REV Midwest Automotive Design American Coach Patriot 2022, Owner'S Manual

Page: 20 / 178

A M E R I C A N C O A C H P A T R I O T O W N E R ’ S M A N U A L
A M E R I C A N C O A C H // P A T R I O T S E C T I O N 4 // 1 8
GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
Operating your luxury Class B Sprinter Van requires special
attention to safe operating procedures beyond those associated
with an ordinary passenger vehicle. These specially equipped
vehicles are heavier and taller than most passenger cars
and vans. Understanding their handling characteristics and
limitations is essential to ensure your safety and enjoyment.
Additional interior furnishings and appliances may limit the operator’s
visibility of blind spots� This is particularly important when changing
lanes, backing, and parking your coach� Don’t forget that you must
also be aware of overhead clearance to avoid coming in contact with
low hanging tree limbs, signs, or other possible overhead obstacles�
Take your time to familiarize yourself with the Mercedes-Benz safety
features that may assist you with blind spot monitoring, parking, and
lane keeping to enhance your driving confidence.
You must take extra precautions to properly load your coach, and to avoid
increased hazards while driving in bad weather or in high cross-wind
conditions. Your luxury Class B coach has a tall profile in relationship to
its length, which will influence how it handles on steep grades, in high
winds, and while traversing any uneven terrain� Maintaining a low center
of gravity, and avoiding extreme sudden maneuvers or significant side-to-
side angles will reduce any roll-over potential�
DANGER
Failure to take proper safety precautions when loading and
operating your coach can lead to a crash, damage to the
vehicle, and / or serious personal injuries or death.
■ SEATING AND SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Before driving your American Coach Patriot, refer to the instructions
for the proper use of your vehicle’s safety restraints, which are
covered in your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Operating Instructions�
Please note that there are additional safety restraints installed in your
coach to protect adult passengers and children (but not infants) seated
in the rear of the vehicle�
DANGER
Rear lap belt restraints are not intended for use with an
infant or toddler car seat, as the rear bench seat does not
provide a three-point or seat top tether to prevent an infant
/ child car seat from rolling forward in a sudden braking or
collision scenario.
danger
danger
DANGER
All passengers must be secured by a vehicle safety restraint
at all times whenever the vehicle is in motion. Never release
the restraint or stand up in a moving vehicle as the sudden
loss of security could result in serious injuries or death.
WARNING
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van safety restraint warnings
apply to the front driver and passenger seats only. The
warning status of any unfastened rear passenger seating
restraints will not display on the dashboard of your Sprinter
Van. Therefore it is essential to verify with all passengers
visually and verbally to ensure they are properly “buckled in”
before moving the vehicle.
■ VEHICLE LOADING AND STABILITY
At first glance, you should immediately notice that your American
Coach Patriot is a tall vehicle� This feature enables occupants to easily
move about the coach’s interior and increases the utility and efficiency
of installed appliances and the ability to store cargo, gear, and
luggage� Many factors such as how you arrange the storage of items,
where any passengers are seated, along with the capacity status of
water, holding and propane tanks, will affect the stability of your luxury
Class B coach�
Safely loading your coach requires a basic understanding of how to
maintain a low center of gravity throughout the vehicle to promote
its stability. The center of gravity (CG) is the point at which the total
weight of your Class B coach is concentrated, both front to rear and
side to side� The lower the center of gravity, the more stable the
vehicle becomes� When heavy objects are stored or placed higher in
the vehicle, or gear and accessories are stored on top of the coach,
the center of gravity rises, which makes the vehicle less stable�
Therefore, the heaviest objects stored in your coach should always be
placed on or near the floor (example, luggage).
The stability of your coach becomes more important when operating in
high cross winds, while driving on snow and ice, when traversing
undulating terrain, and while driving on loose gravel or dirt roads� Keep
in mind that any loose gear, luggage, or equipment stored within your
Class B coach may suddenly shift or move around, which could
change the vehicle’s center of gravity and cause it to become
unstable� Under such circumstances, you should immediately stop the
vehicle and secure any loose items before proceeding further�
danger
warning