Escape Hatch- is it missed? February 13, 2018, 01:44:15 pm I see that 2011 was the last year that Lazy Daze featured the large escape hatch over the cabover bunk. For those that have owned older LD's with the hatch and now own a 2012 or newer rig, do you miss the hatch?
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #1 – February 13, 2018, 05:42:48 pm We would miss it for letting the heat from the stove/range escape.Not a problem for the many who do not cook.
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #2 – February 13, 2018, 05:48:06 pm The newer LD's have that wonderful fantastic fan in place of the escape hatch. I'd like to have that fan instead of the escape hatch. And that's my $.02. 1 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #3 – February 13, 2018, 10:19:00 pm If you are averse to climbing up the ladder to get on the roof, the escape hatch offers a convenient way to get up there and clean the solar panels. 3 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #4 – February 14, 2018, 12:26:08 am Quote from: HiLola - February 13, 2018, 01:44:15 pmI see that 2011 was the last year that Lazy Daze featured the large escape hatch over the cabover bunk. For those that have owned older LD's with the hatch and now own a 2012 or newer rig, do you miss the hatch?The lack of an escape hatch is a deal killer for those of us who like sleep in the bunk.I enjoy the view of the stars and fresh air. You can't stick your head out of a Fantastic Fan, to enjoy the Milky Way.My guess is its elimination was a cost cutting move. Decontenting began after the 2008 recession .Many floorpans could use a ceiling fan in the front of the coach. Andy's Skylark had an additional Fantastic Fan, located to the rear of the escape hatch, that we installed many years ago. Not a project for the faint of heart, it required chopping though a structural ceiling support and needed a bit of steel to regain the lost strength .Larry 1 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #5 – February 14, 2018, 07:53:20 am We use the fantastic fan in our 2017 MB much more than we use escape hatch in our 2005. 1 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #6 – February 14, 2018, 08:14:51 am Did not know/remember a fan replaced the hatch. Great. That's something I suggested to Steve in 2008. I imagine a great help in removing stove heat.
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #7 – February 14, 2018, 09:13:06 am If and when I upgrade to a newer model I will probabably miss the Escape hatch. I use it as a tool pass through to the roof. In years past it was the roof access, if the roof rack and ladder option was not purchased on smaller rigs. FYI: in 1988 roof rack and ladder, 13,500 BTU Air Conditioner, 4KW twin Onan Generator, and Built in Mirowave ovens were all options in 1988. The 1988 MB had the Roof rack and Ladder, Air Conditioning, Microwave oven, as standard options. Thay all had a Swamp Cooler.
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #8 – February 14, 2018, 09:55:16 am Quote from: rodneyhelfrich - February 14, 2018, 09:13:06 amIf and when I upgrade to a newer model I will probabably miss the Escape hatch. I use it as a tool pass through to the roof. In years past it was the roof access, if the roof rack and ladder option was not purchased on smaller rigs. FYI: in 1988 roof rack and ladder, 13,500 BTU Air Conditioner, 4KW twin Onan Generator, and Built in Mirowave ovens were all options in 1988. The 1988 MB had the Roof rack and Ladder, Air Conditioning, Microwave oven, as standard options. Thay all had a Swamp Cooler. Yes, my '85 did not have a roof ladder, thus the escape hatch was the only way to access the roof unless there was a portable ladder available.Like Larry, I also enjoyed opening the hatch at night to look out at the night sky. Depending on which model we ultimately end up with, this may or may not be important. A Fantastic Fan in the front of the coach would also be desireable.
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #9 – February 14, 2018, 10:03:55 am I would rather have a fantastic fan instead of the hatch. My hatch starts to rattle about every 100 miles of travel. We have to keep tightening it up as we drive.
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #10 – February 14, 2018, 11:02:03 am Quote from: Duro - February 14, 2018, 10:03:55 amI would rather have a fantastic fan instead of the hatch. My hatch starts to rattle about every 100 miles of travel. We have to keep tightening it up as we drive.No need to keep tightening the hatch, just crank up those Road Tunes! 1 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #11 – February 14, 2018, 11:35:14 am Quote from: Duro - February 14, 2018, 10:03:55 amI would rather have a fantastic fan instead of the hatch. My hatch starts to rattle about every 100 miles of travel. We have to keep tightening it up as we drive.I had a similar problem. I ordered the mechanism for raising and lowering from the factory, under $30 as I recall. Problem solved. 2 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #12 – February 14, 2018, 02:10:42 pm Quote from: krmugn - February 14, 2018, 11:35:14 amI had a similar problem. I ordered the mechanism for raising and lowering from the factory, under $30 as I recall. Problem solved. Thanks thats good info. I hate rattles LOL.
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #13 – February 14, 2018, 03:51:28 pm I have two fantastic fans in my 24' RB as well as the escape hatch. I also sleep in the bed above the cab so like to open the hatch on warm nights. (It is also convenient to close in the middle of the night if the air becomes too cold). I also have a rather unique use for it, pulling my rather heavy cover through it to the roof instead of trying to carry it up the ladder. Like others, my hatch does rattle, but I would miss it.Mike Liner2008 24' RB 2 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #14 – February 14, 2018, 09:24:56 pm Quote from: Larry W - February 14, 2018, 12:26:08 amMy guess is its elimination was a cost cutting move. Decontenting began after the 2008 recession .The last time we stopped by the LD factory a few years ago, Steve came by to see why we were there. Somehow the conversation drifted until the escape hatch came up. Steve claimed that he had gotten into a major disagreement with the hatch supplier about quality and he decided to deal with it by no longer installing escape hatches. I do not know how much truth was behind this, but it does sound like Steve.Art
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #15 – February 14, 2018, 09:40:08 pm Quote from: krmugn - February 14, 2018, 11:35:14 amI had a similar problem. I ordered the mechanism for raising and lowering from the factory, under $30 as I recall. Problem solved.When looking for a new hatch crank mechanism, take the old one with you to the RV parts store, to ensure an exact match.The mechanisms come in different variations. LD might still sell replacements .Larry
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #16 – February 14, 2018, 10:05:42 pm Mine was difficult to close securely -- both the red latch and the window. Soon discovered that a previous owner had used too long of a screw attaching the crank to the central support. Shortened the screw, and regained EZ latching and full closure of plastic hatch.It's my preferred way to get on the roof for maintenance or photo ops.
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #17 – February 14, 2018, 10:09:31 pm Slightly off topic but I have thought about replacing the escape hatch with a much larger pop up like you would see on a camper van. It would make the overhead queen bed a much more viable daily option, at least for half the year, in my opinion. Thoughts? I have seen at least one Lazy Daze picture with such a pop-up installed. Don't know if it was from the factory or not. Of course there would be structural considerations in such an alteration, but conceptually I like the idea.Pete 1 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #18 – February 14, 2018, 10:21:28 pm It was done by the factory not sure on how many were made.
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #19 – February 14, 2018, 11:05:37 pm Quote from: Peter Weisel - February 14, 2018, 10:09:31 pmSlightly off topic but I have thought about replacing the escape hatch with a much larger pop up like you would see on a camper van. It would make the overhead queen bed a much more viable daily option, at least for half the year, in my opinion. Thoughts? I have seen at least one Lazy Daze picture with such a pop-up installed. Don't know if it was from the factory or not. Of course there would be structural considerations in such an alteration, but conceptually I like the idea.PetePete, in the photo archives there are a few photos of a pop-up LD. Sorry I can't direct you right to them.Chris 1 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #20 – February 15, 2018, 12:33:00 am Quote from: Chris Horst - February 14, 2018, 11:05:37 pmPete, in the photo archives there are a few photos of a pop-up LD. Sorry I can't direct you right to them.Here's oneIMG_3375 | lw5315us | FlickrLarry 2 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #21 – February 15, 2018, 08:09:46 am "When looking for a new hatch crank mechanism, take the old one with you to the RV parts store, to ensure an exact match.The mechanisms come in different variations. LD might still sell replacements ."I should have been more specific in my post about ordering a new one. When I said I "ordered from the factory", I should have said the mothership. I called, talked to Steve I think, he asked me what year my coach was and he gave me the part number to send with my check. Had it a week later. Sorry for not being clear. 1 Likes
Re: Escape Hatch- is it missed? Reply #22 – February 15, 2018, 09:29:49 am Quote from: Duro - February 14, 2018, 10:03:55 amI would rather have a fantastic fan instead of the hatch. My hatch starts to rattle about every 100 miles of travel. We have to keep tightening it up as we drive.Remove a screw from the crank assembly closest to where the handle ends up with the hatch closed. Place a screw-eye crimp terminal on the screw and re-attach. Then connect a rubber band or mini bungee between the handle end and the terminal. To get more tension, the handle can be removed and re-positioned as necessary. This worked well for our '83 FL, and is still used on our '04 FL.Steve 1 Likes
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