Took the bus down to the Dallas area last weekend to visit some friends. While going south on Hwy 75 thru Sherman TX on Friday evening in pretty heavy traffic, I notice a S&S heading north on the opposite side of the freeway that looked strange. As it got closer and I could see better, I thought "no way", but sure enough the guy was driving with his slide extended. My only conclusion was that he had to be doing it on purpose because it would have been impossible to not notice it, I am sure he could not have been able to see anything behind him out of his drivers mirror. May this is more common than I realize, but it sure did not look like a good idea. it had to be extended at least 18" and seemed like a real hazard.
I think you should report that to the NHTSA so that they can mandate a transmission lockout system if the slide is not retracted. Perhaps there should be one for the awnings as well.
Sometimes when you hear stupid things like that, you wonder how some people even manage to dress themselves in the morning let alone get thru their lives up to that point. Say what you will about the TSA and the pain in the rear it causes at airports, but if they didn't check I.D.s and boarding passes, you would have people getting on the wrong planes all the time. Not reading or following instructions is probably the biggest problems in the world today.
Travelling with a slide extended sounds to me like a failure of whatever mechanism was supposed to retract the slide. Stupid is as stupid does so anything is possible but I think mechanical failure is the most likely explanation.
Quote from: bobofthenorth on October 31, 2011, 10:05:24 AM
Travelling with a slide extended sounds to me like a failure of whatever mechanism was supposed to retract the slide. Stupid is as stupid does so anything is possible but I think mechanical failure is the most likely explanation.
Let's presume the reason was a mechanical failure. But let's also presume there is a way to retract the slide such as manually turning a gear mechnism or by-passing a failed lock out switch. I get more than a little irritated at having "safety" features shoved down my throat by a government that creates regulations to save us from ourselves. We have air bags because people were too stupid to buckle up. TPSM because people are too lazy to check tire pressures. Warnings the bridge may freeze before the road surface. It is because there are idiots who don't even consider the safety factor of driving down a highway with the slide room extended at some point there will be interlocks preventing brake release and the transmission from engaging in gear, and more safety switches to go bad and require service just because there are people too stupid to do the right thing.
I am strongly in favor of requiring certain minimum standards being met before people can breed.
It seems to me the mechanical failure is in the driver's brain if he thought it is oaky to drive down the road with a slide fully extended.
Airbags in cars have nothing to do with seatbelts not being used. They don't even work properly if you don't have your seatbelt on. In some cases airbags can even injure or kill non-belted occupants when they go off.
I thought it was a problem when I forgot to lock the refrigerator door. Probably a good thing I don't have a slide ::)
Not trying to defend the moron driving with the slide out. But it could be possible that he had a malfunction and when he called to get help they probably told him "we can only assist you if you take it to such & such authorized service center" and gave him said centers name & address.
Now common sense tell you to call the service center and request someone come out. But I know some service managers who are too lazy or just too stupid to do that and insist "bring it in and we'll work on it!"
And yes I've personally seen it myself going down the road too!
I know once I was coming up out of FL and saw a 5th wheeler with all 3 slides out one musta been locked out as it never budged even a inch the other 2 were sliding in & out with the rocking of the RV going down the road.
I got a chance to get 2 lanes over and passed it, and as I passed I saw to very very senior citizens who appeared to be very very scared white knuckling the steering wheel & dash.
Once I got safely passed them I phoned FHPD and was told thay had officers looking for it now as they'd had numerous complaints.
And about 2-3 miles up the road there were 3 FHP cars on the shoulder waiting on it.
Hard to say what the deal was, but the man was determined to get where he was going!
;D BK ;D
How many times have you seen a motorhome going down the road with the retractable step stretched out, waiting to take the legs off of a pedestrian?
JC
Quote from: lostagain on October 31, 2011, 12:01:17 PM
How many times have you seen a motorhome going down the road with the retractable step stretched out, waiting to take the legs off of a pedestrian?
JC
Or more often than hitting a pedestrian getting torn off by a curb! :o
;D BK ;D
Quote from: lostagain on October 31, 2011, 12:01:17 PM
How many times have you seen a motorhome going down the road with the retractable step stretched out, waiting to take the legs off of a pedestrian?
As a bicyclist I am all too aware of RVs with steps out as they drive; I've had my share of close encounters with them. The "retractable" steps of the Beaver RV parked next to me in the storage yard are completely rusted and will never retract unless they're replaced entirely. His awnings' latches also appear to be broken, as there are bungies wrapped around their arms. I also noticed one of his rear brake drums has oil dripping from it, I'm guessing from a bad axle seal, so I assume there's not much braking happening there. His Caterpillar engine drips WAY more oil onto the ground than my Detroit does. And there's also a live battery cable with some of its insulation worn away where it's rubbing against the frame. In other words, it's a typical RV!
John
Quote from: prevosman on October 31, 2011, 10:22:17 AM
I am strongly in favor of requiring certain minimum standards being met before people can breed.
There's also the Darwin Award...
I'm sooooooo proud ;D There is one thing I can honestly say I never did ::)
Remember this when you are saying EVERYONE should get out and vote!!
JIm
This thread has given me the best laugh Ive had in a while.
What other social improvement suggestions do you have Jon that one was a winner.
Quote from: jjrbus on October 31, 2011, 02:44:54 PM
I'm sooooooo proud ;D There is one thing I can honestly say I never did ::)
Remember this when you are saying EVERYONE should get out and vote!!
JIm
Jim,
You said it best!
BUT...
Have you ever said to yourself "Boy that was stupid! I hope nobody saw me doing THAT!"
And then realized that several somebody's did!
I have...but nothing that obvious!!!
Steve Toomey
PAbusnut
When I am ready to go, I could just take my seat, put it in gear and drive off...
But I have learned a long time ago to take another walk around the bus just to make sure... Same if I am driving a truck and trailer. When I get too old and forget to walk around is time to quit I guess. I hope that is not for a long time yet, lol.
JC
I called Fleetwood to ask where I could buy a replacement heater fan motor. They gave me the number to a phone sex line. I hope thier still laughing, because ill never buy another darn thing they made as long as I live.
Quote from: artvonne on October 31, 2011, 11:09:24 PM
I called Fleetwood to ask where I could buy a replacement heater fan motor. They gave me the number to a phone sex line. I hope thier still laughing, because ill never buy another darn thing they made as long as I live.
Did you by chance call them back and ask them if they accidentally gave you their grandmothers # instead of the one you asked for?
When they say huh, tell them ya some old lady answered and when you told her what you were calling about she told you "Oh yes my grandson works there!" ;) (chances are they will call and follow up and be the jokee and not the joker.)
;D BK ;D
Sheesh,
when doing wild things,
travel in the dark,
so as to not scare the innocent,
naive
and
wanna be again
virgins.
And be sure to park in the truck stop,
before sunrise,
with the offending bits,
to the field side,
out of sight.
Until it gets dark,
and onto the road,
You,
again
go?
happy coaching!
buswarrior