DH is concerned because our Coachmen Mirada has no bumpers

You could add a "cow catcher" type bumper/grille like you see on trucks sometimes. Probably wouldn't really help in a crash but would make DW feel better.

Might be too heavy.

3oaks wrote:

Bruce Brown wrote:
The best bumper is just don't hit anything. Seriously, if you need a bumper I think you'll have bigger issues then not having one.

:R

Not a very logical reply. Didn't it ever occur to you to think about negligent drivers and other vehicles hitting you. Low impact hits in parking lots come to mind, among others.

Skip the snarky reply and think about it! :S

Wow...bad day? :B

That remark wasn't "snarky", it was logical - and a bit tongue in cheek too. :w If you're running around parking lots hitting things you shouldn't be driving.

If someone else hits you the damage is on them, and you have bigger concerns than no bumpers.

If you look what is behind the façade on most diesel pushers you will see a bunch of nothing between you and the fiberglass. There is a huge bunch of false security. If you want real protection from a front end collision you would have to buy a Prevost conversion or a Bluebird etc.

dougrainer wrote:

PastorCharlie wrote:
This is the chassis under your MH and notice that it has a bumper. It is behind the front cap.

That is NOT a bumper as concerns this thread. That steel plate is WAY behind the front cap and they do not install any additional supports from that steel plate and the front cap. Doug

LOL, on my F53 Winny, that piece is at least 18" behind the grille. I literally sat in that space, while doing repairs underneath. From that "bumper" to the paint is nothing but non-structural fiberglass decoration. The rear is no less unimpressive. What appears to be a rear bumper is actually a faux one, attached to the rear wall skirt with four bolts. This area is nothing but fiberglass, foam and glue, with just enough light gauge aluminum tubing to keep it all in one piece. With enough determination, a helmet and a good helping of stupid, you could easily do major damage to the front or back of a class A with a bicycle. Naturally, the helmet would be a personal choice.................

msmith1199 wrote:

turbojimmy wrote:
It has bumpers - you just can't see them. The purpose of "bumpers" is to absorb low-MPH impacts and deflect the energy of a collision. Somewhere in the '80s, the auto industry decided the big, obvious chrome bumpers were unsightly and covered them with plastic. Underneath that fiberglass you will find bumpers that are designed to function just like their more obvious predecessors.

They must have forgot to put those hidden bumpers on my motorhome because I have that thin fiberglass end cap, and then giant steel frame members. So "bumpers" to be seen.

Correct. Turbojimmy has no clue. Class A motorhomes do not and are not required to have ANY type bumper for even low MPH impact. Doug

PastorCharlie wrote:
This is the chassis under your MH and notice that it has a bumper. It is behind the front cap.

That is NOT a bumper as concerns this thread. That steel plate is WAY behind the front cap and they do not install any additional supports from that steel plate and the front cap. Doug

Bruce Brown wrote:
The best bumper is just don't hit anything. Seriously, if you need a bumper I think you'll have bigger issues then not having one.

:R

Not a very logical reply. Didn't it ever occur to you to think about negligent drivers and other vehicles hitting you. Low impact hits in parking lots come to mind, among others.

Skip the snarky reply and think about it! :S

turbojimmy wrote:
It has bumpers - you just can't see them. The purpose of "bumpers" is to absorb low-MPH impacts and deflect the energy of a collision. Somewhere in the '80s, the auto industry decided the big, obvious chrome bumpers were unsightly and covered them with plastic. Underneath that fiberglass you will find bumpers that are designed to function just like their more obvious predecessors.

They must have forgot to put those hidden bumpers on my motorhome because I have that thin fiberglass end cap, and then giant steel frame members. So "bumpers" to be seen.

This is the chassis under your MH and notice that it has a bumper. It is behind the front cap.

A fellow Prevost owner, who I have not met, had their coach towed to Prevost Car in Nashville, TN. I saw the coach while I was there for service. Their coach was involved in a serious front-end accident. The couple were hit almost head-on by a drunk driver on a two lane road.

A Prevost owner that I do know, knows this couple so I got the story on what happened.

The drunk driver hit the driver's side front just off center really hard and spun around and hit two of the bay doors. When you see the coach in person, you can see how hard the impact was. The front bumper saved the driver's life.

The whole front of a Prevost from the bumper up to the bottom of the windshield is a steel cross-bar grid design.

The impact crushed the front corner impeding into the front driver's electrical bay. The bottom of the windshield is cracked but still in position and the driver's side mirror was damaged. The front tire lost air. The bay door that was hit really hard is pushed-in 18-20 inches but not ripped (Kevlar).

The coach was totaled out by the insurance company because of the serious damaged to the front electrical bay.

Many manufactured motorhomes, like we had previously, would probably have come apart possibly killing the driver. The structure of the Prevost prevented the car from crushing the driver area.

As we know, we all drive slower than regular traffic, we don't make quick maneuvers so the chances of us being in a serious accident is small. I think our biggest threat is a blow-out causing us to crash.

It would be nice if motorhomes were strengthened in the front bumper area and/or having a real front bumper.

In our previous Monaco Dynasty, the front generator structure was just about the only front protection that we had. An off center crash on the driver or passenger side would probably impede into the passenger area.

Safe travels,
MM.