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Old 06-23-2014, 04:35 PM   #1
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Motorhome Structural Integrity

A thread a short time ago about strength's of Motorhomes. Here is a link to a head on crash in Alberta. Looks like a Fleetwood model vs. Honda SUV, the SUV crossed into the lane of the MH. These would have been at 60-70mph speeds. The sole occupant of the MH walked away.

Deadly head-on collision in Alberta
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Old 06-23-2014, 04:39 PM   #2
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Somebody was not paying attention.
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Old 06-23-2014, 06:09 PM   #3
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One sample does not a statistic make.

It's too bad about the SUV driver and passenger.
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Old 06-23-2014, 08:50 PM   #4
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Sad and sobering...

Safe travels, all.
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Old 06-24-2014, 04:07 PM   #5
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Sad, but gives me a more secure feeling about driving the MH!
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Old 06-24-2014, 04:21 PM   #6
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The Odyssey isn't really in the SUV category ...more in the mini-van class. This one appears to be 2000-2004 vintage. It is MUCH lower than SUVs, and is very solid with very high crash ratings. But that puts it's passenger compartment at frame height or below in collision with a motorhome ...not a good place to be.
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Old 06-24-2014, 04:33 PM   #7
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The Honda Odyssey and Pilot are virtually identical vehicles that share the same drivetrain. There is little difference in the two. If anything, the Odyssey is a bit bigger and heavier.
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Old 06-24-2014, 05:45 PM   #8
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Very unfortunate but the laws of physics don't care. The 4K pound vehicle against a 44K pound vehicle is simply not going to come out ahead.
My thoughts and prayers go out to those involved.
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Old 06-25-2014, 11:20 AM   #9
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It's a fallacy to equate a vehicle's weight and structural rigidity with safety. If anything imagine what a structurally rigid vehicle coming to a quick stop would do to the occupants inside. Passenger cars have crumple zones for a very good reason.

Plus, keep in mind that for the most part you're surrounded by a lot of material that's made to be light-weight but not necessarily strong. The chassis rigidity is designed mostly to support the weight and stress of normal driving.

It's true that in the particular case of this accident mass is the saving grace of the RV. That saving grace can turn around on you completely if you hit a vehicle of similar size.

Personally I feel safer transporting my wife and two kids in our 2010 Outback than our 1999 Sea Breeze. Air bags, roll cage, AWD, low center of gravity, superior handling... all those things objectively make the Subaru a safer vehicle in the majority of scenarios. The accident linked from this post is simply one of those many scenarios. When we go on RV trips I drive the thing as cautiously as possible and just pray I never get in an accident.
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Old 06-25-2014, 12:02 PM   #10
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A head-on with a lower object is about the "best" way an RV can hit something; there's a lot of structure and the passengers are up above it. No roll element or anything involved... it's when the incident gets complicated that RVs are definitely scary. Getting pushed into the ditch; that's what keeps me up at night.

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