I was wondering I am looking at going back to a MH and Winnebago brags about there safety cage, doesn't all of them have to be built to a NHTSA safety standard? and if not why?

35 years ago, Winnebago had an ad where they suspended a 26 foot Class A upside down from a crane with straps about 3 or 4 feet off the ground and then released it. It dropped and stayed intact. BUT, if you ROLLED the unit(which would be the case 100 percent of the time), the motorhome disintegrated just like all others. I do not believe there is any Federal guidelines on roll over or cage protection on RV motorhomes. They DO have laws that affect the Drivers and Passenger seats and the restraint system must meet federal standards. ALL the pics I have seen from BAD accidents and the Motorhomes rolled over on their sides or completely rolled over, they where just a pile of wood and fiberglass. DougPS, if they did have a standard, I doubt you could afford the motorhome and probably 75 percent of motorhomes owners also.

I know of three that I have seen that rolled and supposedly they were driven away after put back on the tires.Prevost, Newell, and Wanderlodge. The Prevost and Wanderlodge were/are made of Stainless frames. As Doug stated, they are not cheap, but the Prevost and Wanderlodge that I rode in were a very smooth ride.The Prevost and Newell you should be able to find all the parts you need, The Wanderlodge is out of business and parts are becoming harder to find.http://www.marathoncoach.com/--11_Great_Things_About_a_Prevost_Shell_You_Might_Not_Knowthis is just one place that has that Prevost frames are SS. Prevost site also has the same info

Old article but not much changed sinceRV Crash Deaths Under InvestigationLack Of Crash Tests For Luxury Motor Homes BlamedBraking problems, collapsing walls and poorly secured cabinets: These are the RV industry's deadliest secrets.We know because KIRO Team 7 Investigators just spent months analyzing hundreds of fatal luxury motor home crashes both nationwide and here in the Pacific Northwest.Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne exposes how some loose safety standards are turning fun, family camping outings into trips to the morgue.Federal law requires crash and rollover tests for cars, SUVs, semi-trucks and even charter buses. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration just conducted a new series of bus tests last month. The explosion of glass and crunch of metal are tools that guide new safety improvement.Why, then, did KIRO Team 7 Investigators discover some of the biggest, most expensive motor homes on the road are exempt?Peggy and Richard Young loved to camp in their 28-foot motor home, often taking their dog Mitzy to favorite spots along Washington's beach-front state parks.On the way home one day in 2005, Richard took the corner of a highway onramp a little fast and tipped the RV over. It crumpled--trapping him inside.Halsne: "We're looking at structural integrity. It looks to me ..."Peggy Young: "It was a mess wasn't it?"Halsne: "That the roof just didn't hold up."Peggy Young: "No! All it is, is fiberglass. These motor homes are only fiberglass. They had the wood framing, you know, thin wood framing, but they're just fiberglass. There's nothing there to keep anything like this from happening."

If you buy one built from a bus chassis like a Bluebird or Prevost.

Yes, there are some wood framed MHs out there, even alum but most are steel framing. Will they take sliding on their sides...probably but not rolling over. I like having a large slide behind my drivers seat.Prevost have SS skins, not frames.

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Ivylog
Explorer III
Aug 12, 2017
irishtom29 wrote:

In what procedures and metals are you qualified? Lots of people say they're "certified"--but for what?

I'm not a certified welder but I've burned a bunch of rods and now even a fair amount of wire. You do not need to be "certified" to know a bad weld when you see one assuming you do more than just rock on the porch.

Anyone want to defend the Prevost recall and all the new rivets.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Aug 12, 2017
The Prevost XL frames are steel but not stainless steel and they are covered with alum and stainless steel body panels. The Prevost H coaches do use Stainless Steel with fiberglass and kevlar body panels.
The newer XLII uses a steel frame and stainless components plus stainless, no rivet, body panels to the bottom of the windows and alum the rest of the way up and forming the roof.
They have/had fiberglass front and end roof caps which I believe is still true on all models.
irishtom29
Explorer
Aug 11, 2017
TugCE wrote:
A couple of years ago, my buddy and I (both retired Merchant Marine Chief Engineers and Certified Welders) were at the RV Show in Tampa, Fl. They had a Prevost shell there. Well, we were inside for about 10 minutes when we were asked to leave. I guess they did not like us pointing to the welds and laughing. I swear my 12 year old Grandson could lay a better bead down. For what they charge we were shocked at what we saw! Some of the welds looked like someone chewed a piece of gum and stuck it on there.

In what procedures and metals are you qualified? Lots of people say they're "certified"--but for what?
TugCE
Explorer
Aug 11, 2017
A couple of years ago, my buddy and I (both retired Merchant Marine Chief Engineers and Certified Welders) were at the RV Show in Tampa, Fl. They had a Prevost shell there. Well, we were inside for about 10 minutes when we were asked to leave. I guess they did not like us pointing to the welds and laughing. I swear my 12 year old Grandson could lay a better bead down. For what they charge we were shocked at what we saw! Some of the welds looked like someone chewed a piece of gum and stuck it on there.

So, while I'm sure they are better than most RV's (sad to say) I would hazard a guess that they have cut back on quality as most have.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Aug 11, 2017
As far as I know, the steel cage on the front and rear of my Monaco coach is just to provide a stiffer frame to hang the fiberglass front and rear caps. The steel frame is not to be confused with a structural roll bar and would offer little protection in the event of a crash.
Mile_High
Explorer
Aug 11, 2017
I know ours has the steel front cage, but I never understood it to be for safety - more structural integrity and a different approach to mounting the windshield, even though they did have some rust issues with it.

I guess what I like is Winnebago is big enough they make most of their own parts. Here is a ra-ra video that discusses the cage:

factory tour
Two_Jayhawks
Explorer
Aug 11, 2017
Colo Native wrote:
I was wondering I am looking at going back to a MH and Winnebago brags about there safety cage, doesn't all of them have to be built to a NHTSA safety standard? and if not why?

If front end safety is your hot button maybe you should take a look at a class C, or super C, or a class 8 truck conversion. Otherwise any class A (OK some better than others) will not fare well in a serious accident.
Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Aug 11, 2017
Doug has it right, they all have some type of structure.

With that said, I have seen where the stell structure will rust bad enough it has a hard time keeping the windshield sealed, so, as always, look beyond the surface.
ScottG
Nomad
Aug 11, 2017
Colo Native wrote:
I was wondering I am looking at going back to a MH and Winnebago brags about there safety cage, doesn't all of them have to be built to a NHTSA safety standard? and if not why?

The answer to your question is No, there is no federal safety standard a low volume coach that doesn't haul people for hire has to be built to.
As to why, youir guess is as good as mine!
dougrainer
Nomad
Aug 11, 2017
Colo Native wrote:
Well I don't have the money for a Prevost or any other high dollar MH I was just wondering about Winnebago they do build a steel frame in the around the drivers area is what I am asking about, do any of the other Tiffin, Thor, Fleetwood, etc.

Winne and others do make a steel frame up front. But, it is NOT a cage like in a Dune Buggy or similar vehicle which I guess is what you are asking. Doug

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