Cowcatchers

Again - google 'moose guard " common in Canada, only fastened to the frame because they must swing down so the hood can be opened for service.
Heavy but it can be done.
I doubt a motorhome version is fesable but it is possible.

Surely there is a design engineer her or out there than can calculate forces of a deer, or a big Elk and how much metal structure is needed to save the front end. the frame rails on ours is a couple feet back from cap or less.
Hitting a steer or locomotive will still mess things up pretty bad but not a deer.
Maybe a real cow catcher design that we use to see on trains. Instead of adsorbing all the energy shed it to the side.....maybe not.

jwmII wrote:
Class A motorhomes in particular are so poorly supported and reinforced on the front end that you would need a carload of steel to build a decent structure far enough back to find support for anything that could even pretend to perform like a cow catcher. The best approach is to double drive defensively and definitely don't follow to closely. In addition to all that it would probably be necessary to install additional springs or airbags to hold all that junk up. And then what would all that do to the GVWR?

I don't know which motorhome builder you are referring to, but my Spartan chassis has frame rails within 12" of the front cap. Both sides of the gen/set 8" U channels, but they are 4 feet off the ground, kinda hard to use as carrier or guard attachment points.

but they are there.

We have open range just N of us with elk, deer, and wild horses on the road day & night. My buddy hit a horse with his 3/4T pickup with a substantial bumper/grill guard at 70 mph (speed limit 65)and totaled the 2014 Dodge 2500. I don't believe you could fabricate something strong enough to protect a MH.

Class A motorhomes in particular are so poorly supported and reinforced on the front end that you would need a carload of steel to build a decent structure far enough back to find support for anything that could even pretend to perform like a cow catcher. The best approach is to double drive defensively and definitely don't follow to closely. In addition to all that it would probably be necessary to install additional springs or airbags to hold all that junk up. And then what would all that do to the GVWR?

I have wondered if the bull guards I see on 18 wheelers are actually meant to deflect a bull at interstate speeds. I mostly notice them on cattle trucks that are likely to encounter animals at very low speeds. Taking a hit from a 1,000lb animal at 60mph without damage would probably require that the guard be able to bend back a couple of feet and then rebound.

There are so many different RV's out there that making something fit very many even on the same chassis would be challenging so you are probably looking a custom fit. I recently installed a front hitch on my Palazzo with a Freightliner chassis to haul scooters but don't think that I have seen another DP that could use the same design. When you start looking the number of variations in RV's is incredible. I actually did design the front hitch with triple sockets with the thought that I might put some Super Bumpers in it when not hauling the scooters. I have not done that yet. That thought was inspired by backing into a bear-proof trash can on my first outing. As much as it cost to hit a trash can I don't even want to think about repairing the damage from something substantial.

I bet that the Smart Car would do less damage than most of the animals in rgatijnet1's list. It is probably softer.

The biggest thing I've hit was a love bug....now if you invent/design something that'll keep THOSE buggers off the front of your coach, you'll most likely get on Shark Tank....:B...Dennis

hershey wrote:
Since a MH is built differently than a truck, there is no place to adequately brace the upper portion of the rack. So on impact of an animal, the entire force and leverage is directed directly to the frame. It will probably bend and cause a lot more damage than the fiberglass cap. I have no facts to back up that statement other than common sense.

hey now! Don't be bringing common sense in at this point in the game! What are ya thinking?:)

Since a MH is built differently than a truck, there is no place to adequately brace the upper portion of the rack. So on impact of an animal, the entire force and leverage is directed directly to the frame. It will probably bend and cause a lot more damage than the fiberglass cap. I have no facts to back up that statement other than common sense.

Bucky1320 wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Making it strong enough should not be a problem if you have plenty of steel. Just cut slots through the fiberglass and attach to the main frame members. You see these guards on many trucks out West, including pick-ups, panel delivery trucks, box trucks, and semi's.
The problem is with a DP's that has a front mounted diesel generator and the added weight hanging out in front of the front axle on any type of RV. Maybe just a basic steel bumper out front may be better than nothing.

Well, if cutting a permanant hole in the fiberglass isn't off limits, that helps. But as far as making it strong: Try hitting a 600 lb anything at 50 mph, and see what holds up. That is a bunch of force.

600 pounds is a lightweight animal. Here is a sample of animals that we have seen running loose out West and in some parts of the East. I have come close but never hit one. Naturally deer are smaller but it is not unusual to see them leaping across the roads, at windshield height. A steel bumper may help but depending on the size of the animal, you could still have a very bad day if you hit one, which people do every year.
Elk...up to 1100 pounds
Moose....up to 1500 pounds
Buffalo.....up to 2200 pounds
Cattle....average 2000 pounds
Mule......1100 pounds
Horse......average 1200 pounds
Mule deer....200-450 pounds
Prong Horns.....150+ pounds and can run over 50 mph
White tail deer.....up to 400 pounds
Smart car.....1600 pounds

Informative link: Animal vehicle accidents