Our Commitment to Safety

The Safety of a Roadtrek^®TM

We are serious about manufacturing the safest class B motorhomes. In addition to safety features like air bags, electronic stability program (on Sprinter), tire pressure monitoring system, theft deterrent system, anti-lock brakes and automatic on/off headlights, we hire independent engineering firms to test our vehicles. The results follow.

TESTING RELATED TO FUEL SYSTEM MODIFICATION TO ACCOMMODATE LOWERED FLOOR

When GM completely redesigned the Chevrolet van in 1996, they relocated the fuel tank on all van (and some van cab and chassis) models from behind the rear axle to between the axles (mid-ship). To enjoy the benefits of a lowered floor (improved fuel economy, handling, appearance, overall height, galley counter height and ease of entry and exit), we simply lowered the original tank by 1.5". The tank’s clearance is still higher than the running boards and sewer discharge, which have proved sufficient for years. You won’t enjoy the “off road” clearance of a truck, but you’ll be fine if you don’t drive anywhere you wouldn’t drive a car.

To modify the fuel systems, GM requires that we meet or exceed very stringent safety and engineering standards. This mandatory testing includes:

Fuel System Integrity Crash Testing
(Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 301)

The purpose of this series of tests is to reduce deaths and injuries occurring from fires resulting from fuel spillage during and after crashes. The testing consists of 3 impacts: frontal, side and rear. For the frontal impact, the test vehicle impacts a fixed barrier at 30 mph (48 km/h). For the rear and side impacts, the test vehicle is stationary and impacted by a moving barrier at 30 mph (48 km/h) and 20 mph (32 km/h) respectively, which simulates the effect of being struck by other vehicles. After each impact, the test vehicle is rotated 360 degrees upon its axis and held stationary for 5 minutes, every 90 degrees. The test vehicle can leak no more than one ounce (28 g) of fuel per minute to pass. Our test vehicles did not leak any fuel.

Exhaust Emission Testing
(California Air Resources Board)

Today’s vehicles require increasingly stringent pollution control equipment. Exhaust emission testing was successfully conducted on Chevy based Roadtreks to ensure that emissions did not exceed limitations.

Fuel System Evaporative Emission Testing (CARB)

In addition to controlling exhaust emissions, evaporation of fuel is a source of pollution that must be strictly limited. The entire fuel system (fill, tank, lines, etc.) cannot leak more than the equivalent of a pinhole. Testing verified that Chevy based Roadtreks met this requirement.

Second Generation On Board Diagnostics (OBDII)
Verification (CARB, Vehicle Code: Sec. 27156)

Today’s vehicles are equipped with sensors and actuators that sense the operation of various components and actuate others to maintain optimal performance. On board computers are capable of monitoring all of the sensors and actuators to determine whether they are working as intended. Included are those that detect fuel evaporation, as described above. It was verified that the OBDII system is functioning properly on all Chevy based Roadtreks.

OTHER MANDATORY TESTS

New Occupant Head Protection Testing
(FMVSS 201U)

The purpose of this complex new series of tests is to provide occupants with additional head protection to interior pillars, side rails, headers and roofs during crashes. This testing confirms adequate impact absorbing design and special materials are used in the subject areas to reduce head injuries. Successful testing involves launching a test “head” at numerous target points in the vehicle’s interior without exceeding limited thresholds of “injury” to the “head”. Targeting, launching and recording of the impact forces are controlled by a computerized system. All Chevy based Roadtreks have passed these very stringent tests. Some other RV manufacturers still cannot make this claim.

Seat Belt Testing (FMVSS 210)

The purpose of this testing is to reduce deaths and injuries to motor vehicle occupants during crashes. It confirms proper seat belt location for effective occupant restraint, and minimizes the possibility of seat belt anchorage failures. Successful testing requires the application of a 3000-pound force in a forward direction to the seat belts for 10 seconds without failure. Testing confirmed that all Roadtrek seat belts meet these requirements.

Seating System Testing (FMVSS 207)

The purpose of this series of tests is to reduce deaths and injuries to motor vehicle occupants during crashes. This testing minimizes the possibility of failure of the seats and their attachments as well as installation problems. Successful testing requires the application of significant forces in various directions to the seats and their attachments without failure. All Roadtrek seating has been tested to ensure it meets or exceeds these requirements.

Flammability Testing (FMVSS 302)

The purpose of this testing is to reduce deaths and injuries to motor vehicle occupants caused by fires, especially those originating from the vehicle’s interior from sources such as matches or cigarettes. Testing confirms that the burn rate of affected interior materials does not exceed specified maximums. All applicable materials used in Roadtrek interiors meet or exceed the specified burn resistance requirements.

VOLUNTARY TESTING

There are numerous safety standards that apply to lighter vehicles, such as passenger cars, but not to heavier vehicles, such as class B motorhomes. They do not apply for various reasons, such as the inherent safety advantage of heavier vehicles, or that it does not make sense on such vehicles. In order to “raise the bar” on the safety of Roadtreks, we have voluntarily conducted numerous tests that are not required by law, nor done by most of our competitors.

Dynamic Rollover Testing (part of FMVSS 208)

The purpose of this testing is to reduce deaths and injuries from occupants and their appendages not remaining inside the passenger compartment during rollover accidents. The test is conducted by placing the test vehicle on a movable platform perpendicular to the platform’s line of travel. To help start the rollover, the test vehicle rests at a 23 degree lateral incline with the tires against a “trip” flange. The platform is propelled down a test track to 30 mph (48 km/h) and stopped in such a way that the vehicle is propelled from the platform.

Although the platform speed and height of the trip flange were increased above the requirement, the Roadtrek would not rollover. This is considered a pass (in a rollover situation, what safer vehicle to be in than one that does not rollover?).

Roof Crush Resistance Testing (FMVSS 216)

This testing is intended to reduce deaths and injuries due to crushing of the roof into the passenger compartment during rollover accidents. The corner of the roof at the top of the “A” pillar (between the windshield and front door windows) cannot crush more than 5" (125 mm) when applying a force equal to 1.5 times the vehicle’s unloaded vehicle weight. This testing was conducted at the top of the “A” pillar and also at the top of the outer roof window. The Roadtrek successfully passed both of these tests.

Comparative Side Crush Resistance Testing (part of FMVSS 214)

During the manufacture of conversion vans (4 captain seats, rear sofa/bed, and with or without a raised roof; not to be confused with class B motorhomes), some of the original vertical reinforcements or “studs” are removed from the original “cargo” van body to allow the installation of side windows. Although this meets with applicable safety standards, we wanted to compare the strength of the original cargo van with no studs removed, to Roadtreks which have some studs replaced with cabinetry secured to the chassis (although wood is not as strong as steel under equal conditions, the original steel studs are of minimal thickness and depth, whereas our cabinetry is much more substantial).

This testing is intended to simulate the vehicle impacting a utility pole at a perpendicular angle. It measures the force necessary to crush into the side of the vehicle by 7". The original cargo van required 9,700 pounds of force to achieve 7" of crush, whereas the Roadtrek required 12,100 pounds!

“Automotive Manufacturer Style” Durability Testing

Durability is more an issue of customer satisfaction and value, but improved reliability can result in increased safety (less breakdowns, etc.).

Automotive manufacturers conduct extensive durability testing where they put the equivalent of 80,000 to 120,000 miles (130,000 to 190,000 km.) of wear on a vehicle in a short period of time as part of the design and development process. By having durability testing conducted for us, numerous design improvements - which would only have become apparent during the normal life of the first ones of each new model built and sold - were quickly identified and implemented. We are not aware of any other RV manufacturers that conduct the same tests on its products (probably due to the costs involved).

SAFETY FIRST - always!

Your safety is our priority! No other manufacturer of class B motorhomes invests so much time, effort and money to ensure the product we offer you is as safe as can be. When shopping for your next motorhome, select the one that has been proven safe... the Roadtrek.