Safe T Plus vs Roadmaster: 3 Crucial Differences

Let’s be honest. You don’t need to take your RV deep off the beaten path to benefit from a steering stabilizer. Tire blowouts are a thing. Firmer and improved vehicle control contributes to your road safety anywhere.

The two market leaders are clear: Safe T Plus vs Roadmaster steering stabilizers. They differ in three fundamental ways I’d like to discuss.

Go for the Safe T Plus if you want a lifetime warranty, superior ride control, and enhanced durability due to the ‘enclosed’ design.

Grab a Roadmaster Reflex if you are on a budget, are OK with a 2-year warranty, and prefer something easier to adjust.

Here’s a quick comparison table to illustrate what each product is all about:

As I said, I will be discussing the three core differences in-depth from now on. I’ll talk a bit about the different types of Safe T Plus stabilizers, as well as the Roadmaster product line-up.

Basically, both companies help you achieve center-biased suspension. The spring keeps your steering wheel intact. In extreme cases such as tire blowouts, deeper potholes, or extreme terrain, the dampers return to the center so you have full control over your RV.

However, Safe T Plus and Roadmaster contrast each other in three fundamental ways. These differences will impact you. Take good note of them when making your decision.

These are:

• Warranty period
• Damping levels & feel
• Spring design

Let’s take a look at them, one by one.

#1 Warranty

Safe T Plus takes pride in the lifetime warranty of any steering stabilizer the brand makes. This is commendable – RV dampers go through a lot of wear and tear compared to any other vehicle.

Roadmaster has a way more modest warranty policy. You get only 1 year of limited warranty. This can be extended to 2 years of warranty.

How? By filling out and sending the product registration card you’ll receive it with your purchase. If you do this within 20 days of purchase, you get an extra year.

#2 Damping levels

Right off the bat, Safe T Plus goes for heavier damping. This means you get a firmer, more controlled ride feel over potholes or off-road terrain.

There’s a trade-off here, though. This heavier damping means you’ll get the most comfortable experience out of Safe T Plus if your RV has a heavy load.

On lighter loads, the Roadmaster might feel slightly smoother. Roadmaster’s extra perk is the easier adjustment of the steering stabilizer.

Keep in mind both of these are equally easy to install. Even for inexperienced DIY folks, it shouldn’t take more than an hour or two.

#3 Spring design

This one is crucial enough for me to mention it.

Safe T Plus steering stabilizers go for enclosed springs. The main benefit of this is component safety and enhanced durability.

By closing off their springs, Safe T Plus shields them from gravel, dirt, or other contaminants. Essentially this means less seal wear, sturdier springs, and more bang for your buck over time.

In contrast, Roadmaster’s stabilizers have an open spring design. While this makes them easier to adjust, it also lets in all the dust or dirt too.

As a result, you’ll experience more wear and tear on this specific component. A component that is, let’s admit it, the heart of a steering damper.

This is exactly why I believe Roadmaster has a shorter warranty too. Hard to go for a lifetime promise when you know a core part like the spring is fully exposed to the open roads.

Safe T Plus has a more diverse line-up than Roadmaster. This sometimes leads to confusion, as outdoor enthusiasts and RV gearheads wonder about specific vehicle applications.

The two most widely used Safe T Plus dampers are Blue and Silver.

Safe T Plus Blue stabilizers were made for Class A motorhomes/RVs only. If you have a motor coach, a semi-truck, or a bus – that’s your fit.

Safe T Plus Silver dampers fit Class C and Class B motorhomes/RVs. This one covers anything from van tow vehicles to customized RVs, heavy-duty pickup trucks, or even SUV models used to power your setup.

And yes, both are compatible with any Ford-based or Chevy-based chassis you use for your RV. The same applies to Class As like Thor Miramar or Hurricane, Winnebago RVs, and other popular setups.

There’s also Red, Yellow, Green, and White. Out of these, the most common one is the Safe T Plus Red, as it covers some light-duty Class A RVs from the 90s.

For years, Roadmaster’s core product was the Reflex damper. Not to be confused with another suspension brand, Monroe’s Reflex shocks, and stabilizers.

Unlike Safe T Plus, the Roadmaster Reflex has an all-encompassing fit. It serves Class A and Class C motorhomes/RVs alike and also fits 1500, 2500, or 3500 vans.

For specific fitments, I recommend you check out their application guide here.

It’s a very comprehensive list that covers anything from Freightliner to GMC vans, Dodge vehicles, or Ford E250, E350, or E450. You even have SUVs like the Ford Excursion included in the application details.

However!

Roadmaster has been updating the line-up. The brand’s been slowly shifting away from the Reflex damper.

Instead, you get the Roadmaster Exact Center steering stabilizer. This is a brand-new product, they started making it literally at the end of 2021.

Unfortunately, the Exact Center is fully available as a steering stabilizer for Jeep only, at least for now.

Roadmaster has announced they’ll be slowly updating vehicle fitments, with RVs and motorhomes to follow eventually. Hopefully by mid-2023, this improved damper (better control, sturdier construction) will cover all fitments the Reflex covers.

I’m a sucker for generous warranties. For me, shelling out a bit more cash for a Safe T Plus damper is totally worth it.

However, Roadmaster Reflex is a great option for those of you who are on a tighter budget. The brand has also realized they need to update its product design with something more advanced.

The upcoming Exact Center for RV applications will most probably be a closer contestant to the Safe T Plus in terms of component design and damping capabilities.

Here’s a neat piece of trivia: Safe T Plus is also the official distributor for KONI shocks in the US. I’ve written about KONI as a leader in motorhome shock options.

(Alternatively, for more on KONI you can read my KONI vs Bilstein review).

In this sense, Safe T Plus is well-versed in all aspects of RV suspension components.

Other possible options include Supersteer dampers or Bilstein stabilizers. While I’m a huge fan of Bilstein for truck steering dampers, I don’t think this is an optimal solution for most RV setups.

Maybe if your RV/motorhome runs on an SUV they’ll be fine. For anything bigger – both in terms of chassis or towing needs, I’d stick to either Safe T Plus or Roadmaster.

Keep in mind that for DIY installation you might need some extra tools. Namely, a sturdy impact wrench, a compressor, and a torque wrench. The latter should go up to 250-foot pounds, at least in the case of Safe T Plus.

Here’s a quick video on installing the Safe T Plus Blue:

Best of luck with the installation, and I wish you safe and comfortable travels! Let me know your experiences in the comments below 🙂