Police Fleet Manager

AUG 2012

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clockwise. Dodge also added a power steering test based on a tight and lengthy EVOC course where the steering wheel is turned lock-to- lock for an extended period of time. Te final police-specific durability test was an extended idle test at elevated ambient temps. Te re- sults from these tests would never have been picked up in a retail-oriented test. Each of the sub-systems (powertrain, drivetrain, suspension, body-chassis, brakes- wheels-tires) undergoes separate design verifi- cation testing. All of the added police-specific tests were in-car tests, to check the durability of all at once. All in all, Dodge durability tests that put 30K miles on the Charger Pursuit odometer equal 150K miles of police use. MOPAR/Setina Lee Calkins, OEM Product Manager with Crown NA, discussed a number of upfit components they install for Dodge, offline from the factory, but under the factory um- brella. Te most significant of these is the MOPAR/Setina push bumper, a combina- tion of steel brackets and aluminum uprights and crossbars. Since Crown NA is an extension of the Dodge factory, the MOPAR/Setina push bumper is the first push bumper to be fully compliant with two important Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Auto- makers must comply with these. No after- market manufacturer even tests for FMVSS compliance. In fact, all of the Whelen, Havis and Setina upfit parts installed by Crown NA have been crash tested for FMVSS 208 compliance. For the push bumper, the first FMVSS standard involves crashworthiness and air- bag compatibility. Does mounting a push bumper on the front of a police vehicle affect the airbag deployment signal? Yes, according Chrysler crash testing involving both vehicles and crash sleds. Does it raise the speed re- quired? Lower the deployment speed? As it turns out, the aftermarket addition of a push bumper deployed the multi-stage airbag at the wrong level. It deployed with too much force. Chrysler used the crash test information to develop the MOPAR/Setina push bumper and mounting in a way to work with the airbag deployment sensors. Te FMVSS 108 standard involves off-axis visibility of the vehicle's lights with the push Circle Reader Service #11 or click on EInfo at www.pfmmag.com www.pfmmag.com 23 S The Ram 1500 4x4 is available with a Special Service Vehicle package, complete with beefed-up cooling and a larger alternator. bumper mounted. Per FMVSS, the turn sig- nals have to be seen at a 45-degree angle in- ward and an 85-degree angle outward. Some push bumpers installed on some vehicles do not meet the FMVSS 108 lighting spec. Te MOPAR/Setina push bumper on the Char- ger Pursuit does. For departments running a full-size spare, a must-have Crown NA upfit item is the flat-mounted spare tire. Instead of the angle- mounted OE full-size spare, the MOPAR brackets upfit by Crown NA mount it out of the way, under the package tray. Tis is regardless of whether or not a sliding trunk tray is upfitted to the Charger. Tis is the "only" practical way to actually carry a full- size spare. Surprise Keynote Speaker One of the most obvious signs that Chrys- Visit Us at PFE 2012, Booth #241

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