Jayco Emergency Exit Window: How To Open RV Emergency Window
They may be too small is one of the complaints about these emergency windows on RVs and trailers. They are not made for a one size fits all escape. Some people who may be a little overweight may find it difficult to squeeze through the opening even if it is an actual emergency.
This is not too difficult to open them. Just move the handle up and out of the holding bracket and then move it to a 90-degree angle to get the window loose enough to open. This may be a little tough to move the first few times so do not press too hard so you do not break the glass
To learn more about opening this window, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know about so you can do this procedure safely. The key though is to make sure you latch it right when you close it.
Emergency Exit Window 101
Can You Open an Emergency Exit Window in a Camper?
Yes, these windows are designed to open when you need them to be opened. Not just in case of an emergency but when you need more airflow when you are not using your AC unit.
The process is quite simple to do. Just lift the handle up to a 90-degree angle and then move the window out to the position you want it in. Be careful though as a slight or semi-strong wind can also catch the window and move it.
When that happens, your window can get damaged. Also, you need to make sure that you latch the window tightly when you close it. If you don’t a slight bump can open it at the wrong moment.
Or, if you are driving, the strong wind can rip the window open and cause a lot of damage to it and your RV or trailer. One reason for this issue is that the parts holding the window and handle may be made of plastic or have plastic parts themselves.
Also, you may find that Jayco will put a window screen on a window that is not supposed to be opened except in cases of emergencies. RV makers do come up with some strange ideas.
Jayco Emergency Exit Window
While they are not supposed to be used unless there is an emergency, these windows do open normally and let you get a lot more airflow when you need to air our your camper. Many owners ignore the advice to not open them and use them without incident all the time.
There should be one in the bedroom and one in the living area to make sure you have enough options for a quick escape if the need should arise. However, there may be a little trouble opening them.
Some owners have reported that the windows can be tough to move the first few times. It takes a few openings and closings to loosen up the seals so that the windows open as easily as all the other windows in your RV.
If you own a 2019-2020 Jay Feather X19H travel trailer and have not heard the news, a recall was issued by Jayco concerning the handles that open these windows. These handles did not open the window far enough to let a lot of bigger adults get out without hurting themselves.
If you had not heard about this recall, use the following information to contact the company to see if the offer is still valid- 1-800-517-9137-Jayco’s number for this recall is 9901441.
Also, you can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) to see if your trailer qualifies still for this free repair.
How To Open an RV Emergency Window
Opening emergency windows is not that hard and should be just like opening the emergency windows on a school bus. You will have a lever that is inside a holder locking the window in place. Pull the lever out from the holder and then move it upward so that the window can be opened as far as it can go.
That is all there is to it. The key and most important information you need to remember is to put the lever back in the locking position correctly. Then double-check to make sure the window is locked and secure.
If you don’t do the closing correctly, you will be setting yourself up for some window trouble that is easily avoided. Owners have reported windows popping open at the wrong time, the wind catching them, and damaging the windows or ripping them right out of their place.
Locking is as important as opening the windows correctly. Also, be gentle but firm with the pressure you use when opening these windows. It takes a few cycles to get them to move easily. You do not want to break the window as that may not be covered by the warranty.
How To Open RV Emergency Window From Outside
There are different methods you can use to open the emergency window from the outside. Just make sure to leave these methods for when you get locked out, or there is some other problem and you do not have your keys with you.
The first method is to use a Phillips head screwdriver. There are actually screws on the outside that will allow you to remove the window once you have taken the screws out. This is probably the safest way to go about this task.
The other two ways involve removing the glass with a glass cutter or breaking the window with a rock or a hammer, etc. Not the most ideal option as you will have to foot the bill for the repair.
If you are locked out, the way to avoid breaking or opening the emergency window would be to have a duplicate key hidden somewhere on the outside. Make sure to place it in a secure spot that you only know about and do not tell anyone where that location is.
A fourth option would be to call a locksmith and let him open the door for you. This avoids any issues you might have with opening the emergency window. If you are outside of a town, this may get expensive as the locksmith may charge you for driving time and gas.
Camper Emergency Exit Window Replacement
Having two emergency windows is required by law for all campers, trailers, and RVs. This means that you may have to replace the glass from time to time if any damage has been done to them.
Then, these windows are to be regularly inspected to make sure they are in top working order. The replacement is mandatory if the window has been damaged in some way or the mechanisms have worn out.
Also, to thwart situations like we just described above, most of these windows are made from shatter proof glass or high-impact plastic. Those are the materials you need to go with when you replace those windows.
The good news is that the RV glass repair shops have these materials in stock as well as the correct high-impact plastic or aluminum for the frames. All you have to do is find the closest repair shop near you and talk price with them.
There will be many popping up in a quick search so you will have lots of options to choose from. It is better to go with a pro on this repair as DIYing it may not produce the best results.
Finding an Emergency Exit Window For RV
According to the law, there should be 2 of these windows in any given RV, trailer, or camper. One of these windows will be in the sleeping area of the RV, etc., and the other will be in the living area.
These are supposed to be strategically placed so that you have easy access to them and give you a quick exit. The key will be to have them open smoothly and quickly when an emergency arises. You do not want a slow opening widow when you are in a hurry.
It is possible to make these windows larger if you feel that they are too small for your size. That is something you have to talk over with the RV window repair experts. They can give you an estimate on the total cost and a price for each material they offer to use for the replacement.
How do You Put an Emergency Window in an RV?
There is not much talk about how to do this task. It is not sure when the law making having these windows mandatory came into effect either. What that means is that you may not have to worry about this project as the windows may already be installed,m even in older models.
We would advise that you not do this project yourself as it is a complicated task requiring a lot of skill. We do suggest that you talk to the experts because they will have the tools, the materials, and the expertise to get this job done right.
The main issue will be making sure the addition is water-tight so that no water damage will be done to the interior of the walls or your RV’s interior. Talk to the pros first before attempting this project. They can enlarge your current emergency windows as well making them easier to use when needed.
RV Emergency Exit Window Fell Off
This does happen and it usually takes place when someone forgot to double-check to see if the window was secured properly. This is more common than you may think. These windows are not secured by the toughest of parts.
Also, they may fall off if you open the window too wide. They simply come off the hinges and it seems that they are designed to do just that. Or it was poor craftsmanship as some owners found that they may get the window back on the hinge but the window or the lever does not close properly.
This is a fix that you should leave to the experts as well. They will have the right parts to put the window back in place. Also, some of the windows are riveted to the hinge and those rivets can break on you. It takes skill to put the window back in place and you may not have the right tool son hand to do the job.
RV Emergency Exit Window Leak
This may be as simple as the seals have gone bad and you would need to replace them. Since the emergency windows are not supposed to be open except for emergencies, the RV maker may not have put weep holes in the frame.
That means that the water will pool in the channel and overflow inside your RV. One solution would be to drill your own weep holes so that the water doe snot pool and can escape to the outside.
You can try re-caulking the window as well but that might not fix the source of the leak. Plus, if you do see weep holes, double-check to see if they are plugged or dirty. If so, clean them out as that should stop the leaking
If the window continues to leak, then you may have to take your RV or trailer to the dealer and have them check out the window. They may be able to spot the source quicker than you.
Water takes the easiest path so the leak may not be in the window at all, but somewhere else.
Some Final Words
Make sure to practice opening and closing the emergency window. This will loosen up its operation and be ready for when you really need it to open. Also, do some emergency window drills so that everyone knows what to do when they are in a hurry. Practice does make emergency use a lot easier.
