Hello-
I have a 1983 Prevost and both escape hatches on the roof have been filled with air conditioners and none of the windows swing out anymore. I really don't need A/C where I live or travel to, so I'm willing to revert to roof hatches. Does anyone know where to find them? Any tips on getting the windows to open? Was also considering replacing a window or two with the RV slider style if I can find non-new. While on the roof, the PO put so many things through the roof, fridge vent, about 8 air vents, 3 A/C's, toilet ports, TV antenna, etc... I would like to remove some of the vents and A/C's. What would be the best way to patch these holes in the roof?
Thanks-
-Nate
Just a suggestion you might not have thought of:- my bus has 'Emergency Exit' stickers on the windows and the roof skylights, but they don't open - they're intended to be smashed by the passengers when needed. Situated at intervals along the overhead baggage racks were little hammers held in plastic clips, which in the event of an accident the passengers were supposed to grab to smash their way out.
It's worth mentioning that European buses like mine do also have full-size emergency exit doors at the rear, so I guess breaking the windows or skylights was very much intended to be a last resort - but it's obviously a viable way of getting out, so something worth bearing in mind before doing fairly major work to give yourself an escape route.
The window on my bus are double-glazed incidentally, so that isn't a reason why it would cease to be an option
Jeremy
First thing that comes to my mind,,how long have you owned/operated this coach?? Being from north New York have you had the coach in really HOT weather where all the roof air's WILL be needed.. I would be reluctant to remove anything that I may need later at great cost. In the event of a rollover, when you MAY(or may not) need an escape hatch, I would bet on several windows allready busted out to provide the escape.>>>Dan PS.. Another thought,, removing air conditioning capability will effect the resale value of the coach.
Nate is the roof leaking?
I have several vents through my roof. They work well enough that we don't run the A/C much while parked.
John
Personally, I would go with the hammer idea. It's pretty easy to kick out the windshield. If the hatches were in place, I would work with them but I don't think I would go to any great pains to create new ones.
I think the real safety issue would be while parked and fire broke out. I left my hatch in the rear where the bedroom is. I have been thinking about some kind of ladder system to get off roof. (ROPE)
John
You don't say what your experience is with conversions. You might not want to make major changes until you have used the coach for a year or so. The ones you need to make will become apparent. Some of the things you think you don't need might prove to be "Can't do withouts".
As already mentioned, removal of the A/Cs would cause resale problems and you WILL need them at some point.
You might be able to locate some hatches from someone that has removed them in the conversion. That could prove difficult because there probably aren't many 83 Prevosts around that haven't already been converted. Someone on the Board familiar with MCI parts sources will chime in.
I have a lot of experience driving buses. I always thought the hatches were probably not much good as escape hatches. The only time I could imagine being able to use them would be in a rollover. They would probably be tweaked so much they wouldn't function then. Probably what NTSB would accept. In my experience they were better just used for ventilation.
Used RV sliders are available in a lot of places. They probably wouldn't slide either after an accident. They would be easier to just kick out though.
The toilet vents are a must!
The holes are on the roof, just remove the ones you want, use a good sealer and adhesive and cover them with pieces of aluminum. I'd put a few rivets in also.
Hope this helps.
I have a 1989 Prevost and like yours, they have windows that curve at the top. Finding sliders will be hard. Prevost makes them for motor home conversions that have a slider or awning window at the bottom but they are very expensive. I left three of mine to open on the passenger side. I also left both roof escape hatches for ventilation and escape if needed. Roof airs are separate openings. I am making hinged screens for the roof hatches so I can use then at night or day time to vent. I tried to buy some used Prevost opening windows from a motor home parts dealer but he was retail in his pricing so no big deal provided. Plus they needed to be shipped or picked up so it again was not a bargain. You will need to use your best judgement on what you can live with or make changes to suite your needs. Good Luck.
It never ceases to amaze me that converters block off escape hatches and doors. My 4104 has the rear escape door intact, one of the reasons I bought it.
Glad to hear you still have bus : Might ck to see if it is just covered up by trim or screwed shut. I have the original releases you can cover with vinyl if the top hinges are still there. You can tell the escape windows because they overlap on both sides the windows next to them. INSIDE They are held in place by about a 30 inch wide by 3 1/2 inch tall and 2 inches thick-- pull on bottom . Basic pull bottom of it and it releases two latches and window hinges out from top. FWIW I also have one of the Prevost bottom (1/3) windows I'm not going to use. Bob
I have the Transspec escape hatches in my bus. These are also used in many school buses today. They are all plastic with metal hinges. I can't see them getting jammed in a collision due to the design.
The escape hatches being in the ceiling would be very hard to use to leave the bus if a fire occurred with the bus upright. I keep thinking about adding an escape hatch of some sort in the rear cap, but I have never moved forward with it.
Grant it, mine is a skoolie, it must have 7 or 8 escapes out of the bus. I left everyone of them operable.
Yep...I can't believe either that the PO actually wanted to burn to death. Wow! Yep again, my old Crown Supercoach ex-schoolie had about 37 escape routes including the rear window. Also, FWIW, are you considering seat belts for designated seating while underway? Let's keep it safe out there. Will we some day be required to have ejection seats? Air bags maybe? Dunno fur sures. HB of CJ (old coot)
Having experienced several mock and actual fires in a variety of buses (school, transit, charter), the roof escape hatch vents the smoke and draws the flame to the new airflow.
Roof hatches only help when bus is on its side.
I would modify some windows or by some lil hammers instead.
Siberyd
P.S. I also have a 4104 and the rear emergency exit is intact for emergencies.
Are either of your 4104 buses for sale?
Harleyman-1000, a member of the Midwest Bus Nuts from Cedar Rapids, IA area has a GM 4106 with 8V71/Allison 730 automatic for sale. It was converted by his uncle and has a beautiful exterior. I don't remember much about the interior. If interested I can look up his contact information.
Good luck, Sam
I guess every one thinks I am wrong but I love to sleep with the windows open. A breeze through the coach is wonderful.
Removed the back door on huggy and put in a Penn. window. can now open both and get a nice breeze through.
Don't plan on having any problems.
uncle ned
I was at a thrift store last week and passed on a two story, chain escape ladder. Yesterday, I was thinking that I could have just shortened it and kept it in the bedroom to hang out the window in case of an emergency. I think we could get out of the original slider with practice. The only thing is that I know my wife would never try it.
Quote from: Lin on January 25, 2013, 09:25:58 AM
I was at a thrift store last week and passed on a two story, chain escape ladder. Yesterday, I was thinking that I could have just shortened it and kept it in the bedroom to hang out the window in case of an emergency. I think we could get out of the original slider with practice. The only thing is that I know my wife would never try it.
Hey Lin,
I was thinking of the chain ladder too, until I used one. Maybe if I was going to be up several stories.
Kind of like climbing on spaghetti....
I will say this, smoke is a great motivator to get someone who would never consider it, to jump out of a window.
Here's hoping you never find out.
Cliff
Quote from: FloridaCliff on January 25, 2013, 09:38:09 AM
I will say this, smoke is a great motivator to get someone who would never consider it, to jump out of a window.
Here's hoping you never find out.
Cliff
Cliff, Sounds like there is more to the story. We wanna hear.
John
As an old Navy man I used to climb down rope ladders from a battleship boat boom 60' feet above the water, but probably wouldn't do that any more!! Those flexible ladders leave a lot to be desired, especially for old farts like me. They have a bad habit of dancing away from your feet, especially for anyone in a real panic.
If you get one I would strongly advise you give it a tryout on the bus before any actual need comes up.
My plan A is to throw all the pillows and bedding out the window and just crash onto them. since my bus has been converted to smaller SS windows, even that is a maybe plan!!
The rear is really the only problem, there are lots of easily pushed out windows in front. I sure wish my 4107 had that neat rear escape door like the 4104.
10-4 on the back door Ned (missed you this year in Arcadia) There is nothing like the breeze going thru the bus. we might not have all the cool new stuff that the modern coaches have but we have alot of the old cool features! There are waterproof hatches in plexi and aluiminum made for boats that might be adaptable for a emergency hatch. Here is a pic of a rear door on a Kenworth bus, but i think its like the flexibles and not a true thru to the interior door.
The Courier 96 we owned had an emergency exit door on the driver's side. It was in the bathroom. When I re modeled the interior, I sealed it closed permanently. We could go out a window in case of fire.
The Penensula windows in the 5C are large enough to slide open and jump out. Fairly high to the ground, but with fire under your heels, you'd jump right...
JC
Gus, I like the pillows and bedding idea. It may be obvious, but I didn't think of it.
Although the chain/rope ladder may not be in the plan, I can see having a rope with a hook over the window casing to help with the descent.
This subject if very important in my life. I currently be a school bus driver, 40' bus 84 kids.....
I was researching the subject of escaping a bus or motorhome and came across a youtube video someone posted after friends died in an rv fire. The thing is I use a smartphone because my 3 jobs keep me from home. The video is unique, you cant search for it. It has a very common name VTS 01 1 its poster is Mac McCoy. Can someone here post a link tl it here, after I send it to someones email. My smart phone cant cut and paste. Its a great video and it will make you look at your windows differently.
Lets say you have a fire in your coach and exit a roof hatch using your chain ladder. Now instead of being
6-8 feet off the ground thru a window. You are 10-14 feet from the ground and a cat on a hot tin roof. Do you have a ladder on your coach to reach the roof?
Siberyd
There are 154,000 videos named VTS 01 1 but I found it by searching for RV fires......
here is the link...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-or4RMunZU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-or4RMunZU)
GreyEagle,
Many thanks!
Siberyd
Lin,
Carefully try to picture in your mind going out a rear window feet first (the only way you can use a ladder)! It is not a pretty picture.
Just getting your feet through the window will be a real task, never mind trying to get your feet onto the evasive ladder! I've thought about this many times since I got the 4107 and decided I can't do it. My plan is to go out the window head first and just crash onto the bedding. I really don't know any other way to do it.
I'll probably put my wife out feet first because I can help her from the inside. I won't go first because I'll probably break something and not be able to help her at all from outside. All this is presupposing a fire.
In a rollover nobody will be in the rear, but getting out a front window on the side will not be easy since any window will be 8' above! No hatches in the top of the 4107. It might be possible to push out one of the ACs though. On the top it will be much easier.
I have a couple of foam toppers on my bed and can toss them out also, but can't do much with the queen mattress. Even clothes from the closet would help.
Yes Sam, please send me the info for the bus
Scott