QUALITY, SERVICEABLE, VEHICLE LIGHTING
OUR HOME BASE … OUR EXPERIENCE … OUR INVENTIONS … OUR TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE!
LOCATION & CAPABILITIES:
Sierra Design Manufacturing, Inc. (Formerly Sierra Products, Inc.) is headquartered next to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California with a second facility in Sonora … near Yosemite Valley.
Our Livermore facility houses our Management, Sales, Engineering and R & D Operations plus our “in house” Tool Making capabilities. We have fifteen, 100 Ton to 500 Ton* Plastic Ejection Molding Machines along with all necessary complimentary equipment for designing, tooling and manufacturing any kind of quality vehicle lighting that will indeed, comply to all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #108 (FMVSS #108) specifications. *Clamping capability
With our extremely capable … and “total control” … Manufacturing facilities, “Sierra” maintains a virtual 100% fill order reputation where small orders can usually be shipped in 3 to 5 days and our “Blanket Order Program” fills large, pre-planned orders … on time as well.
All our products are backed with unique “Quality and Legal Guarantees”, while also providing “No Tools”, “Snap Out”, “Serviceable Bulb Systems” that are inexpensively and easily maintained … anytime, anywhere!
We have avoided dedicating R & D time and monies to Designing and Tooling 7 Function “LED” Lights because of the many obvious (and not so obvious) Legal and “LED” producing problems that exist when trying to use “LEDs” in outdoor, fully exposed applications. See our extensive writings on this subject!
Our Founder, Dennis G. Moore, set up our Vehicle Lighting
Test Lab over 25 Years ago and this Lab is still in use today checking all
“our own designs” … as well as checking any obviously questionable
competitors products* … using FMVSS #108 Standards and Test Equipment
Traceable to the U.S. Bureau of Standards.
*which was
“California Highway Patrol Approved” back then
STARTED FROM SCRATCH:
In the 1970s, we Invented, Tooled, Molded and began Marketing the very first, totally successful, “Submersible”, 5 and 7-Function Boat Trailer lights using the “Air Trapping” philosophy. Sears Roebuck* catalogued our initial designs and E-Z LoaderÒ was our first large OEM Customer.
*Sears qualified our early Models by bolting them to a Seawall in Florida and letting the “Tide” do the testing for them!
In the beginning … we were forced to sell to large Marine Dealers on a “Direct” basis in order to develop public recognition of our very useful and unique products as Marine Distributors simply would not try anything new … and for the most part … still won’t!
However, major Marine Distributors were eventually convinced by their Dealers to get onboard and began to successfully sell our now famous 6/7 Function #701s* directly to the public in great numbers, while noting virtually “no returns”. In a few more years, everyone … that is, the Public, Distributors and OEMs … became convinced of the unique capabilities and reliability of our LexanÒ Submersible Tough Duty Light Designs. *Round Lens with long Compression Skirt
TRADE NAMES and MAJOR SALES FEATURES:
Sierra Design Manufacturing, Inc. (Formerly Sierra Products, Inc.) has been marketing our leading Boat Trailer Submersible Lighting products under the brand name Dry LaunchÒ, which has become very well recognized for quality, value, and customer satisfaction throughout the Marine marketplace. Lately, we have confidently expanded our Unique Product Lines to supply all kinds of Trailers, RVs and Small/Large Trucks with quality Lighting using the ConvoyÒ Trade Name in addition to Dry Launch®.
Dry LaunchÒ has spent 30+ years molding primarily GE LexanÒ (Polycarbonate) into our Submersible and Tough Duty Lighting products, and we’ve spearheaded the now famous “No Tools”, “Snap out Bulb Slides” as well as “Hi & DryÒ Terminals”. We also manufacture a large selection of Replacement / Update / Upgrade … New Looks! “See Thru/Chrome” Center High Mount Stop Lamps “CHMSLs” … referred to as … 3rd Brake Lights. See our website www.SierraProductsInc.com.
Recently, we’ve developed some totally different and very
revolutionary! “See Thru Chrome”, “See the Bulb”
“Incandescent” 5/6/7 Function Designs that perfectly compliment the latest
“See Thru” Auto, SUV and Pick-Up Tail Light Styling* now coming from Detroit
and Japan on a regular basis. Look Around! and notice all these New
Happenings!
*We call this the
“Liquid LookÒ”
Pairs of our popular 3-½” x 6” “SP” Light Assemblies have already been put on Millions of Shoreland’r, EZ LoaderÒ and better Trailers all over the U.S. and Canada. Our new, same-sized (3-½” x 6”) “See Thru Chrome” SP-LLs can be sold not only for Upgraded Replacements for the millions of most common (2” mount) 7 Function Lights, but there is a (guaranteed) chance of making significant additional profits selling these lights for the purpose of Updating and Upgrading as well … making it possible for anyone to Modernize their old (or new) Trailer/RV to the latest Styling and Safety Standards.
*Easily replaces all 3-½ x 6 and 3 x 8 … 7-Function Assemblies
Besides our revolutionary New 7 Function “See Thru, See the Bulb” “SP-LL” designs and our unique 5 Function WingTipÒ designs, we have a whole host of new and “soon to be available” products that will Repair, Update, Upgrade, Style, Modernize, as well as Safetyize all kinds of Trailer, RV or Truck Lighting under the ConvoyÒ and Dry Launch® Trade Names.
OUR REPUTATION and GOALS:
Most of the aftermarket vehicle lighting sold today … is composed of “Cheapened Taiwan Copies” of successful vehicle Aftermarket lights that Americans originally designed and have used in large numbers. Our design goals revolve around quality, uniqueness and serviceability and not the copying and cheapening of other’s designs. We also show a profound dedication to Public Safety by designing vehicle lighting products with built in, grief reducing and safety increasing features that will (sooner or later) be appreciated by OEMs, Distributors, Dealers and the End Users as well.
We are inherently dedicated to “Trail Blaze” new Innovations that stimulate styling interest and increase vehicle lighting safety, while still representing a “Cost Value” to all concerned. We are also dedicated to routinely introduce Upgraded, Updated and Modernized Lighting that not only meets all D.O.T. and FMVSS #108 Safety Regulations, but also incorporates Common Sense Safety … Serviceability* … and “Styling for the Times”. *LEDs are not serviceable
30 YEARS of LEGAL and HANDS ON EXPERIENCE:
From 1976, we were required to learn every detail of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #108 (FMVSS #108), which first became mandated by NHTSA in 1969 to comply with the “1966 Vehicle Safety Act’s” Objectives.
We have studied, complimented, criticized and contributed to FMVSS #108 changes over these years while also documenting (and commenting on) all of NHTSA’s Official “Notice of Proposed Rule Makings” (NPRMs) and their “Interpretations”, “Errors” and “Re-Interpretations”. We are willing to share all of this information with our Customers and Trade Groups to help their Engineers and Lawyers better understand what, where, why and how many mandated Lights and Reflectors are required by Federal #108 Law, plus Common Sense thrown in for good measure!
“TECHNICAL and LEGAL CLARIFICATIONS” (“TLCs”):
Included in our writings, we address several Vehicle Lighting subjects in our “Technical and Legal Interpretations” (TLCs) where we try to call attention to the specific history and the common sense reasoning behind each subject and compare this knowledge to what is actually mandated by FMVSS #108 Law.
We also point out the obvious (and not so obvious) needed Improvements* to FMVSS #108 so that Distributors and OEMs are encouraged to only buy and inventory “Legal” Vehicle Lighting that can be proven to be compliant to all facets of FMVSS #108 and to all common sense and safety logic as well! *and “Dumbness Corrections”
THE SOCIETY of AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS … “SAE”:
All Trailer, RV and Truck Manufacturers should realize that … directly or indirectly, the “Society of Automotive Engineers” (SAE) wrote most of the initial and existing FMVSS #108 Regulations and everyone concerned should also realize that most SAE members are primarily “automotive oriented” and do not feel obligated to provide Trailer, RV and Truck Manufacturers the required attention they are entitled to. Furthermore, realize that “Automotive” based subjects and “Automotive” needs have always gathered nearly all the attention from NHTSA Rule Makers. These are facts that these vehicle manufacturers … other than Automobiles, SUVs and Pick Up Trucks … must deal with the best they can.
OUR CURRENT CUSTOMER BASE:
Over the past 28 Years, we’ve supplied “Big Guys” like Sears and Grand Auto, etc., 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 manufacturers. Additionally, we have dutifully served practically all Major Marine Distributors and several RV Distributors who can verify that our products sell well … are routinely complimented … make profits … and generate virtually Zero Returns!
QUALITY and “NO COME BACK” TOUGHNESS:
Since our beginning, we’ve specialized in using Tough! GE LexanÒ Polycarbonate in all our Lenses, Bulb Slides, as well as in our “SP” and (now) “SP-LL” Bodies. We preach that OEMs and Distributors will save enough in time* and money from less Shipping and Handling Breakage and the associated savings in phone time* and grief time* … involved with answering premature breakage and premature failure complaints … so these benefits are “pay backs” for the slight extra cost for our LexanÒ construction and special features over equivalent competitor 7 Function LED and Incandescent Acrylic Lights.
*Time is Money and dealing with Grief is also Money!
Yes, LexanÒ does break when smashed, but it doesn’t shatter and it doesn’t fade. LexanÒ also takes bumps and handles Hot and Cold much better than any Acrylic Lighting. When a Customer smashes one of our Lights … they can see that they were originally supplied a stout, quality product and for the most part, they will feel it was their fault for the failure … and not the Distributor or OEM that supplied the problem light. We all know that most Americans can sense when they’ve been cheated and provided inferior products … and they consider that seldom forget these kinds of unpleasant experiences!
OUR LIGHTING COMPLIES with ALL FEDERAL and STATE STANDARDS, plus Common Sense as well:
Our lights have “built in” Grief Reducing and Serviceability features that end users will, indeed, appreciate. Further, we can confidently claim that all our Lights comply with all applicable Mandated Federal Specifications … and there are many! We even throw in Common Sense, Grief Reducing features that Federal Law doesn’t require … but should! Please take the time to check out our “Technical and Legal Clarification” and “Request for Legal Interpretation” … you’ll see we know what we’re talking about!
We can show compliance to all Federal FMVSS #108 sections by providing NHTSA (when requested) our Laboratory Compliance Tests that are Traceable to the U.S. Bureau of Standards. Anyone can “eyeball see” that our 7 Function lights display the required 12-5/8 in² of Effective Projected Luminous Lens Area (EPLLA) that’s mandated for Brake/Turn Signals where the typical Taiwan LED Brake/Turn copies, obviously don’t, and are subject to Recall. Further, our 30 years of “Real-Life” Road Testing vouches for our reliability and also, we are able to brag that we’re the only bona fide U.S.A. Lighting Manufacturer in the 22 Western States that is actively Designing, Tooling and “still” Molding (in house) Vehicle Lighting and Reflectors to Federal Standards … in the Good Ol U.S.A! Furthermore, we’re a bona fide Vehicle Lighting Manufacturer … among very few … that offers vehicle lighting products made from GE’s “Fade Proof”, Tough LexanÒ. *We don’t use Unknown (Quick Fading) Overseas Plastics
IT TAKES ONLY a FEW of our PRODUCTS to SATISFY MOST CUSTOMERS’ LIGHTING NEEDS:
Our few, yet “thought out”, Trailer, RV and Truck Lighting Products provide plenty of Universal special features and “State of the Art” Styling which means Distributors and Dealers only need to stock and display very few of our lighting items because it only takes our Red, “SP-LL” 7 + 5 Kit and only one or two of our complementary products to satisfy most potential Customers’ needs for common Replacement and Repair purposes*. Furthermore, these same few products can also capture a whole new market of Updating and Upgrading and Modernizing sales from all kinds of Trailer, RV and Truck Owners, while at the same time, satisfying the publics’ ongoing desire to find New Looking! Economical, Tough, Grief Reducing and Serviceable Lighting.
*Using the “Pair” Sales Approach
Marine, RV and Auto Lighting Distributors and their Dealers should also be aware that there are already Millions of our popular “SP”, “203” and “327” Products still in use* … with thousands more being put on New Vehicles each day. Also, realize that the typical “Replacement Seeker” is having a hard time finding a source for purchasing a single (or other’s) 7 Function 3-½” x 6” sized Replacement Lights (see attached Customer Testimonial) while the common “Plain Jane” 3” x 8” size** is fairly readily available in Acrylic. A further sales advantage to note is that virtually no Distributor or OEM is (yet) carrying or using our New See Thru / Chrome (3-½” x 6”) “SP-LL” Designs or our Unique WingTipÒ Products … you could be among the First!
*Including Identical or Near Identical appearing Taiwan Copies of our 3 ½” x 6” SPs
**We’ll soon have a new See Thru/Chrome, New Looks! 3” x 8” size to offer
FOR 30+ YEARS, WE HAVE TESTED for “COMPLIANCE” and “LONGEVITY”:
In the 70’s, we learned from scratch all applicable Federal and State Laws for Vehicle Lighting, and since then, we’ve been receiving and monitoring the Federal Register daily to keep up on the latest changes and interpretations relating to FMVSS #108 Law. We have copied and categorized all of NHTSA’s NPRMs (Notice of Proposed Rule Making) and “Legal Interpretations” representing many interesting OEM and Public Questions and NHTSAs corresponding answers relating to FMVSS #108*.
*FMVSS #108 = Federal Motor Vehicle Standard #108
Over the years, we have also made routine trips to Washington D.C. to keep up with FMVSS #108 “Docket Entries”, and we will share all this wide range of knowledge with our Customers when need be. Over the years, we’ve also been instrumental in trying* to update FMVSS #108 Laws using official “Petitions” and “Legal Interpretation Requests”, however, we have found that sometimes common sense and real-life sensibility are missing virtues at NHTSA.
*We’ve had some successful
Petitions and some “turn downs” for usually non sensical reasoning! We’ve
got all the Technical
and Legal bases covered!
1113 Greenville Road Livermore, CA 94550 Tel: (925) 443-3140 Fax: (925) 443-0384