How safe is a camper: tested in Sweden
Campers are popular. But now that these former commercial vehicles with a maximum load are increasingly appearing on the road, it is good to know how safe they are. They also thought about that in Sweden. Trafikverket, the Swedish RWD, therefore drove two campers into the wall in the name of science. Because how do you get out of such a colossus in the event of a head-on collision?
The results are anything but good. It turns out to be wise to avoid a frontal blow, because the damage to people and material is considerable. According to the Swedes, a camper is not structurally strong enough to absorb frontal disaster. The main problem is a crumple zone that is too short and cannot absorb the weight behind it.
In addition, loose objects in the camper also appear to turn into deadly objects. A coffee maker that is left loose on the countertop can be launched by a sudden blow. So it's better to store these types of objects. The same goes for the tables and the people sitting in the back. These must all be in the belt. But even then, with a heavy blow, the cupboard doors come loose and you have the entire inventory thrown over you.
Of the three types of campers, a bus camper performs best in a crash test. The original bodywork appears to be more resistant to the impact of a collision. With a semi-integrated camper, the body behind the cabin is separated from the chassis and with an integral camper the entire bodywork is next to the chassis. Broadly speaking, a crash at 60 km/h in a camper is equivalent to 90 km/h in a passenger car.
What can you do yourself?
To increase the safety of yourself and passengers, you can first adjust your driving behavior. Drive defensively, take into account the antics of others and rushing in a camper is not something this camping equipment is intended for. Properly storing all loose items also helps, of course. But otherwise you are at the mercy of both camper builders and the manufacturer of the commercial vehicle. And they do not have your best interests at heart in this area. Camper builders simply do not make a camper into a solid whole.
If you install a cupboard door with small self-tapping screws in chipboard, it will be too weak. There are also brands that, for example, supply the glass cover of a sink as a loose one. Safety is apparently not at the top of the list of priorities.
This also applies to the makers of commercial vehicles. Strangely enough, these mileage eaters are at the back of the queue when safety equipment is handed out. For example, a passenger airbag is not standard. As if a camper always drives alone. Knee, side or curtain airbags are even less common, if available at all. There are good solutions available for the blind spot, which is significant in every camper, but in the Ducato and associates you will not simply find them ex works. Instead of a camera system that keeps an eye on the rear and sides, a completely useless interior mirror remains attached to the window.
You will find ABS in a camper, but that is because it is mandatory. Something that indicates that not much can be expected from voluntariness and that additional regulations are needed in this area. That is why Europe decided last year to make a crash test for campers mandatory. There is currently an adjustment period so that camper builders can think about their sins and ultimately do something good with them.
More information: www.trafikverket.se
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