Safety concerns and crash data for Class A's?

Don't think so. At one time Winnebago would show a drop test where the coach was held upside down and then dropped on its roof. Don't know what that proved.

I pondered the same thing until I relooked at my physics book. Class A's sit higher than most vehicles. The bumper and assemblies are what's going to take the hit. In my case, there's this huge genset that will move most vehicles out of the way. Now if I hit a tree, that's something else altogether. In a head on crash between a Class A and a Class C, those passive restraints aren't going to do you much good.....for what it's worth...then again, I've been moving these Class A's for over 40 years and haven't had a crash yet. You tend to drive the Class A a lot differently. The other thing to consider, too, is the passive restraints aren't going to do much for stopping all that 'junk' behind you that you've crammed into every nook and cranny. Think TVs Fridge, sofa etc. etc......Dennis

Newer class C would have a better protection in a crash because the van chassis has to pass a Gov crash test where as the class A does not.

There is a 3rd option, the super class C, they sit up higher like a class A but with better crash results but still no Gov crash tested.

RVs in general are not very crashworthy. In a serious collision, there is lots of stuff that's not too well secured that will come flying (even if the cabinets etc. all remain attached, their contents probably won't). The body structure of most is none too strong, either, at least in the house portion. Frankly, I wouldn't care to be in any motorhome in a serious crash if given the choice--I guess I would prefer one to a motorcycle, but that's about all.

If colliding with a car, extra mass is an advantage for you (but not for the car). If colliding with an equally massive vehicle or a fixed object, that advantage disappears.

RVs don't have a terrible safety record mainly because they are generally driven reasonably safely, by attentive drivers, and in particular are not usually driven by teens and other beginning drivers or by intoxicated drivers. They also are more commonly driven on safer roads (rural/limited access highways rather than city streets).

:) Hi, A few class "A's" like the one my brother owns has a fiber glass front end in-which the included front bumper is no more than a decoration. A few small pieces of angle iron holds the fiber glass fascia about a foot in front of the frame rails and radiator. I believe that a bicycle would crush this front end. The only thing that most class "A's" have going for them is the height of the driver and passengers from the ground.

One of the reasons I went with a super C on a class 8 truck chassis, just feel more secure when driving down the road.

If you question the safety of a Class A don’t ever study the construction of school buses.

dons2346 wrote:
Don't think so. At one time Winnebago would show a drop test where the coach was held upside down and then dropped on its roof. Don't know what that proved.

NOTHING! That was a Winne test/stunt from the late 70's early 80's. The Winne/Itasca's had a steel tube frame behind the drivers cockpit and in the rear a few feet forward from the rear. They inverted the Motorhome on a crane and then "dropped" it on its roof. The "box" kind of stayed intact. The problem is, NOBODY has an accident that your Motorhome inverts in mid air and lands flat on its top. Most Motorhome serious accidents the Motorhome rolls over on its side and the structure supports cannot keep the Motorhome from collapsing like an accordion. Doug

If I worried that much about it I would just walk away, and hope no one runs over me. If I would have worried about everything that could hurt or kill me I would have never left the house----but then again it could fall in or have a plane hit it. Its a big world out there, don't be afraid to enjoy it....

It is a legitimate and genuine concern. If you are going to make crash worthiness part of your criteria don't look at a class A - unless it's a Prevost or converted bus. Despite the lack of crash testing, in the event of a roll over or side impact the house will do very little to protect occupants - probably worse and simply collapse. I think the "safest" drivable Rv would be a Super C. You get the advantage of height, plus a large diesel engine in front of you. Not cheap and not as readily available but they are out there. As others have stated it's not just the crash itself and the RV, it's the tons of stuff in the RV that become missiles - dishes, cabinets, microwave, TV's. You are driving an apartment, imagine crashing an apartment - with up to 100 gallons of fuel and propane on board.