|
RELIABLE, TOUGH, yet SERVICEABLE, TRAILER & Other Vehicle LIGHTING
OUR HOME BASE
… OUR EXPERIENCE …
OUR INVENTIONS … OUR TECHNICAL KNOWLED GE!
LOCATION & CAPABILITIES
Sierra Design Manufacturing, Inc., formerly Sierra Products, Inc. is
headquartered in Livermore, CA next to the Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory with a second facility in Sonora, CA … near Yosemite Valley.
Our Livermore facility
houses our Management, Sales, Engineering and R & D Operations plus our “in
house” Tool Making and Injection Molding Machinery. We have twelve,
100 Ton to 500 Ton* Plastic Ejection Molding Machines along with all
necessary complimentary equipment for designing, tooling and manufacturing
any kind** of vehicle lighting that we can guarantee are compliant
to all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #108 (FMVSS #108)
requirements.
*Clamping force capability **Including Custom Designs
Further, we are able
to brag that we’re the only bona fide U.S.A. Vehicle
Lighting and Reflector Manufacturer in the 22 Western States that is
actively Designing, Tooling and Molding
(in house) Vehicle Lighting and Reflectors to Federal FMVSS #108 Mandated
Standards … in the “Good Ol U.S.A."! Additionally, we
believe we are the only Lighting Manufacturer that molds all its Trailer, RV
and Truck lighting from official GE’s “Fade Proof”, Tough, Lexan®.
With our extremely
capable Tooling and Manufacturing facilities, “Sierra” maintains total
control over all work, which results in our ability to solve problems
quickly and fill orders rapidly whereas, small orders can be expedited and
our flexible Blanket Order Program reliably fills large orders on a
pre-arranged schedule.
FOR 25+ YEARS, WE HAVE TESTED our Products for “COMPLIANCE” and “LONGEVITY”
In the 1970’s, we had to learn "from scratch" all applicable Federal and
State and SAE Laws applicable to Vehicle Lighting, and since then, we’ve
been monitoring the "Federal Register" daily to keep up on the latest
changes and legal interpretations relating to FMVSS #108* Law. Over the
years, we have collected and officially commented on many of NHTSA’s
“NPRMs” (Notice of Proposed Rule Making) as well as on NHTSA's “Legal
Interpretations” that cover a wide variety of Manufacturer and Public
Questions, plus NHTSA's responses.
*FMVSS #108 = Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #108
Also … over the years
… we have made routine trips to Washington, D.C. to keep up with FMVSS #108
“Docket* Entries” and we offer to share this wide range of knowledge
with our customers (and their Lawyers) when legal problems arise. Over the
years, we’ve also been instrumental in “trying” to update and
improve FMVSS #108 Laws using NHTSA’s official “Petition” and “Legal
Interpretation Request" systems. However, from NHTSA's replies … and
lack of replies … we have found that common sense and real-life
sensibility are missing virtues at NHTSA.
*Which represents
writings not available on NHTSA's website
Our Founder, Dennis G.
Moore, set up our Vehicle Lighting Test Lab* (using Equipment traceable
to the U.S. Bureau of Standards) over 25 years ago, which we still use
to routinely check all our own … and sometimes, competitor's … designs using
current FMVSS #108 Mandated Standards with additional “Real-Life Endurance
Tests” that NHTSA doesn’t require … but should. *Our
Lab Testing Facilities have been “California Highway Patrol Approved”
TRADE NAMES and MAJOR SALES
FEATURES
For 25+ years, we have been marketing our leading Boat Trailer Submersible
Lighting products under the brand name Dry LaunchÒ,
which has become well recognized for products of quality, value, and
customer satisfaction throughout the Marine Aftermarket and Boat Trailer
Industries. Lately, we have begun to introduce our Unique New and Updated
Lighting to all kinds of Trailer, RV and Small/Large Truck OEMs, plus
to "Cap" OEMs and Cap Dealers plus all the associated Aftermarket
Distributors using the ConvoyÒ
brand name,
in addition to Dry Launch®.
1113 Greenville Road
Livermore, CA 94550 Tel: (925) 443-3140 Fax: (925) 443-0384
Dry LaunchÒ
has spent 25+ years molding primarily GE Lexan™ (Polycarbonate) into
all our Universal and Tough Duty … as well as our Submersible … Lighting
products. Further, we still remain the sole supplier of the … now famous …
“No Tools”, “Snap out, Bulb Slide” feature as well as our popular
“Hi & DryÒ
Termination”
system … neither feature is offered by any other competitor.
Our New Multi
Function, "See Thru", SPLL designs are indeed revolutionary as they provide
one of a kind, “See Thru/Chrome” and “See the Bulb” Styling
for Trailers, RVs and Trucks. This concept perfectly complements
the latest “See Thru” Auto, SUV and Pick-Up Tail Light Styling
now routinely coming from Detroit, Japan, etc. Look around
and notice all these ongoing New Tail Light Styling changes
that help to sell more vehicles that wouldn’t have necessarily sold using
“Same Ole”, “Plain Jane” Tail Light Designs!
We also manufacture
other unique, Replacement … Update and New Looks! Vehicle Lighting
including a large selection of Standardized Replacements, Updates and
New Looks "Center High Mount Stop Lights" (CHMSLs) … also
referred to as … “3rd Brake Lights”. Our 400 and
500 Series CHMSLs (including Cheapened Taiwan/China outward appearing
Copies) can be seen on Domestic and Work Truck "Caps" all over the U.S.A.
Now we are introducing Update "Modularized" versions that can be wired
three ways - as well as tit for tat replacements - see our Website for
details!
*Center High Mount Stop Light
OUR REPUTATION and GOALS
Most of the
Aftermarket and OEM "Incandescent" Trailer, RV and Truck Lighting
being sold today … is composed of Cheapened Taiwan/Chinese Same Ole,
Plain Jane, Copies* of successful lighting that Americans originally
designed and have been using in large numbers on Trailers, RV’s and Trucks
over the past 30+ years whereas our Incandecent designs revolve
around our goals of quality, uniqueness and serviceability
and are not based on the copying and cheapening of others’
designs.
*Copied
in outward appearance only - whereas materials, output and
longevity is always unknown
We also claim a
profound dedication to Public Safety by designing vehicle lighting
products with unique grief reducing, safety and serviceability
features that are (sooner or later) greatly appreciated by
OEMs, Distributors, and Dealers, and eventually by the End User as well. We
are always dedicated to “Trail Blazing” new Innovations and New Looks!
that … along with our other features … results in excellent overall
“Value” to all concerned. Further, we always surpass all FMVSS #108
and SAE Safety Mandates and Practices, contrary to Taiwan/Chinese
cheapened "Knock Offs", which have become mostly “Liability Gatherers”.
“TECHNICAL and LEGAL CLARIFICATIONS” (TLCs)
Included in our past and present "Technical and Legal Clarification"
(TLC) writings … available on our web site, SierraDesignMfg.com …
we address many Vehicle Lighting subjects. Here we try to call
attention to the specific history and common sense reasoning behind each
vehicle lighting subject and compare this knowledge to what has resulted in
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #108 (FMVSS #108) Mandated Law.
In our “TLCs” and in
all our other writings, we try to point out obvious (and not so obvious)
legal and obscure safety requirements as well as speculate on needed
Improvements to FMVSS #108 so that responsible Distributors, Dealers, OEMs
and ultimately the Public are encouraged to buy and use only Lighting
that can be “proven” to be compliant to all facets of FMVSS #108, and to
Common Sense safety practices as well!
THE SOCIETY of AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS (SAE)
All Trailer, RV and Truck Manufacturers, Distributors and others interested
should realize that, directly or indirectly, the “Society of
Automotive Engineers” (SAE) wrote most of the initial and existing FMVSS
#108 Mandates. Also, everyone concerned should realize that SAE
members are 98% “automotive oriented” and do not feel obligated
to provide Trailer Lighting subjects, RVs and Trucks the required attention
they should be given. As a result, “Automotive” subjects
and “Automotive” needs continue to be given nearly all the
attention from the Society of Automotive Engineers. This nearly
exclusive "Automotive" attention
is seen coming from all NHTSA's Regulation and Compliance Department's
personnel as well.
OUR CURRENT CUSTOMER BASE
Over the past 28 years, we have supplied Chain Stores like Sears®,
Grand Auto®*, etc. We have also reliably supplied many well known
Boat Trailer Manufacturers like ShoreLand’r® and E-Z Loader®,
as well as many other quality Trailer and RV Motor Home manufacturers,
including Airstream®. We have also, dutifully, served practically all Major
Marine Distributors and several RV Distributors who can verify that
our products sell well … are routinely praised** …
make them, grief proof profits … and generate
virtually Zero Returns! *A
Western Auto Chain Distributor **See attached two
Testimonials
“LED” LEGAL, COSTS, and PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS are PROHIBITIVE
We have avoided designing and tooling "LED" Trailer and other Vehicle
Lighting because of the many obvious (and not so obvious) legal and
inherent degradation problems associated with typical, low quality Trailer
and Truck LED Multi-Function Tail Light Assemblies. These problems
become apparent when cheap “LED” Multi Function Designs are used for
outdoor, “fully exposed” applications. Check our website for our
extensive writings referring to quality and value considerations and what’s
necessary as to moisture and heat protection to find Legal and Lasting "LED"
7 Function Light Assemblies for Trailers, RVs and Trucks. As to price …
we've only found one Competitor making a 7 Function LED Assembly
that we think is fully FMVSS #108
Compliant, made by Cequent®, the Australian Company, and it costs ≈$100/Pair
at Bass Pro.
*Compare quality versus costs to what Auto LED Assemblies cost the
Manufacturer.
QUALITY results in NO COME BACKS and NO UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCES
Since our beginning, we’ve specialized in using Fade Proof, Tough! GE
Lexan™ Polycarbonate in practically all our components … and
particularly in our Main Lenses and Reflectors. We try to convince OEMs and
Distributors that are contemplating
handling our Tough, Legal, Reliable and Serviceable Lighting … they will
save enough in dealing with complaints* and replacements* to yield more than
an adequate "payback" for the slight initial extra cost of our unique
designs.
*Time is money
and dealing with complaints and the associated Grief's also represent money
Yes, Lexan™
does break when smashed, but it doesn’t shatter and it doesn’t fade.
Lexan® also absorbs "hits" and withstands hot and cold
applications much better than Acrylics. When a driver smashes one
of our Lights* … the driver can see from the (still one piece) smashed
carcass that he was originally supplied a stout product and he will
likely feel it was his fault
for the smashing instead of blaming the Trailer Manufacturer or the
associated Dealer he bought the Trailer from.
*And
being exposed as they are … they do get smashed
I think we all know
that most Americans can sense when they’ve been provided inferior
products … and they don't forget unpleasant experiences … nor
do they forget who provided the problem.
COMPLIES with ALL FEDERAL & STATE STANDARDS, plus Common Sense Standards
Our lights have “built in” Toughness, Grief Reducing and Serviceability
features that sooner or later, end users will appreciate and praise
those that supplied them these features. Further, we can confidently claim
that all our Lights comply with "all" applicable Federal FMVSS
#108 Mandated Specifications … and there are many! We
additionally toss in a few common sense and grief reducing features that
Federal and State Laws don’t require … but should!
We can prove complete
compliance to all FMVSS #108 Mandates by providing NHTSA (when need be)
Laboratory Compliance Tests, which are derived using NHTSA and SAE required
processes and Instrumentation that are Traceable to the U.S. Bureau of
Standards. Further, anyone can use our “Eyeball Test”* and actually see
how our Incandescent Multi Function lights produce the mandated 12-5/8
in²** of "Effective Projected Luminous Lens Area" (EPLLA) mandated by
FMVSS #108 for Over* 80” Brake/Turn/Lane Changing Signals. Furthermore,
using our “Eyeball Test”*, anyone can see that 90%+ of the typical
Taiwan/Chinese "LED" Brake/Turn, 3 and 7 Function Tail Light Assemblies are
not “EPLLA” Compliant to FMVSS #108 and are therefore subject
to Recall*.
*See our web site writings on these subjects **Under 80" Wide
Vehicles - EPLLA is 7-3/4in²
It Takes ONLY A FEW OF OUR PRODUCTS to SATISFY MOST CUSTOMERS' LIGHTING
NEEDS
Since our "thought out" Lighting Products (and CHMSLs) are so versatile …
Distributors and Dealers need to stock and display only very few
of our lighting items in order to satisfy most potential lighting
customer needs … particularly for "Pair" Replacement and New Looks &
Update desires. Besides fulfilling all Boat Trailer Replacement needs,
these few products will generate unique additional sales
satisfying all kinds of Trailer, RV and Truck Owners' fixing, modernizing,
and safetyizing desires.
Distributors and
Dealers evaluating our products should consider our unique profit
potentials because there are millions of our popular Standard "SP,
"203" and "327" Products still in use, which produces a huge,
already existing Replacement Market. Also, it should be realized that the
typical single (left or right) "Replacement Light Seeking" potential
customer will have a hard (or impossible) time finding a source for
purchasing their "exact" needed Left or Right Replacement;
therefore, they will be completely susceptible to the idea of
replacing "both" the right and the left with New Looks! Lighting that
also gives them features eliminating some of their “personally experienced”
Trailer problems and griefs.
GIVE US A TRY
- YOU WON'T REGRET IT!
Testimonials
MFG
To: <lynne-sierra-products-inc.com>
I popped on a pair of DRY
LAUNCH (701 WBR & 701 WBL) tail lights on my boat trailer in 1982.
I
had to replace one light about 10 years ago because it was
hit at the boat ramp. I am replacing another one now because someone hit it
where I store the boat. My tailoring is 100% salt water and I never changed
out a bulb!!!!!!! Your products are great.
As far as I am concerned DRY
LAUNCH lights are the best kept secret in the boat tailoring world for the
last 20 years. Where are you guys? I bet you could corner the market if
people knew about you. Heck, I knew about you and had hell finding you.
There is no phone number molded on the lights much less the parent company’s
name. Most people are not as tenacious as I am and would give only to
purchase ???????.
If you want to replace
lights frequently and not have them work when you are tailoring, purchase a
??????? piece of crap.
Bob McNamara
Please find below a message submitted on
2008-07-17 at 10:13
fullname: Rich Arneson
email:
phone:
comments: I have had a Dry Launch trailer lights
on my trailer for 23 years...through the years some were damaged and
replaced with other manufacturers lights...but not even those replacements
lasted as long as
those original remaining Dry Launch products. I am trying to replace all of
my lights but could not find the
exact matches. can you help me out? Thanks, Rich
|