Wheel Appeal

It’s never a good idea to take your eyes off the road for more than a quick glance at your console, and the smartest driver will never look away from the blacktop. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how smart you are, if the switches are not within your reach, you will have to look down briefly when you want to use them, even when you memorize their location. With this in mind, Safari has introduced a steering wheel that will raise the driving IQ of anyone who uses it. The VIP Smartwheel®, a full service steering wheel now available in some model coaches, offers cruise control, wiper operation, horn, and exterior light features with a convenient touch of the thumb. Memorizing the location and function of each button is simple, and once you have committed the Smartwheel layout to memory, you will never again find it necessary to take your eyes off the road, or move your body around, searching for navigational switches. For an added bonus, recent Smartwheels now illuminate when the ignition key is turned on and the parking lights are engaged.

Cruise On is depressed to engage the cruise control system, not to set a speed. As a reminder that cruise control is on, some model RVs now offer a dash light that will indicate when this feature is deployed. When you have reached the preferred traveling speed, touch the Set button on the Smartwheel to hold that pace. If you find it necessary to slow down or accelerate, press the Cancel button or depress the service brake. When you are ready to return to your previous speed, simply press the Resume button. Cruise Control remains on until you determine it is time to disengage the system by pressing the On/Off button.

The Set button has an additional feature, only available when the RV is at rest. During initial start-up, many RV users prefer to run a high idle feature to warm up the engine. After starting the engine, press the Set switch one time to engage the high idle for engine warming. Don’t worry about taking off down the road with the transmission in high idle. If you forget, the system will cancel when the service brake is pressed. RV engines program this high idle feature to specific engine types. You can learn more about your particular high idle setting in the RV owner’s manual.

Windshield wiper operation is located on the right side of the Smartwheel. Hi/Lo is a quick fix for getting water off the glass. The first touch of the Hi/Lo button will engage the windshield wipers to a low setting. Touching the same button a second time will boost the wiper speed to high. The button to activate windshield wash is identified by the sketch of a window containing broken lines to resemble a waterfall. To wash the windshield, hold down on this wash button for the desired length of time.

Intermittent wash is depicted as a window with the wiper blade, and an arrow under the window. Use this function to program the wiper motor at a desired interval. Press the button and allow the wipers to run one cycle, clearing moisture from the windshield, then monitor build up of mist on the window. When you feel it is time to again wipe the window, press the button a second time. Intermittent programming is now engaged, and the wipers will activate automatically when that previous length of time has passed. If you find that rain is coming down more frequent, touch the button again to decrease the pause between wipes. To disengage the intermittent wipe system, or any feature of the windshield wipers, simply press the Off button.

Some confusion arises at the location of the horn button on the Smartwheel. Think of it as a horn bar, located under the RV logo and marked with a horn.

Above the Cruise Control settings, on the left side of the Smartwheel, you will find a button marked to resemble a flashing light. This button, when pressed, will cause the headlights to flash on and off, as long as the button is held down. On the opposite side of the Smartwheel, the button outlining the illuminated light will cause the clearance lights to flash, for as long as the button is held. These two light features come in handy to signal your thanks when traffic clears the way for your RV to merge in, or when warning oncoming traffic of a tie-up ahead. It is never a good idea to use flashing lights to signal passing traffic permission to merge when a smaller vehicle has slipped into the available space unnoticed.

Use caution not to spill liquids on top of the steering wheel, and regularly remove dust build up with a clean soft cloth. All this high tech convenience in one steering wheel is possible through two wires in the steering column used to communicate with the switch panel. If you don’t have a Smartwheel, ask your RV representative for details. Adding a Smartwheel will require a new steering wheel, steering column and two wires added to the switch panel brain. If you have a Smartwheel, invest some time learning how to enjoy the convenience of this touch button navigational tool.