mgh122
PA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/31/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
Anyone know the causes of most MH fires? On our way north we saw a burned out shell and it got me thinking about a suppression system. But what needs protection, engine, genny, propane , fuel, you get the idea what is the most prevalent cause?
Mike & Peg
Aint' life grand!!
'05 Discovery 39S
'04 Grand Cherokee Freedom, M&G, Roadmaster Sterling
http://discovery-on-the-road.blogspot.com/
Zeus the Wonder Dog
"makes you wonder doesn't he"
|
Jerry B
Ozark Highlands
Senior Member
Joined: 06/11/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
mgh122 wrote:Anyone know the causes of most MH fires? On our way north we saw a burned out shell and it got me thinking about a suppression system. But what needs protection, engine, genny, propane , fuel, you get the idea what is the most prevalent cause?
If most F-53 chassies are like mine ocassionally spewing transmission fluid all over the undercarriage, I would vote for transmissions being the culprit. Returning from Florida I thought we WERE on fire because of all the smoke and smell. Going into the transmission shop for the third time.
Jerry B
1996 Dolphin 535,F-53.
|
Daveinet
il
Senior Member
Joined: 10/29/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Yep, can't find where I found it, but transmission fires are the number one cause for RV fires.
Dave
FMCA F298817
'83 Revcon Prince 31' FWD
502 w/Thorley's & Magnaflows,
Howell/Edelbrock MPFI, Koni FSD,
Class A built for gear heads 
My Revcon Website
Revconeers Forum
XP activation frustration
|
mikim
Rancho Cucamonga, CA USA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/21/2003
View Profile
|
We had a 2003 Holiday Rambler Admiral on a Workhorse W-22 chassis. Gas.
The fire started when a fuel line ruptured and sprayed fuel across the hot engine. The coach was 11 days old.
We replaced that coach with a 2004 same brand, model and style. There was a recall for this coach...the bracket holding the fuel line in place at the engine had not been properly "hardened". It took less than 10 minutes to replace this part at the dealer under the recall.
|
chuck4788
West of the Middle
Senior Member
Joined: 05/10/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I attended a forum at a rally; on the panel was the Monaco Chief Engineer for chassis, who opined that he thought 90% of engine fires in side radiator DPs were caused by hydraulic hose leaks spraying oil on the hot turbo. Not a pretty visual. He went on to say that the hoses can have up to 3000psi and they vibrate from the pressure pulses created by the pump. They are suseptable to chafing because of the vibration and engine movement. The chafing problems usually occur when the hose locating clamps are not correctly reinstalled during engine repairs. He also recommend periodic inspection of all hoses for signs of chafing.
I last inspected mine a year ago but had a radiator hose fail from chafing last month. Somehow a clamp slipped and allowed the hose to contact the side wall in the engine compartment. Of course the failure occured in the mountains of NE Oregon, 60 miles from the nearest town and no cell phone coverage.
Chuck
02 Beaver
505hp C12 Cat
Trailblazer toad
|
|
|
96Bounder30E
Birthplace of the Boysenberry, Orange County, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/21/2002
View Profile
|
Jerry B wrote:mgh122 wrote:Anyone know the causes of most MH fires? On our way north we saw a burned out shell and it got me thinking about a suppression system. But what needs protection, engine, genny, propane , fuel, you get the idea what is the most prevalent cause?
If most F-53 chassies are like mine ocassionally spewing transmission fluid all over the undercarriage, I would vote for transmissions being the culprit. Returning from Florida I thought we WERE on fire because of all the smoke and smell. Going into the transmission shop for the third time.
Jerry,
Just wondering........Have you added extra Tranny cooling since then?
|
tom_kat
way upstate new york/lake george area
Senior Member
Joined: 02/28/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
hot exhaust or engine with gas or oil leaking on it,electrical wireing shorting out causes fires, insulation where wires or hoses rub frames or other medal helps there.i use old radiator/heater hoses split down the middle and quick ties to insulate wire bundles from frame or medal where they rub, also any oil or gas lines, water hoses.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
|
Jerry B
Ozark Highlands
Senior Member
Joined: 06/11/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
96Bounder30E wrote:Jerry B wrote:mgh122 wrote:Anyone know the causes of most MH fires? On our way north we saw a burned out shell and it got me thinking about a suppression system. But what needs protection, engine, genny, propane , fuel, you get the idea what is the most prevalent cause?
If most F-53 chassies are like mine ocassionally spewing transmission fluid all over the undercarriage, I would vote for transmissions being the culprit. Returning from Florida I thought we WERE on fire because of all the smoke and smell. Going into the transmission shop for the third time.
Jerry,
Just wondering........Have you added extra Tranny cooling since then?
Hi Eric,
Nope. Cooling has not been the issue. We were traveling in very cool winter temps and the transmission temp gage (measuring TC output) never exceeded 160 F. This has been an on ongoing problem. The front seal will simply puke fluid on occasion. Then it is fine for a while. In this case, all the way from Hattiesburg Mississippi to Missouri, no problem. The fluid spewing out doesn't really bother me unti it does it in the RV park. I made a big mess at Gulf Shores State Park last fall. Embarassing to say the least. My transmission guru is going to check it out and replace the front seal as a min.
Seriously,my wife and I have an escape plan with specific duties in case we have to bail out of this thing. A park model in Florida is looking better all the time. If my genset dies as I suspect it may, that will be it.
|
GaryDuarte
Florence, S.C.
Senior Member
Joined: 06/26/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Almost lost mine to hydraulic jacks hose being too close to the engine. It was a recal that did not get fixed right. Some flames on the top of the axle blew out before they could do any harm.
Papa's driving the new Daybreak
Jaden and Minnie are CoPiolets
Mickey is navigating
|
tonyandkaren
pennsylvania
Senior Member
Joined: 05/15/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
The one we witnessed was caused by a wire shorting out. Fortunately the owner must have smelled the smoke and pulled into a Flying J. People from other motorhomes all came running with fire extinquishers and got the fire out before it caused a lot of damage.
|
|
|
