psyflyjohn
San Diego, CA
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Joined: 10/31/2003
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I've been on a safety kick for the last few years. Looking at statistics about issues with Class A motorhome safety, tires (inflation issues and blow-outs) and engine fires are high up there. A new Pressure Pro system was added, finding a slow leak in my inner dually a few weeks after installation.
That leaves fire suppression. I have fire extinguishers strategically located around the motorhome, but would like an engine fire suppression system. Problem is they are very expensive!
I was envisioning installing a little trap door in the top of the dog house. It would be sealed for driving, but could be easily opened, and a fire extinguisher shoved in there in case of an engine fire. The dog house is directly over the fuel rail - injector complex, where it would be well exposed to the extinguisher.
What do you think?
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Wayne Dohnal
Banks, OR.
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Joined: 03/09/2003
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I can relate to your concern. I was recently looking at a class A unit with the GM 8.1 liter engine and remembered the recall for the spring clip on the fuel pressure regulator. When this little spring clip fails, raw gas gets pumped out in the engine area, right under where you're sitting. This engine has a stellar reputation but this one little detail contributed to steering me toward a rig with a firewall and handy doors for a quick exit.
2009 Fleetwood Icon 24A
EU2000i generator
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Shellback62
Sedro-Woolley, Washington
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Joined: 01/11/2007
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The expense in commercial fire suppression systems is the liability insurance on the finished product.
Think about contacting a person that install marine fire suppression systems on boats. They would be more familiar with the system you need and in my opinion would be more flexible in the system lay out.
Another idea would be to install a detector to activate the system. This gives the fastest response time.
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narcodog
Georgia
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Joined: 04/02/2006
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I would think that if you had a fire and opened the dog house you would allow a larger amount of 02 into the compartment and the fire would flare up and onto you. The best way would to fight the fire from the outside or have a Halon type extinguisher system installed in the doghouse where all you would have to do is activate it.
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othertonka
Stockton, CA
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Joined: 11/15/2003
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I don't think you would want to be in the MH fighting a engine fire. If you don't put the fire out right away, and you probably won't just shooting the extingusiher through a little trap door, you will surely be trapped inside. Get out and if the fire is not too large yet, you can make an attack to the engine fire from outside on either side over the top of the front wheels. Call for help or have someone call for help first if at all possible to get the engines rolling, and you will probably need more than one fire extinguisher to get the job done if you catch it early on.
Othertonka
2004 Southwind 32VS
2002 CRV Toad
U. S. Gear Unified brake system
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ffemt1271
Louisiana
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Joined: 12/29/2002
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some apartments here has a fire suppression system that looks like a tuna fish can that magnets to the underside of your range hood, should there be a fire it sets a wick on fire and blows out dry chemican agent to extinguish the fire, i've seen it extinguish and entire kitchen fire before, i'll have to go to the station and get the website to post
Professional Firefighter/EMT
2003 DODGE 2500Hd/ cummins
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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Re Fighting an engine fire:
That is the advantage of a engine fire suppression system. There are two kinds
One kind, if the temps in the engine compartment get to the point where the system feels there is a fire, It dumps it's load and ... Extinguishes the fire (We hope)
The other type you have to pull a handle or push a button or move a lever to dump the fire bottles onto the fire.
In either case there are a few things you DO NOT do .. Like open the dog house or hood, You just pop the valve and GET OUT OF THERE FAST
Remember, when the carpet starts gassing.... You have seconds, at most
Once you breath in a lung full,, You have about 1/2 heart beat
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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Our son lost His Motorhome a few years back. It went from Poof to ashes in under 11 Minutes! I wouldn't be opening Flaps and stuffing Extinguishers, I'd be getting the Heck OUT !
Rob & Jean 90 Southwind John Deere/Oshkosh/Freightliner Class A Ford 460/ Toad 92 Tracker 2 wd 5sp Convert Still running Great!
" Everything in it"Still" Works"
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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FWIW: I don't believe you can purchase a halon system any longer as it was found to be very harmful to the ozone layer and a multi-nation agreement was signed to eliminate the systems in all developed nations by the year 2000. I used to have a halon system in my sail boat engine room but that was a few years ago. Seems to me that BEST strategy is to get out and let the insurance company handle it.
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Don't need Halon in an engine fire, Need foam, or CO2 or (Foam would be my first choice)
And I agree with the person who said "I'd not be opening flaps"
That is why the OP wants a pre-installed suppression system
You pop one valve and you RUN LIKE THE DEVIL HIMSELF is after you.. Which, in a manner of speaking,, He is (I mean fire is his place of business)
You open exactly one flap.. The door you exit via! Nothing else
In fact, opening the engine compartment while it's on fire
BAD IDEA
Thought just hit me... Try contacting this person
http://www.macthefireguy.com/contact_mac_mccoy.htm
When it comes to fire fighting.. he really is the real McCoy
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