DH is concerned because our Coachmen Mirada has no bumpers

[susanka]

Hi, everyone. We recently bought a 2011 Coachmen Mirada 29DS. DH is concerned because it has no bumpers and the face is one piece of fiberglas. I haven't been able to find a source, googling RV bumpers, and don't see that it was even an option on the 2011 Mirada. I'd appreciate any advice you can offer on how to find a bumper at a decent cost. Thanks.

[dougrainer]

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

[dougrainer]

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

[3oaks]

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

[msmith1199]

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.

[PastorCharlie]

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

[Mr_Mark1]

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.

[dougrainer]

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.

Now the question is what does your DH think the function of a bumper is and why does the apparent lack of said bumpers concern him? If he's looking for something to push stuff out of the way, he's going to want to fabricate some sort of push bar(s). However I think it's best just to avoid hitting stuff with your RV.

Class A motorhomes built in the last 15 to 20 years have no real bumper or support behind the fiberglass cap.

[turbojimmy]

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.

Now the question is what does your DH think the function of a bumper is and why does the apparent lack of said bumpers concern him? If he's looking for something to push stuff out of the way, he's going to want to fabricate some sort of push bar(s). However I think it's best just to avoid hitting stuff with your RV.

[Bruce_Brown]

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.

[dougrainer]

Lets say you find a bumper. HOW are you going to mount it and mount it to the steel chassis frame for actual defense of hitting something???????????????? Doug

[JaxDad]

MountainAir05 wrote:
Look at a school bus, might find some thing close. Bumpers seems to have go by the way. None of our vehicles have them.

Yup. The Goobermint has a point. If the floor height of a m/h or school bus is high enough a car goes under the passengers.

[mike_brez]

Should have purchased a Prevost

[MountainAir05]

Look at a school bus, might find some thing close. Bumpers seems to have go by the way. None of our vehicles have them.

[susanka]

Oh. Our old Fleetwood A (1999) had one, so we thought this one should too. Thanks. I guess if everyone else is doing all right, we should be able to.

[jorbill2or]

No bumpers on most A Motorhomes (all?) just fiberglass ... don't hit anything 🙂 seriously .. it's just not done unless it's a bus.