fire escape?

C

charles botts

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Jan 14, 2000
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The person who remodeled our GMC told us that in case of fire in the front
that we only had to lay on the bed, which is against the rear wall and below
the rear window, and push hard to push the entire rear window out. I looked
in the GMC manuals and I saw no mention made of this. I didn't see an easy
"rip cord" on the window rubber retainer strip either. This is something I
don't want to practice and I'm leery of relying on it

I know that attempting to stay inside to fight a fire that's bad enough to
cut off the normal front door exit is really dumb.

Now that we have put in the alarms, should we depend on this method as the
emergency fire escape exit or continue to plan on bending the rear side
screen inward to remove it and then exit the open rear side window?

Chuck Botts, San Diego
 
Our GMC has a small ring hanging from the top of the window in the back
right in the center.
Marlene Meineken

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Botts
To: GMC, Digest
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 2:13 PM
Subject: GMC: fire escape?

> The person who remodeled our GMC told us that in case of fire in the front
> that we only had to lay on the bed, which is against the rear wall and
below
> the rear window, and push hard to push the entire rear window out. I
looked
> in the GMC manuals and I saw no mention made of this. I didn't see an easy
> "rip cord" on the window rubber retainer strip either. This is something I
> don't want to practice and I'm leery of relying on it
>
> I know that attempting to stay inside to fight a fire that's bad enough to
> cut off the normal front door exit is really dumb.
>
> Now that we have put in the alarms, should we depend on this method as the
> emergency fire escape exit or continue to plan on bending the rear side
> screen inward to remove it and then exit the open rear side window?
>
> Chuck Botts, San Diego
>
>
>
>
 
In my experience, even if the ring isn't there, that big old window would
kick or push out pretty easy. Taking apart several cars over the years, I
have kicked out a few windshields on some donor cars to get at dash parts.
They come out pretty easy. If that doesn't work, put one of those "in case
of fire" axes back there. That should do the trick!

Let's all hope you never have to find out! That would be the best case
scenario!!

Tony Bad

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Botts
To: GMC, Digest
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 5:13 PM
Subject: GMC: fire escape?

> The person who remodeled our GMC told us that in case of fire in the front
> that we only had to lay on the bed, which is against the rear wall and
below
> the rear window, and push hard to push the entire rear window out. I
looked
> in the GMC manuals and I saw no mention made of this. I didn't see an easy
> "rip cord" on the window rubber retainer strip either. This is something I
> don't want to practice and I'm leery of relying on it
>
> I know that attempting to stay inside to fight a fire that's bad enough to
> cut off the normal front door exit is really dumb.
>
> Now that we have put in the alarms, should we depend on this method as the
> emergency fire escape exit or continue to plan on bending the rear side
> screen inward to remove it and then exit the open rear side window?
>
> Chuck Botts, San Diego
>
>
>
>
 
On Wed, 17 May 2000 14:13:33 -0700 "Charles Botts"
writes:
> The person who remodeled our GMC told us that in case of fire in the
> front that we only had to lay on the bed, which is against the rear
wall
> and below the rear window, and push hard to push the entire rear window
out.

There is supposed to be a ring in the rubber seal that will drop the
window. If it isn't there I would guess you could kick it out!

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
Dedicated to the preservation of the Classic GMC
http://www.gmcss.com/registry.htm
 
> I would suggest getting an automatic center punch from any hardware or tool
> store. They are about the size of a ball-point pen, and are made for
> center-punching holes to be drilled. You simply place the point against the
> surface and push. A spring inside compresses and then releases, driving the
> point hard enough to make a dimple in metal.
> In our case, we would be following the lead of innumerable teen-aged
> vandals and radio thieves. If you apply the automatic center punch to a
> tempered-glass window (generally all car windows but the front windshield),
> the glass will simply crumble in a shower of square chunks (no slivers, no
> jagged pieces, only slightly sharp edges). This opens the emergency exit
> fast.
> Rick Staples
>

Rick,
Some years ago I was on a sales call to the Libby Owens Ford glass plant in
Toledo. I was with my contact and we passed by a line that was at the time
manufacturing the large rear window for the 1983 something Camaro and Firebird
IIRC. Anyway a very large piece of glass. To make a long story short they
regularly had to break some of the rear windows to make sure that the resulting
chunks of glass were of a consistent size. I was very impressed when they
allowed me to break 3 of the rear windows with an automatic center punch. I
couldn't believe how such a small device could totally destroy the glass. One hit
with the punch and the glass disintegrated into a million pieces. I think I
broke about $1000 worth of glass at retail that afternoon and it was just for
fun!

Someone hit my father-in-law's car last year with what was probably a center
punch in order to gain access to his air bag modules. They took both sides. He
probably got his back later when the insurance company paid someone to replace
the bags.

So I would guess an automatic center punch would break the rear window in our
coaches without a problem. It would be easier then pulling the ring and then
pushing the window out.

Richard Waters
'76 PB, Troy, MI
 
I once saw three brand new Corvettes towed into a
junkyard here in Lansing..straight to the crusher...
nothing was allowed to be removed from the cars....
I felt like crying.....the auto companys have lots of
money to throw away....liability reasons for the
crushing of the cars.
Rob Teed 74 Painted Desert

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Richard Waters
> Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 11:24 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: fire escape?
>
>
>
>

>
> > I would suggest getting an automatic center punch from any
> hardware or tool
> > store. They are about the size of a ball-point pen, and are made for
> > center-punching holes to be drilled. You simply place the
> point against the
> > surface and push. A spring inside compresses and then
> releases, driving the
> > point hard enough to make a dimple in metal.
> > In our case, we would be following the lead of innumerable teen-aged
> > vandals and radio thieves. If you apply the automatic center punch to a
> > tempered-glass window (generally all car windows but the front
> windshield),
> > the glass will simply crumble in a shower of square chunks (no
> slivers, no
> > jagged pieces, only slightly sharp edges). This opens the
> emergency exit
> > fast.
> > Rick Staples
> >
>
> Rick,
> Some years ago I was on a sales call to the Libby Owens Ford
> glass plant in
> Toledo. I was with my contact and we passed by a line that was
> at the time
> manufacturing the large rear window for the 1983 something Camaro
> and Firebird
> IIRC. Anyway a very large piece of glass. To make a long story
> short they
> regularly had to break some of the rear windows to make sure that
> the resulting
> chunks of glass were of a consistent size. I was very impressed when they
> allowed me to break 3 of the rear windows with an automatic
> center punch. I
> couldn't believe how such a small device could totally destroy
> the glass. One hit
> with the punch and the glass disintegrated into a million pieces.
> I think I
> broke about $1000 worth of glass at retail that afternoon and it
> was just for
> fun!
>
> Someone hit my father-in-law's car last year with what was
> probably a center
> punch in order to gain access to his air bag modules. They took
> both sides. He
> probably got his back later when the insurance company paid
> someone to replace
> the bags.
>
> So I would guess an automatic center punch would break the rear
> window in our
> coaches without a problem. It would be easier then pulling the
> ring and then
> pushing the window out.
>
> Richard Waters
> '76 PB, Troy, MI
>
>

_____________________________________________
NetZero - Defenders of the Free World
Click here for FREE Internet Access and Email
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> I once saw three brand new Corvettes towed into a
> junkyard here in Lansing..straight to the crusher...
> nothing was allowed to be removed from the cars....
> I felt like crying.....the auto companys have lots of
> money to throw away....liability reasons for the
> crushing of the cars.
> Rob Teed 74 Painted Desert
>

I've heard of that happening over at the GM Tech Center in Warren. It probably
happened to a GMC motorhome or two or three!
Richard Waters


>
>
> > Some years ago I was on a sales call to the Libby Owens Ford
> > glass plant in
> > Toledo. I was with my contact and we passed by a line that was
> > at the time
> > manufacturing the large rear window for the 1983 something Camaro
> > and Firebird
> > IIRC. Anyway a very large piece of glass. To make a long story
> > short they
> > regularly had to break some of the rear windows to make sure that
> > the resulting
> > chunks of glass were of a consistent size. I was very impressed when they
> > allowed me to break 3 of the rear windows with an automatic
> > center punch. I
> > couldn't believe how such a small device could totally destroy
> > the glass. One hit
> > with the punch and the glass disintegrated into a million pieces.
> > I think I
> > broke about $1000 worth of glass at retail that afternoon and it
> > was just for
> > fun!
> >
 
My brother is still crying after seeing a convertible Pontiac Fiero with a Quad
Four engine and upgraded suspension being crushed.

Ron and Julie

>
> > I once saw three brand new Corvettes towed into a
> > junkyard here in Lansing..straight to the crusher...
> > nothing was allowed to be removed from the cars....
> > I felt like crying.....the auto companys have lots of
> > money to throw away....liability reasons for the
> > crushing of the cars.
> > Rob Teed 74 Painted Desert
> >
>
> I've heard of that happening over at the GM Tech Center in Warren. It probably
> happened to a GMC motorhome or two or three!
> Richard Waters
>
> >
> >
> > > Some years ago I was on a sales call to the Libby Owens Ford
> > > glass plant in
> > > Toledo. I was with my contact and we passed by a line that was
> > > at the time
> > > manufacturing the large rear window for the 1983 something Camaro
> > > and Firebird
> > > IIRC. Anyway a very large piece of glass. To make a long story
> > > short they
> > > regularly had to break some of the rear windows to make sure that
> > > the resulting
> > > chunks of glass were of a consistent size. I was very impressed when they
> > > allowed me to break 3 of the rear windows with an automatic
> > > center punch. I
> > > couldn't believe how such a small device could totally destroy
> > > the glass. One hit
> > > with the punch and the glass disintegrated into a million pieces.
> > > I think I
> > > broke about $1000 worth of glass at retail that afternoon and it
> > > was just for
> > > fun!
> > >
 
IIRC..
The local Wards store here had one for sale. (SMall hammer for breaking out glass.) Just the thing to sell for anyone who wanted to go around 'testing' it. Wasnt in the automotive department, was near the clothes area with other knick-knacks.

CBWood
77 Kingsley
MWC OK
(on 'Digest' now)

- -------------------------------------------------------------
Get free personalized email at http://www.switchboardmail.com
 
A ball bearing or a marble in a sock will also shatter a window when swung
with enough velocity. I was told this was how thieves broke out car windows
when stealing radios was all the rage. Supposedly the small weight used
wouldn't even set off most motion sensing alarms.

Tony Bad

- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2000 9:11 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: fire escape?

> IIRC..
> The local Wards store here had one for sale. (SMall hammer for breaking
out glass.) Just the thing to sell for anyone who wanted to go around
'testing' it. Wasnt in the automotive department, was near the clothes area
with other knick-knacks.
>
>
>
>
>
> CBWood
> 77 Kingsley
> MWC OK
> (on 'Digest' now)
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Get free personalized email at http://www.switchboardmail.com
>
 
On Thu, 18 May 2000 08:03:10 -0400 Richard Waters
writes:
>
>

>
> > I once saw three brand new Corvettes towed into a
> > junkyard here in Lansing..straight to the crusher...
> > nothing was allowed to be removed from the cars....
> > I felt like crying.....the auto companys have lots of
> > money to throw away....liability reasons for the
> > crushing of the cars.
> > Rob Teed 74 Painted Desert
> >
>
> I've heard of that happening over at the GM Tech Center in Warren.
> It probably
> happened to a GMC motorhome or two or three!
> Richard Waters
>
>

The first 20 GMCs produced were scrapped allegedly although #11 has shown
up in the Registry.

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
Dedicated to the preservation of the Classic GMC
http://www.gmcss.com/registry.htm
 
Another trick used by car thieves to break a window with little effort is to use
an automatic center punch. Puts a lot of pressure on a very small point.

Don Ogden
 
On Thu, 18 May 2000 19:58:11 -0400 "Donald W. Ogden"
writes:
> Another trick used by car thieves to break a window with little
> effort is to use
> an automatic center punch. Puts a lot of pressure on a very small
> point.
>
> Don Ogden
>
>

I heard the kids will use a spark plug. Don't imagine it works on
laminated glass tho!

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 MacFarlane Drive
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
http://www.gmcss.com/registry.htm
 
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