2014 Trailmanor Travel Trailer

DANGER: EXPLOSIVE HYDROGEN GAS, WHICH ESCAPES DURING BATTERY CHARGING, COULD CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. CHARGE BATTERY IN A WELL-VENTILATED AREA. KEEP OPEN FLAMES, ELECTRICAL SPARKS AND SMOKING MATERIALS AWAY FROM BATTERY AT ALL TIMES. LP GAS FURNACE INSTALLED IN THE SAME COMPARTMENT AS AUXILIARY BATTERY ANSI/RVIA 12V 2-3 AUXILIARY BATTERY INSTALLATIONS BATTERIES SHALL NOT BE INSTALLED IN A COMPARTMENT CONTAINING SPARK OR FLAME PRODUCING EQUIPMENT NFPA 1192 5.4.5 INSTALLATION OF FUEL-BURNING APPLIANCES. NFPA 1192 5.4.5.1 THE INSTALLATION OF EACH APPLIANCE SHALL CONFORM TO THE TERMS OF ITS LISTING AND THE APPLIANCE MANUFACTURER?S INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. THE LP GAS FURNACE IS MOUNTED INSIDE THE PULL-OUT SOFA BED (FURNITURE) COMPARTMENT ALONG WITH THE 12 VOLT DC AUXILIARY BATTERY. THE BATTERY THAT GENERATES BOTH OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN GASES (HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE) WHEN THE 12 VOLT DC BATTERY IS BEING CHARGED. *TR

I DISCOVERED A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN PERFORMING A SAFETY CHECK ON MY RV. WHEN THE RV POP-UP IS IN TRAVEL POSITION, THE TRAILER?S 12 VOLT DC BATTERY IS BEING CHARGED WHEN CONNECTED TO THE TOW VEHICLES BATTERY/CHARGING SYSTEM. THE RV MANUFACTURE?S SLIDE-OUT DESIGN IN THE CLOSED TRAVEL POSITION DOES NOT ALLOW THE OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN GASES (HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE) FROM BEING VENTED TO THE EXTERIOR (RVIA BATTERY CODE).

DOMETIC RM2354B RV LP GAS REFRIGERATOR [NFPA 5.4.6.5 (3) INCORPORATES A SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM THAT PREVENTS BURNER OPERATION UNDER ANY OPERATING CONDITIONS THAT ALLOW PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION TO DISCHARGE INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE.] THERE IS NO SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM IN PLACE WHEN THE RV IS IN THE STOWED POSITION TO DEACTIVATE THE 12 VOLT LP GAS FUNCTION OF THE REFRIGERATOR. I RECENTLY ALMOST HAD A POTENTIAL FIRE CAUSED BY MY RV REFRIGERATOR ON JUNE 13, 2014 WHEN I DISCONNECTED THE CAMPSITE 110 VOLT AC POWER FROM MY POP-UP TRAILER WHILE PACKING/CLOSING THE POP-UP FOR TOWING. THE 110V/12V/LP GAS REFRIGERATOR IS DESIGN AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED FROM 110V TO 12 VOLT / LP GAS IN THE AUTO POSITION. THE REFRIGERATOR IS "LOOKING" FOR THE BEST POWER SOURCE AVAILABLE IN THE AUTO MODE. IT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED THE LP GAS FUNCTION "ON" WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. THIS IS A CONCERN SINCE REFRIGERATOR VENTING WOULD BE COVERED BY THE TWO ROOF SECTIONS IF FOLDED DOWN, WITH NO WHERE FOR THE HOT COMBUSTION GASES TO GO BUT INSIDE THE RV CABIN. LUCKILY I FELT THE HEAT FROM THE REFRIGERATOR VENTING WHEN I WAS DISCONNECTING / PACKING UP THE CABLE TV CONNECTION. CABLES AND ITEMS REQUIRING STORAGE MUST BE PACKED UP IN THE REAR STORAGE AREA BEFORE THE UPPER TWO ROOF SECTIONS ARE LOWERED. WITH THE SLIDE-OUT, IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OF THE LP GAS VALVES. IF I TURNED OFF THE GAS, THEIR WOULD STILL BE RESIDUAL GAS PRESSURE IN THE LINES TO OPERATE THE REFRIGERATOR IN LP GAS MODE. WITHOUT A SAFETY CONTROL, THE USER MUST INSURE THAT THE REFRIGERATOR IS IN THE OFF POSITION BEFORE STARTING TO DO ANY CLOSE DOWN ACTIVITIES . AS A RESULT OF THIS, I AM HAVING A SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM INSTALLED IN MY RV THAT PREVENTS THE REFRIGERATOR BURNER FROM OPERATING AUTOMATICALLY. *TR

I AM REQUESTING THAT DOT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE REQUIREMENT FOR A SAFETY SWITCH TO MAKE THE LP GAS FURNACE INOPERABLE IN MY 2014 TRAILMANOR KS SPORT WHEN IN THE TRAVEL/STORAGE MODE. I FEEL IS A UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN THE RV IS IN THE TRAVEL/STORAGE MODE THAT MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. THIS MAY AFFECT OTHER TRAILMANOR MODELS USING A LP GAS FURNACE. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED. TRAILMANOR HAS A UNIQUE POP-UP DESIGN THAT COMPLETELY COVERS THE EXHAUST/INTAKE VENT, WHEN THE FRONT ROOF SECTION COMPLETELY LOWERED AND IN THE TRAVEL/STORAGE MODE. IF THE FURNACE THERMOSTAT WAS ON, AND THE GAS WAS ON IN THE, AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM THE THERMOSTAT WOULD START THE LP GAS FURNACE WITH NO WAY TO PROPERLY VENT THE HOT (FLAME) COMBUSTION. THE CERTIFIED CANADIAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION (CSA) PROCEDURES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE FURNACE MUST HAVE A SAFETY SWITCH INSTALLED TO MAKE THE LP GAS FURNACE INOPERABLE WHEN THE EXHAUST/INTAKE ARE COVERED WHEN THE POP-UP IS IN THE TRAVEL/STORAGE MODE. REFERENCE: CAUTION: IN ANY INSTALLATION THAT HAS THE EXHAUST/INTAKE VENT COVERED OR THE MINIMUM CLEARANCES TO THE ROOM AIR GRILL REDUCED BY SOME SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE RV SUCH AS A SLIDE-OUT, POP-UP, ETC. IN THE TRAVEL OR STORAGE MODE, A SWITCH MUST BE INSTALLED TO INSURE UNIT IS INOPERABLE IN THIS MODE. IN THIS MANUAL. NO AGENT, REPRESENTATIVE OR EMPLOYEE OF SUBURBAN OR OTHER PERSON HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE, MODIFY OR WAIVE ANY PROVISION OF THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL. I HAVE REMOVED THE FUSE TO MAKE THE FURNACE INOPERABLE AND SAFE UNTIL I GET THE SAFET SWITCH INSTALLED BY AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE.. *TR