We recently replaced the fire extinguishers in our travel trailer. For most people, this is an item they probably rarely think about.
This isn’t a review! A review would require a fire in our camper and a determination of how well the extinguishers put out the fire. I hope I never will need to do a review of the product.
Our last three RVs came with tiny Kidde brand non-rechargeable fire extinguishers. Kidde guarantees these for 6 years. Rechargeable units have a 12 year warranty. Most extinguisher manufacturers recommend period inspections, and replacement at 10-12 years. Since the extinguisher that came with our camper is 9 years old, it was time for replacement.
The 5 Year Inspection
Back in 2018, I took a close look at our extinguisher. No leaks were found. Unfortunately, the extinguisher does not have a gauge. So I bought a second unit, which we stored in the under-sink cabinet near our front door. The original, that I left in place, was mounted on a wall next to the front door.
In case of a fire, having an extinguisher in a cabinet is not a great idea. It needs to be in the open where it is easily accessible. The second extinguisher, which was now “out of sight, out of mind” also could be damaged by rolling around should it come loose from the mounting bracket and not noticed by us.
I decided a second extinguisher should be placed at the other end of the trailer, near the rear door. Having extinguishers at each door would make it easy and quick to use from the outside of the camper.
Mounting Brackets
All of these inexpensive extinguishers come with a plastic mounting bracket. Over the years the plastic breaks. Not a good idea.
I wanted a more robust bracket made from metal. Also, instead of just two mounting holes that these plastic mounts have, I wanted at least four mounting holes. Lastly, I didn’t want a huge fire extinguisher that was too large to easily mount and get in the way of day-to-day living. Most small extinguishers come with plastic brackets.
I found an optional (extra money) metal bracket could be purchased to fit a First Alert RV Fire Extinguisher.
First Alert REC5 RV Fire Extinguisher
This extinguisher is slightly larger than the one that came with the camper and is marketed for use in RVs, marine and home applications.
It has a gauge and is rechargeable, although I expect is cheaper to just buy a new one than to have it recharged.
- Rechargeable REC5 Recreational Fire Extinguisher is UL rated 5-B: C and has a durable metal head, and is ideal for use in your RV
- Designed to fight flammable-liquid and electrical fires; Uses sodium bicarbonate extinguishing agent
- Bracket and strap are included for secure placement of extinguisher, designed to meet the demanding needs of travel.
- Metal pull pin with safety seal to help prevent accidental discharge and discourage tampering
- Corrosion-resistant, easy-to-read, color-coded metal gauge; Waterproof label with simple instructions
- These fires are capable of spreading extremely fast and can be attributed to gasoline, grease, oil and paints
First Alert Metal BRACKET2
Designed to fit the REC5 fire extinguisher, it is made from powder coated steel and has four mounting holes. Perfect!
Installation
The new extinguisher is slightly larger that our original.
It does come with a plastic mounting bracket. The optional BRACKET2 (below, right) is substantially more robust.
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First Alert REC5 Recreation Fire Extinguisher, UL Rated 5-B:C, White, 1-Pack
24% Off $32.99 $24.98 (as of April 12, 2024 22:52 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)