Side windows vs no side windows

i think the side windows make for an easy escape in an emergency, over a solid wall.

sleepers of years ago, actually had doors for escaping..!!! but those may have been the "sit-in" sleepers, and not the walk-in types.

why some companies are not having "vent windows", i do not know, maybe a different company making the sleepers, maybe they have found that too many water leaks, or maybe they found that after X number of times, the hinges break and the windows fall out..??(which actually happened to me)

 

The truck I drive has both upper vented windows and pop out side vents for the lower bunk. They do a decent job if there's a breeze but without one, it can get stuffy. It's not as bad when I use my Breezeway screens.

I wish my truck had one of those sleeper vent fans that suck in air from the outside.

 

The sleeper side doors were only required in the old sit in sleepers as the DOT didn't find the sit in space between the cab and bunk to be sufficient for an emergency exit, hence the sleeper doors. Plus before the mid 50's, there were sleepers that had NO direct link between cab and bunk, and the side door was the only access. Once the "unicab" sleepers came out, the requirement for a side door was no longer necessary as there wasn't a "barrier" between the bunk and cab, therefore leaving enough space for a speedy emergency exit through the front. Thats why cabovers never had those side doors, no barrier there either.

I kind of miss having a sleeper door, made loading and unloading your gear a snap.

 

I know, I have my skylight blocked off with cardboard. Even with the solar treated glass, the Texas sun still shines through. The sleeper curtain will block it off but I like keeping them tied back and using a front window privacy curtain.

I remember the first gen Kenworth T2000s had skylights (Kenworth called them Aerodyne windows IIRC) that unfortunately were installed where they were BEHIND the sleeper curtain, not in front. Later versions eliminated the skylights altogether.

 

The newer volvos traded the upper tip out windows for some sort of vent. The glass is fixed and I guess theres a small door behind that grate area that lets in air. Never had the chance to poke around my father in laws new 2013 Volvo to see how it operated. The lower windows still tip out in the big 770 and 780 sleepers.

I kind of like the Prostar windows, they seem to allow a larger airflow area.

 

I found the large side window on a W9 sleeper to be handy when blindside backing as I could just cheat and look through that window for better view.

 

I know that the Kennworth "coffin" style sleepers have air vents and fans to suck in the air.