asap. I couldn't imaging being asleep right above it & have that happen. It melted the side a little, smoked and brunt the pass-through area & started into the floor above into the bedroom. Ins totaled it out.
You covered a lot of ground on this and as usual did it well. First thing we did in each of our trailers was to increase the number of fire extinguishers and smoke/fire detectors and an extra Co and propane detector. Another reason we like our 12volt compressor fridge, no open flame. Thanks guys.
A RV was on fire on the side of the road in Alexandria La the other day we passed by! So scary! Thanks for the info guys! This is everyone's worse nightmare in the RV world!
Wow, we have a 2020 Momentum 397TH and we only had 1 smoke detector outside the main bathroom and one carbon monoxide detector in the bedroom. That's it, nothing else! We didn't even have anything in the garage. We replaced those with the first alert dual smoke / co model you used in this video. We also went ahead and added one in the garage and one in the basement (pass through storage). Thank you for the video and huge thank you the upgrade suggestion!
Chad, you keep folding those shirts the way the Navy taught us. Creases are cool Tara. Thank you both for creating video topics like this. Not everyone will follow through, but it is good knowledge to have. Opens the door to "I told ya so" if a fire happens. ) :
Thanks for doing this video. After having RV'S for 19 years I never thought about fire extinguishers. We just put our rig away for the winter but in the Spring when we bring it home fire safety will be my first duty. Thanks again.
Fire extinguishers once you squeeze the handle you have to have them recharge or replace. When the dry chem. inside gets on the O-rings they will leak. Fire extinguishers are filled by unscrewing the top of the extinguisher.
Yes, I saw a video in the past, where they had bought a rope ladder for their escape. They where an older couple (most of us ARE getting older of course) and they thought a ladder of this kind would take up little room, yet be of good assistance on getting out in a much safer way than just jumping.
I recently watched a fire extinguisher inspector while he was re-certifying some fire extinguishers for me. In addition to the items you mentioned in your video, he agitated the powder inside the extinguisher by pounding the cylinder with a rubber mallet.
We are about to go full time and were extremely worried about leaving our two pups in the RV alone. The Proteng advice has helped calm those fears. Thank you for all of your videos!
Because of liability and lawyers fire departments no longer refill fire extinguishers with maybe a few exceptions... I upgraded and went to holon so there wouldn't be a mess
OMG I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THIS EPIPHANY!!!! I had a Kiddies August 2008 in my kitchen. Thankfully we've never had to use it. And thanks to your heads up, we never will have to rely on faulty equipment. Doing our research & finding a new extinguisher. Thanks again from the Wiener Wagon tribe, someday we'll meet đđŸđ
Terrific job you two! I lost my first Grand Design RV to a fire in 2016. It started with a fuel fire in the tow vehicle. You're information is spot on!
Great video. Thank you for mentioning the issue with Kidde (and some other) extinguishers. Extinguishers with plastic valves are a non-starter for us. Also, while fire stations may not be able to refill extinguishers, they can probably give a good recommendation on both equipment and those who are qualified to service that equipment.
Just watched this video. Thank you for this information. I am checking into having it installed in our RV. The wife and I have learned a lot from watching your videos. Thanks again, Bob and Linda.
Navy Vets have great firefighting awareness! At least in an RV you can bail out without getting wetđI read about a good idea, using a pillow(or pillows) or your bedding to cushion the escape window ledge - or throw out to the ground to soften your landing. Keep up the informative videos- thanks! A healthy fear and a lot of awareness is key. Iâm a ( proud) Navy Mom, former Vol. fire-fighter/EMS (retired).
Stand by the goose neck, goose neck. Glad to see you putting shipboard fire fighting school skills to use, Chad. It seems like when I was aboard Coral Sea back in the 70s that she was on fire all the time. Nice, informative episode with an important message. Thanks.
PROTENG! Thank you! Our "Home" is a Grand Design Solitude 310GK, and REALLY appreciate your forwarding this information, from a earlier response today. đ.
When you said â Run , Run â. Then showed the Monty Python clip I had to laugh ! Your out takes and video clips are great...you always make me laugh ! Thanks...you guys are so cute !
Years back I was at a boat RV show and they were selling Halon fire extinguishers. It's a clean gas that takes the oxygen away and puts out the flames quick and no mess. Not sure if they are still around and could have been eliminated due to EPA concerns. That gas works 100% and is very easy to use.
When my smoke detector is active, just cooking my morning eggs will set it off. I have to take it down every time I cook anything indoors. Yes, I love to cook outdoors and do it whenever it is practical, but in a driving rain or when the wind is doing its best to topple my RV, it is not the time to be cooking outdoors. So, when I take the smoke detector down, I have to remember to put it back up. The method I use is to put it in my way for doing dishes. I wish I could dial the sensitivity down such that I can cook but but it will detect a fire.
Ours will also if we don't turn on the maxair fan. Also the fan over the stove / built into the microwave. Also, many of the over the stove fans have a flap outside with a small latch to stop it from flapping in the wind. Open that up and it allows a lot more air out.
I always put smoke detector in the fridge, until I get done burning everything. That way you'll see it later and put it back up. If I lay it on the counter somewhere, I won't notice it for awhile..
At our previous (sticks and bricks) house, there was one of those integrated fire/smoke/burglary alarms, with a 110V siren. There wasn't a detector in the kitchen, but the one in a nearby hallway would set off the system whenever we opened a hot oven, or cooked something that steamed too much. That siren made me feel like I was having a heart attack! We quickly learned to remove that detector before cooking, and set it outdoors. Sometimes we forgot to retrieve it. The burglary detectors also turned out to be a problem, as someone had installed some using loops of tape, which failed in a bathroom in the middle of the night, indicating that the window had been opened. Then there was an incident with the movement detector in the basement, and our daughter doing laundry in the early morning. While I recognize the value of detecting fires, burglars, etc., false alarms are a serious problem.
Of course it failed in the middle of the night... I think they're designed that way! Our ADT alarm in our old S&B was just the right frequency and volume to scramble a brain.. Hated that thing when it went off!
I caught mine just in time but was still totaled by insurance company. Very important. 1st .. shut off breaker at shoreline 2) .shut of propane tanks unhook and remove to 50ft . 3 ) be careful when opening your door and know where your fire extinguishers are. 4) sweep fire extinguishers from side to side .
@@ChangingLanes it's just me and the boy on the left .... we was on our way for breakfast and I forgot something and turned around .. good thing I did or I would have lost everything... I'm a 100% RVer myself đđ»
Halon or Halon type extinguishers are NOT cheap, but are clean and non-corrosive. A 2-1/2 lb. Unit in the kitchen area is very nice. We also have a 10 lb. Capacity ABC unit in our basement, which gas amazing fire fighting capabilities. Yes..I serviced fire equipment when I was younger, including at Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Plant when it was in service. Also..recharging takes either "Dry Air" or Nitrogen. Do Not attempt yourself. And..ABC powder IS very corrosive. Fact.
There are people that recharge extinguishers and then retag them. Check on line for the one near you. I am going to use Excide fire extinguisher balls in certain area. They make smaller ones for vehicle purposes. A lot less expensive and a 5 year warranty.
We are fairly new to Rvâing and are in Canada waiting for our new GD Image to be shipped. We happened upon your channel recently and love it. You are very informative, and completely go over topics of interest and importance. We are going to use many of your suggestions. Thanks
Great safety tips and advice Chad and Tara! Thanks for sharing. Fires scare us too. That is one of the reasons we are going with a residential fridge instead of the RV fridge. We will have to look into this automatic fire suppression system when we pick up our rig in a few weeks! đđđ
Some Kidde fire extinguishers are recalled. The ones you got are the recalled ones. They are too overpowered to put out a small fire. The first alert ones are decent but the big red and white one are known for their discharge handle (Top part) to break easily.
@@pavel9652 Class A diesels account for most RV fires, the rear engine compartment and the refrigerator. Some fires are caused by the RVer by accident, but the majority are caused by engine, electrical or mechanical. Fires in RVs are rare but they do occur.
â@@cindyrose4155 Thanks, this is interesting! It somewhat confirms my observation regarding bus fires recorded on videos. The fire starts in the engine compartment at the back and is unnoticed until it is too late! I have heard propane fridges start a lot of fires in RVs. I am considering installing a fire suppressor system such as BlazeCut or similar in the engine compartment of the Mercedes Sprinter. Would it make sense? I noticed people who own vintage, perhaps known for leaking petrol engines, install it in their cars, but haven't seen it being installed in diesel engines. Would you recommend it? I will have 3x 2kg extinguishers on top of it, in the driver/living/garage compartments, I think.
@@pavel9652 Mercedes has a very good reputation, you donât hear of engine fires. I always say that any kind of fire suppression for an RV is a good idea. Keep in mind, once an RV fire starts, itâs very rare that they can be put out, with that in mind, I always slept with a fire extinguisher on each side of the bed, the big ones! If a fire breaks out while youâre sleeping, you want to be able to utilize the fire extinguishers to get out of the RV safely. Check your smoke alarms and propane gas alarm often.
â@@cindyrose4155 There are multiple points of interest within RV where a fire suppressant system makes sense. At this point, I still don't know the layout, but I will keep the van rather simple, nothing like the vehicle in the video. Definitely fridge, perhaps lifepo4 power station + batter extension, but I don't know what it would do against lithium, so perhaps I will rely on BlueTTI safety systems. Maybe cut off for the propane tank once I get it, but right now I have a small portable butane burner. Maybe storage for devices. I also considered a water sprinkler, since RVs tend to have a couple hundred liters of water, but if the fire or water disables power, then the pump would stop working. RVs have too much insulation and wood, with embedded cables, and all the appliances are packed in the cabinets, which makes it hard to reach the source of the fire. On the other hand, a lot of people aren't prepared, have only a small extinguisher installed by the vendor, or don't even try to save it, because this isn't what they think about, and get surprised and overwhelmed. From what I have seen in the videos the first 2 minutes are critical, after 2nd-minute things start quickly getting out of hand, and at the 3-minute mark things around might start combusting from the radiated heat.
We had a mounted extinguisher in my F359 CC behind the seat .It became unmounted, It went off while my wife & daughter were driving . SCARED the daylights out of them and made a severe mess of my truck. Make sure the mount is tight.
Propane bottle has the same valve in it if you cut the line to propane shuts itself off as well I also have one of those things as well too but the bottle itself as one too
Chad and Tara, very well done and this is coming from a old volunteer firefighter as well as USAF disaster prep NCO (3E971). Again, great job. The key is to be prepared and this is accomplished with both the equipment (well maintained) and training. Have a fire drill occasionally. This raises awareness and well... preparedness. I think I am going to look into the ring system with detectors... cool. Clint
Great info, thanks. We have 2 recalled units (home & truck) also an expired unit. Having external extinguishers in RV is also great idea, will be getting them promptly.
We have LARGE fire extinguishers on each side of the bed, and we have an evacuation plan, we each have a nearby window to exit. Practice how to open your windows!
Access time matters. I think it makes more sense to have larger ones outside, and smaller ones inside, because when you are outside when the fire starts, your biggest extinguishers will be being consumed by flames already.
Technicians that do annual inspections on dry chem extinguishers will turn them upside down, and strike the bottom with a rubber mallet to break up the powder inside. And yes, it's cheaper to just buy a new one than to get it recharged.
Thank you for the informative video Chad and Tara .Have seen fire extinguishers mounted horizontally but must be across the trailer/vechile.keeps the powder from settling to much.keep up the good work and stay safe out there on those bumpy roads.đłđżđđđ€łđ»
Hey Changing Lanes, thanks for the video and great information. I have a request, way back in the stone ages (when I was a wee lad) our camper was just a place to sleep, everything else was done outside, sitting areas, cooking, dining and entertainment. What do you do to make your camp site more inviting to be outside? What have you seen from other campers? Have you seen anything really innovative in the way others enjoy being outside of their RV. No, I'm not talking about a display of garden gnomes and dozens of bric-a-brac decorating the campsite, but real useful ways to enjoy the outdoors while at the campsite. Thanks again....
Well, depending on the site layout, we get great use out of our back patio. Nothing fancy, just our chairs. We also have a drop shade for our main awning and an outdoor rug. Makes the outside feel like a patio. We also have some tiki torches with citronella oil to keep the bugs away. Hope that helps! đ
Excellent topic! Canât ever be too safe and I would think having all these precautions on board might even lower RV insurance (maybe). If nothing else some peace of mind.
Great info. I hope more RV manufacturers will install emergency egress doors, such as the ones Newmar offers on their class A motorhomes. As a senior I wonder if Iâd be able to get out those small emergency windows
Class-A's usually have a lot more wiggle room in the weight department. Tough to install things like that in trailers and keep the weight and price in check. I'm sure getting out those windows will involve some injuries though...
I used to recharge and service them for a living. Basically you let out all the air and unscrew the top. Pour in new powder and return top. And then pump air back in. Very simple. Can be extremely messy if you open before the air is out!!!
There are businesses that recharge extinguishers. First, they pressure test the tanks (like they do for propane tanks). Then they refill the tank. This usually makes the refill more expensive than buying new ones. New ones may have better agents inside.
Just a personal tidbit, I would always have a K type in your kitchen and anywhere you are cooking with ANY kind of fat, including meat. It's not just for deep fryers, if any fat catches on fire and you use a normal ABC extinguisher, that agent comes out fast can spread the burning fat before putting it out. A K type isn't a high pressure dispersal, it's a fine mist that quickly kills the fat fire, and is much easier to clean up after the incident.
Great ! Aways safety first..!!âșđđđđđđđâ One thing that JD said it was that if the are where you put this new product if it get to hot it will go off in extreme temperatures without being an actual fire, example heater or engine device atc. Pay attention to that .
From what we're told, JD's experience, as well as others who had a misfire, is why they no longer allow self-install. They have to be placed in such a way as to avoid hot areas (like directly behind the fridge coils) but still provide coverage and only go off in a real fire. Each RV is so different, it takes someone trained in what to look for and install properly. They (proteng) are still fairly new in the RV space, and allowing self-install was a mistake they made early on. We've had ours for a couple of months now and time will tell...
Chad & Tara....a very, very informative video! Quite impressive video as well...âŠ.you two do a great job with these videos. Thank you for mentioning Proteng Automatic RV fire suppression and Babe and I.
Chad/Tara, I was a Coast Guard boarding officer and the tip about turning over the extinguishers as part of inspection is right on. Boats, like RV's bounce around a lot and the powder can and does settle. Turning over the extinguisher and tapping with your hand (or lightly with a hammer near the base of the extinguisher) will loosen up the powder and keep it from caking up when you want to use it. Great video as always!
So was i Jim
Great video very informative. As a career firefighter I think y'all did an excellent job presenting RV fire safety. Very well done hats off to you both. Also I don't know if you meant to do so but your timing on release date is perfect. Today is the start of National Fire Prevention Week in the US. This year's campaign : "Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!"
Happy coincidence on the timing.. đ đđŒ
Did you notice that this company has ZERO US Certifications, they are very deceiving.
Another great video. As a newbie at our first rally (Escapees) going through "RV Boot Camp" in March of 2019 we were introduced to
Proteng. The cost was (at first) a concern but we decided to make the investment there, at the rally. The installer was from Europe and
told us all about how and why it was installed the way it was. The very long tube covering our rear diesel engine winds around
our battery trays and our basement a/c as well as our inverter and electric hook-up. Another long tube covers the front
of our coach where the generator is, and wraps through the entire dash electric maze. Of course, there are shorter tubes for
the fridge and behind the stove/oven. While we are not fireproof, we are much more confident of our ability to evacuate timely.
When we are allowed to attend another rally, we hope to get it re-certified. Cheers!
I've used FM200 in datacenters for fire suppression. Great stuff.
Thank you for your video on this. Great topic and great job of presentation.
I don't think people think about or consider the devastation of a fire, be it in your home, camper, rv trailer, boat or vehicle. And most if they are tent camping don't even think about a fire extinguisher.
Fire extinguishers are like insurance, costly until you need, then priceless.
I really think rv sales facilities should have a briefing on fires in rv. Hey another opportunity for them to make more money -- like they need that.
Again guys thank you, if for no more than making folks at least think of it.
$1500.00 for protection on $50,000.00 to $100,000.00 or more investment -- cheap insurance.
Extinguishers are cheap. The cost goes up for the fire suppressor systems. I was thinking about a fire sprinkler system as well. Might be worth installing, to dump several hundred liters of water. Although, if the battery is on fire, it might not work or might be self-defeating, since the pump won't have power.
Proteng looks to be an awesome product for fire mitigation. The price seems good as well. Thanks for sharing.
Great video! Thanks for the idea of the fire/smoke alarm integration! I was thinking about fire safety recently and reached similar conclusions. I am planning to install 3x 2kg fire extinguishers, near the driver seat, in the living compartment, and in the garage. I will convert the Mercedes Sprinter, so these are all the key spots. It was a brilliant idea to put two bigger ones on the sides, though! It is never enough.
RV fires are easily the worst fires known to man with all types of combustible materials including multiple sources of fuel and metals in one place. Speaking of metals, I have lithium iron phosphate batteries, but also a few HDPE bottles with magnesium and aluminum chips I used for various science projects and giggled when you mentioned magnesium fire! ;)
I am researching Blazecut fire suppression systems. I will put one in the engine bay since it can extinguish the fire before the smoke is even noticed. Not sure about the living compartment. It gets very expensive quickly and I don't have a floor plan yet. There are definitely a few spots that would rationalize the use of such a device. I will have a 12v compressor fridge. Fire sprinkler systems are more common in private homes these days, so this is another consideration since you probably have a couple hundred liters of water anyway. Your RV would be a fire engine class! ;)
because of watching this video we had rv maintenance people check our extinguishers and they have to be replaced. tnx for your diligence in being informative to the rest of us rv'ers, we appreciate it greatly.
Glad you caught that! đđŒ đ
Oh, I used to inspect and rebuild fire extinguishers and worked at Buckeye Fire Equipment. It's easy to fill them, but you wouldn't want to buy all the fittings, or equipment to do so. Also, don't shake them upside down, to unsettle the powder. Angle the top down about 20° below level and roll it, until you feel the powder moves around. If you shake upside down the powder may be packed into the tube inside and render it useless at time needed. And, always take Halogen fire extinguishers to a pro to test.. See ya
Excellent tip! Thanks! Added it to our blog post: changinglanesrv.com/rv-fire-safety-thia-proteng/
đđŒ đđŒ
Hey guys, my wife and I love your channel. I am a professional firefighter in South Charleston, WV. I don't know of any fire departments that still refill extinguishers. The best thing to do is Google fire extinguisher refill to find a company that will take care your empty extinguishers.
If you have a bad ammonia order ...evacuate immediately and call your emergency hazmat team ... anhydrous ammonia in your refrigerator is deadly if inhaled for more than 3 minutes...depending on how bad the RV is filled with the odor.
Fantastic, thank you. This mama has been concerned about the possibility of a fire in our RV, since day one. We have the extra fire extinguishers, weâve added an extra smoke detector and have discussed exit routes with our children...but the fire suppression system has interested us since we too saw it on Big Truck, Big RV.. I do hope theyâre able to bring down the price soon. It looks like a promising product, especially for the fridge.
Yea.. it is a bit steep on price for sure!
You take off the valve then empty rest out. Weigh the proper powder in clean valve replacing parts. Hook the non Burnable gas to pressure. After you check the hydro test date. And test. The short answer call the extinguisher co. Not a store on corner. There cheaper. They sure are.
Now I liking what your saying. Sure glad you didn't get into 2bc. Extinguisher
They refill the powder and charge it with nitrogen from what I have found. What is the issue with BC (US class, I presume) extinguisher? They seem to be popular for vehicles. Is it because it is for liquids + electric fires only, thus they won't extinguish heat or cover the burning material?
Good call on Knowing what type of fire extinguishers you need.
Went back to see this. Looking into cost. But life is worth.
I have tears rolling down my face from those bloopers!!! you took such a serious topic and totally blew it out with those bloopers. You two are the best. This was great info though. We just bought our trailer and it came with a rinky dinky white extinguisher. You've got me now wanting to upgrade.
Thank you so much for this video. We are about to purchase our first RV and I am very concerned about fire.
I was really looking forward to getting the THIA by Proteng, So I reached out to them. I was informed by them that if I can not bring my RV to them or an authorized installer (no where near us in the Los Angeles county area) that we can not get the system. very disappointing. no fault of yours but thought I would share. I offered to just by it and install it myself and was informed they could not cover it if it wasn't installed by one of their authorized personnel. then again, I guess stuff happens for a reason. removing our absorption refrigerator and decided to install a new residential Whirlpool fridge. same external size but much larger inside. still would have been nice to have around all of the electrical, inverter, batteries, charge controllers and behind the circuit panel. hope you guys are having a great time.
I'm a recently certified mobile rv tech. My previous vocation for over 50 years was in the electrical product safety industry. An RV will be fully engulfed in fire in 5 minutes after ignition and I preach to all my customers that fire prevention and education is paramount to keep your fun- fun! Anyone in my state that works on your propane system must be licensed and tested to prove competency for your safety. The RV industry self certifies to appropriate safety standards, however, the ability for the materials used in RV's to self extinguish is not part of the certification. It is time for the RV industry to have third party certifications such a ETL and UL.
Thank you so much for this video. My wife and I were talking about this issue this morning. When we get our next rv we will be ready to get her setup properly! Thanks SAFE TRAVELS
yep had a friend had those hoses, for some reason they burst what a mess.
What hoses? The proteng? These won't leave a mess at all... Very clean.
I use automatic fire extinguishers through out my rv for a quick fire suppression. I just tape them in places where a fire is more likely to start in an rv. This video is very informative. Thanks for the great info like always.
Good video, no such thing as overkill when it comes to safety.
Chad and Tara, I find this very informative for RV travelers. Thank you for sharing your life on the road, worth every penny for fire suppression systems.
That's an awesome thing about Ring. Said before in another video I have it at home & love it. I will run the same setup you did here for the trailer once I get one.
Have friends who had a Genesis THr that caught fire while driving down the highway. The inverter under the bed in the "basement" melted & flamed up. Luckily they were being followed by a friend who saw the smoke & called the passenger so they could pull over. 1 used an extinguisher while the other unhooked the truck asap. I couldn't imaging being asleep right above it & have that happen. It melted the side a little, smoked and brunt the pass-through area & started into the floor above into the bedroom. Ins totaled it out.
You covered a lot of ground on this and as usual did it well. First thing we did in each of our trailers was to increase the number of fire extinguishers and smoke/fire detectors and an extra Co and propane detector. Another reason we like our 12volt compressor fridge, no open flame. Thanks guys.
Yep! Another great reason for the fridge mod! đđŒ
A RV was on fire on the side of the road in Alexandria La the other day we passed by! So scary! Thanks for the info guys! This is everyone's worse nightmare in the RV world!
Wow, we have a 2020 Momentum 397TH and we only had 1 smoke detector outside the main bathroom and one carbon monoxide detector in the bedroom. That's it, nothing else! We didn't even have anything in the garage. We replaced those with the first alert dual smoke / co model you used in this video. We also went ahead and added one in the garage and one in the basement (pass through storage). Thank you for the video and huge thank you the upgrade suggestion!
Chad, you keep folding those shirts the way the Navy taught us. Creases are cool Tara.
Thank you both for creating video topics like this. Not everyone will follow through, but it is good knowledge to have. Opens the door to "I told ya so" if a fire happens. ) :
This is a must see for anyone RVing. Thank you.
Thanks for doing this video. After having RV'S for 19 years I never thought about fire extinguishers. We just put our rig away for the winter but in the Spring when we bring it home fire safety will be my first duty. Thanks again.
Fire extinguishers once you squeeze the handle you have to have them recharge or replace. When the dry chem. inside gets on the O-rings they will leak. Fire extinguishers are filled by unscrewing the top of the extinguisher.
Good point! đđŒ
If your escape windows are quite a bit off the ground, consider a rope or chain escape ladder mounted under the window. Great information.
Yes, I saw a video in the past, where they had bought a rope ladder for their escape. They where an older couple (most of us ARE getting older of course) and they thought a ladder of this kind would take up little room, yet be of good assistance on getting out in a much safer way than just jumping.
You should look at Big Truck Big RV's review on these. He had some issues with locations, had unintended blow outs from the hoses.
Yes... That's one of the reasons they don't allow self install anymore. They need to be properly sized and installed. đđŒ
You are correct, Big Truck removed them from his RV.
@@ChangingLanes hmmm.
I recently watched a fire extinguisher inspector while he was re-certifying some fire extinguishers for me. In addition to the items you mentioned in your video, he agitated the powder inside the extinguisher by pounding the cylinder with a rubber mallet.
Excellent video and the first time I've run across one on this topic. Thanks, you two! Happy travels!
Thanks for the info, I have one of the extinguishers that is recalled and had no idea.
We are about to go full time and were extremely worried about leaving our two pups in the RV alone. The Proteng advice has helped calm those fears. Thank you for all of your videos!
Glad it was helpful! Also see: changinglanesrv.com/faq/?Display_FAQ=2173 đ¶
Because of liability and lawyers fire departments no longer refill fire extinguishers with maybe a few exceptions... I upgraded and went to holon so there wouldn't be a mess
OMG I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THIS EPIPHANY!!!! I had a Kiddies August 2008 in my kitchen. Thankfully we've never had to use it. And thanks to your heads up, we never will have to rely on faulty equipment. Doing our research & finding a new extinguisher. Thanks again from the Wiener Wagon tribe, someday we'll meet đđŸđ
So glad you found that!!! đđŒ đ
Great information, thank you so much for all of your research. We really enjoy your videos, you guys are awesome.
Terrific job you two! I lost my first Grand Design RV to a fire in 2016. It started with a fuel fire in the tow vehicle. You're information is spot on!
Oh no! Sorry to hear that! We might look into getting one installed under the hood of our truck as well....
Excellent video!!! Thanks guys!!!
Very good advice there.. Kudos..
Thank you for the life-saving information!
Great video. Thank you for mentioning the issue with Kidde (and some other) extinguishers. Extinguishers with plastic valves are a non-starter for us. Also, while fire stations may not be able to refill extinguishers, they can probably give a good recommendation on both equipment and those who are qualified to service that equipment.
Outstanding video Thank you and you guy's are great!
Just watched this video. Thank you for this information. I am checking into having it installed in our RV.
The wife and I have learned a lot from watching your videos.
Thanks again, Bob and Linda.
Navy Vets have great firefighting awareness! At least in an RV you can bail out without getting wetđI read about a good idea, using a pillow(or pillows) or your bedding to cushion the escape window ledge - or throw out to the ground to soften your landing. Keep up the informative videos- thanks! A healthy fear and a lot of awareness is key. Iâm a ( proud) Navy Mom, former Vol. fire-fighter/EMS (retired).
Such a great video! Thanks for sharing..:) đŻđ
yep every air cooled vw on the rd went up like the hidy burger because the battery is under the back seat unvented
Stand by the goose neck, goose neck. Glad to see you putting shipboard fire fighting school skills to use, Chad. It seems like when I was aboard Coral Sea back in the 70s that she was on fire all the time. Nice, informative episode with an important message. Thanks.
THANK YOU ! I AM GOING OUT TO OUR TOY HAULER SOON AND LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE "-) i am sure this video will safe lives
i realize it is quite randomly asking but does anyone know of a good site to stream newly released movies online ?
@Eric Marcelo i use FlixZone. Just search on google for it =)
@Luke Isaac yup, been watching on flixzone for months myself :D
@Luke Isaac thanks, I went there and it seems like a nice service =) I appreciate it !
@Eric Marcelo No problem :D
PROTENG! Thank you! Our "Home" is a Grand Design Solitude 310GK, and REALLY appreciate your forwarding this information, from a earlier response today. đ.
When you said â Run , Run â. Then showed the Monty Python clip I had to laugh ! Your out takes and video clips are great...you always make me laugh ! Thanks...you guys are so cute !
I can quote that whole movie! LOL
Years back I was at a boat RV show and they were selling Halon fire extinguishers. It's a clean gas that takes the oxygen away and puts out the flames quick and no mess. Not sure if they are still around and could have been eliminated due to EPA concerns. That gas works 100% and is very easy to use.
Halon was banned... I think it was affecting the ozone layer..
@@ChangingLanes Just like the cattle have been doing for centuries. LOL
Yep! đš
When my smoke detector is active, just cooking my morning eggs will set it off. I have to take it down every time I cook anything indoors. Yes, I love to cook outdoors and do it whenever it is practical, but in a driving rain or when the wind is doing its best to topple my RV, it is not the time to be cooking outdoors. So, when I take the smoke detector down, I have to remember to put it back up. The method I use is to put it in my way for doing dishes. I wish I could dial the sensitivity down such that I can cook but but it will detect a fire.
Ours will also if we don't turn on the maxair fan. Also the fan over the stove / built into the microwave. Also, many of the over the stove fans have a flap outside with a small latch to stop it from flapping in the wind. Open that up and it allows a lot more air out.
I always put smoke detector in the fridge, until I get done burning everything. That way you'll see it later and put it back up. If I lay it on the counter somewhere, I won't notice it for awhile..
At our previous (sticks and bricks) house, there was one of those integrated fire/smoke/burglary alarms, with a 110V siren. There wasn't a detector in the kitchen, but the one in a nearby hallway would set off the system whenever we opened a hot oven, or cooked something that steamed too much. That siren made me feel like I was having a heart attack! We quickly learned to remove that detector before cooking, and set it outdoors. Sometimes we forgot to retrieve it. The burglary detectors also turned out to be a problem, as someone had installed some using loops of tape, which failed in a bathroom in the middle of the night, indicating that the window had been opened. Then there was an incident with the movement detector in the basement, and our daughter doing laundry in the early morning. While I recognize the value of detecting fires, burglars, etc., false alarms are a serious problem.
Of course it failed in the middle of the night... I think they're designed that way! Our ADT alarm in our old S&B was just the right frequency and volume to scramble a brain.. Hated that thing when it went off!
I caught mine just in time but was still totaled by insurance company.
Very important.
1st .. shut off breaker at shoreline
2) .shut of propane tanks unhook and remove to 50ft .
3 ) be careful when opening your door and know where your fire extinguishers are.
4) sweep fire extinguishers from side to side .
Hope no one was hurt at least... đđŒ
@@ChangingLanes it's just me and the boy on the left .... we was on our way for breakfast and I forgot something and turned around .. good thing I did or I would have lost everything... I'm a 100% RVer myself đđ»
Halon or Halon type extinguishers are NOT cheap, but are clean and non-corrosive. A 2-1/2 lb. Unit in the kitchen area is very nice. We also have a 10 lb. Capacity ABC unit in our basement, which gas amazing fire fighting capabilities. Yes..I serviced fire equipment when I was younger, including at Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Plant when it was in service. Also..recharging takes either "Dry Air" or Nitrogen. Do Not attempt yourself. And..ABC powder IS very corrosive. Fact.
Great video guys! A ton of good info as always. Thanks for sharing!
There are people that recharge extinguishers and then retag them. Check on line for the one near you. I am going to use Excide fire extinguisher balls in certain area. They make smaller ones for vehicle purposes. A lot less expensive and a 5 year warranty.
We are fairly new to Rvâing and are in Canada waiting for our new GD Image to be shipped. We happened upon your channel recently and love it. You are very informative, and completely go over topics of interest and importance. We are going to use many of your suggestions. Thanks
Great info!
Thank you for reminding us to replace our SD batteries, and upgrade our FE.
Great safety tips and advice Chad and Tara! Thanks for sharing. Fires scare us too. That is one of the reasons we are going with a residential fridge instead of the RV fridge. We will have to look into this automatic fire suppression system when we pick up our rig in a few weeks! đđđ
Some Kidde fire extinguishers are recalled. The ones you got are the recalled ones. They are too overpowered to put out a small fire. The first alert ones are decent but the big red and white one are known for their discharge handle (Top part) to break easily.
Really enjoy your videos and LOVE seeing Daisy, she's so cute. She had to be in every video, I look for her. Enjoy the road.
We visited the RV graveyard in Phoenix, eye opener as to where most fires start. Sad to see but it gave us a reality check. đ„ đ„ đ„
So where do most fires start according to your observation? It seems you didn't share the most important piece of information, lol.
@@pavel9652 Class A diesels account for most RV fires, the rear engine compartment and the refrigerator.
Some fires are caused by the RVer by accident, but the majority are caused by engine, electrical or mechanical.
Fires in RVs are rare but they do occur.
â@@cindyrose4155 Thanks, this is interesting! It somewhat confirms my observation regarding bus fires recorded on videos. The fire starts in the engine compartment at the back and is unnoticed until it is too late! I have heard propane fridges start a lot of fires in RVs.
I am considering installing a fire suppressor system such as BlazeCut or similar in the engine compartment of the Mercedes Sprinter. Would it make sense? I noticed people who own vintage, perhaps known for leaking petrol engines, install it in their cars, but haven't seen it being installed in diesel engines. Would you recommend it? I will have 3x 2kg extinguishers on top of it, in the driver/living/garage compartments, I think.
@@pavel9652 Mercedes has a very good reputation, you donât hear of engine fires. I always say that any kind of fire suppression for an RV is a good idea. Keep in mind, once an RV fire starts, itâs very rare that they can be put out, with that in mind, I always slept with a fire extinguisher on each side of the bed, the big ones! If a fire breaks out while youâre sleeping, you want to be able to utilize the fire extinguishers to get out of the RV safely. Check your smoke alarms and propane gas alarm often.
â@@cindyrose4155 There are multiple points of interest within RV where a fire suppressant system makes sense. At this point, I still don't know the layout, but I will keep the van rather simple, nothing like the vehicle in the video. Definitely fridge, perhaps lifepo4 power station + batter extension, but I don't know what it would do against lithium, so perhaps I will rely on BlueTTI safety systems. Maybe cut off for the propane tank once I get it, but right now I have a small portable butane burner. Maybe storage for devices. I also considered a water sprinkler, since RVs tend to have a couple hundred liters of water, but if the fire or water disables power, then the pump would stop working.
RVs have too much insulation and wood, with embedded cables, and all the appliances are packed in the cabinets, which makes it hard to reach the source of the fire. On the other hand, a lot of people aren't prepared, have only a small extinguisher installed by the vendor, or don't even try to save it, because this isn't what they think about, and get surprised and overwhelmed. From what I have seen in the videos the first 2 minutes are critical, after 2nd-minute things start quickly getting out of hand, and at the 3-minute mark things around might start combusting from the radiated heat.
We had a mounted extinguisher in my F359 CC behind the seat .It became unmounted, It went off while my wife & daughter were driving . SCARED the daylights out of them and made a severe mess of my truck. Make sure the mount is tight.
Propane bottle has the same valve in it if you cut the line to propane shuts itself off as well I also have one of those things as well too but the bottle itself as one too
But, it doesn't shut off completely... See our test here: changinglanesrv.com/gasstop-automatic-propane-shut-off/
Old, expired fire extinguishers make great targets!!
Ooooooh! Yea.. that would be fun!
My little 500 Mag loves fire extinguishers.
The way to get rid of the crease in Chad's shirt is to double his consumption of beer
Thank you for this info we also cant think about our fur babies being in the rv when a fire breaks out . And we love the outtakes. So funny.
Good idea to turn them over occasionally.
Very valuable information
Chad and Tara, very well done and this is coming from a old volunteer firefighter as well as USAF disaster prep NCO (3E971). Again, great job. The key is to be prepared and this is accomplished with both the equipment (well maintained) and training. Have a fire drill occasionally. This raises awareness and well... preparedness. I think I am going to look into the ring system with detectors... cool. Clint
This is our Ring video if interested: czcams.com/video/f-cWvMqnU9g/video.html
I've added 4 more extinguishers fora total of 9
Ave used 3on differ rvfires they empty quickly
Great info, thanks. We have 2 recalled units (home & truck) also an expired unit. Having external extinguishers in RV is also great idea, will be getting them promptly.
We have LARGE fire extinguishers on each side of the bed, and we have an evacuation plan, we each have a nearby window to exit.
Practice how to open your windows!
Access time matters. I think it makes more sense to have larger ones outside, and smaller ones inside, because when you are outside when the fire starts, your biggest extinguishers will be being consumed by flames already.
Technicians that do annual inspections on dry chem extinguishers will turn them upside down, and strike the bottom with a rubber mallet to break up the powder inside. And yes, it's cheaper to just buy a new one than to get it recharged.
Thank you for the informative video Chad and Tara .Have seen fire extinguishers mounted horizontally but must be across the trailer/vechile.keeps the powder from settling to much.keep up the good work and stay safe out there on those bumpy roads.đłđżđđđ€łđ»
Thanks for sharing
Great content
Know where your quick disconnects are for power and propane.
Great information and watch. I have to admit, the outtakes on this one, had me rolling. đ
Hey Changing Lanes, thanks for the video and great information. I have a request, way back in the stone ages (when I was a wee lad) our camper was just a place to sleep, everything else was done outside, sitting areas, cooking, dining and entertainment. What do you do to make your camp site more inviting to be outside? What have you seen from other campers? Have you seen anything really innovative in the way others enjoy being outside of their RV. No, I'm not talking about a display of garden gnomes and dozens of bric-a-brac decorating the campsite, but real useful ways to enjoy the outdoors while at the campsite. Thanks again....
Well, depending on the site layout, we get great use out of our back patio. Nothing fancy, just our chairs. We also have a drop shade for our main awning and an outdoor rug. Makes the outside feel like a patio. We also have some tiki torches with citronella oil to keep the bugs away. Hope that helps! đ
It might also to helpful to have a window ladder for your escape
Super helpful content...as usual. Thanks, Chad and Tara!
Excellent topic! Canât ever be too safe and I would think having all these precautions on board might even lower RV insurance (maybe). If nothing else some peace of mind.
That's something we need to look into (insurance)... đđŒ
Great info. I hope more RV manufacturers will install emergency egress doors, such as the ones Newmar offers on their class A motorhomes. As a senior I wonder if Iâd be able to get out those small emergency windows
Class-A's usually have a lot more wiggle room in the weight department. Tough to install things like that in trailers and keep the weight and price in check. I'm sure getting out those windows will involve some injuries though...
I used to recharge and service them for a living. Basically you let out all the air and unscrew the top. Pour in new powder and return top. And then pump air back in. Very simple. Can be extremely messy if you open before the air is out!!!
There are businesses that recharge extinguishers. First, they pressure test the tanks (like they do for propane tanks). Then they refill the tank. This usually makes the refill more expensive than buying new ones. New ones may have better agents inside.
Just a personal tidbit, I would always have a K type in your kitchen and anywhere you are cooking with ANY kind of fat, including meat. It's not just for deep fryers, if any fat catches on fire and you use a normal ABC extinguisher, that agent comes out fast can spread the burning fat before putting it out. A K type isn't a high pressure dispersal, it's a fine mist that quickly kills the fat fire, and is much easier to clean up after the incident.
Good advice... We cook almost all of our meat and such outside on our blackstone.. đđŒ
Great ! Aways safety first..!!âșđđđđđđđâ One thing that JD said it was that if the are where you put this new product if it get to hot it will go off in extreme temperatures without being an actual fire, example heater or engine device atc. Pay attention to that .
From what we're told, JD's experience, as well as others who had a misfire, is why they no longer allow self-install. They have to be placed in such a way as to avoid hot areas (like directly behind the fridge coils) but still provide coverage and only go off in a real fire. Each RV is so different, it takes someone trained in what to look for and install properly. They (proteng) are still fairly new in the RV space, and allowing self-install was a mistake they made early on. We've had ours for a couple of months now and time will tell...
Take the refillable fire extinguishers to a fire department. They'll either have them filled or tell you where you can get them filled.
I used two at a neighbors home recently, it was far more economical to buy new fire extinguishers than have used ones refilled.
This is a *Hot Topic!*
Good job guys. Fire extinguisher companies fill refillable bottles.
Get a escape chain ladder for your bedroom. We have one for the second story of our home.
I want to thank you guyÂŽs for all your work into these videos makes me look forward to do this with my wife in 10 years or so
czcams.com/video/I4MkVQoJRAM/video.html this is the perfect video on recharging used to work doing this ;)
Chad & Tara....a very, very informative video! Quite impressive video as well...âŠ.you two do a great job with these videos. Thank you for mentioning Proteng Automatic RV fire suppression and Babe and I.
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Thank you very much for the information on the kidde fire extinguishers! I have not heard of that.đł
Fantastic video guys! Got me to thinking and am ordering new extinguishers. Thanks for the reminder.
Got some in our Amazon store.. Just sayin... đ