PSA For you folks that are removing / modifying the crash bars to install bigger tires.....

[JACKSMYDOG]

at least the bottom pic was from a test, the speed is known. and if i recall its the standard speed used in the tests. which isnt crazy.

Yes, like the previous test, the perfect angle at the perfect speed, into an immovable object. I admit that can happen in real life, but of the hundreds, or thousands of collisions I have attended and or cleaned up, that is an incredibly rare event.

Admittedly I would love to see the direct comparison on any of these test crashes. Showing the test collision with no crash bar, I'm guessing there was a test collision with/out crash bar, and comparison available.

Ford and all companies figure things down to the penny. They didn't carsh it and say, "look it's good" then spend all that money on crash bars. They likely did mutiple tests with and without bars, and at various speeds. The data likely exists to show at what speed, angle of impact, deflection value, and various factors on the obstacle break the price or safety value.

I'm not dismissing any of the evidence, just noting it's incomplete.

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[bfastr]

So would those of you afraid of removing these ever own a Sasquatch bronco?

HEY !! I have a pristine set of crash bars I took off my truck I will sell to a new paranoid bronco owner. I took them off and put on an American flag decal when I saw in the news its a trigger point for some people to indicate I am a very bad man. now with no crash bars, its confirmed.

 

[SICKQK]

The top photo doesn't look to be enough damage to cause wheel to feet intrusion, and the bottom looks to be so catastrophic the bars would have been obliterated as is the rest of the front end.

IMO, the crash bar is only going to come in to play and make a substantial difference in a very small amount of collisions. For example anything under 50km/h differential won't be enough to break-through with or without beams, any thing above 70km/h differential would break through if beams were there. The collision also has to be the perfect amount of over lap, or the vehicle in just the right amount of yaw.

I could crash my truck at 10km/h and say look how good the crash bars worked, and another at 90km/h and blame the lack of bars. Apples and oranges, again, just my opinion.

With that said I do accept that I will probably be held liable if the unthinkable does happen, and their removal is noticed.

Red truck is mine. That was the result of a wrong way driver that hit me pretty square, I was traveling at 60 mph.
I think it shows the crash bars made a difference for sure, I had no injuries to my legs/feet from intrusion into the cab. The other driver, albeit in a smaller vehicle was not so lucky. Just throwing out my experience, I think any modifications you do to your truck are your business. One of my other rides is a supercharged motorcycle and one of my first mods was to remove the side reflectors because they are ugly, thus making myself less visible to other drivers. So who am I to judge. ?

 

[AzScorpion]

HEY !! I have a pristine set of crash bars I took off my truck I will sell to a new paranoid bronco owner. I took them off and put on an American flag decal when I saw in the news its a trigger point for some people to indicate I am a very bad man. now with no crash bars, its confirmed.

??

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Red truck is mine. That was the result of a wrong way driver that hit me pretty square, I was traveling at 60 mph.
I think it shows the crash bars made a difference for sure, I had no injuries to my legs/feet from intrusion into the cab. The other driver, albeit in a smaller vehicle was not so lucky. Just throwing out my experience, I think any modifications you do to your truck are your business......one of my other rides is a supercharged motorcycle and one of my first mods was to remove the side reflectors because they are ugly. So who am I to judge. ?

Happy to see you are okay, that's a nasty crash.

Agreed, I don't really care what anybody does to their ride, I don't agree with all of their mods, not everyone agrees with mine.

 

[onobeka]

As to whether or not the crash bar actually aids during an impact...there is crash test footage freely available that demonstrates how effective the intrusion beams are during the impact scenario they are designed for. It's actually pretty cool. Offset intrusion is demonstrated frequently enough in real world traffic that the OEMs in North America to consider them in frame design. I bet higher end vehicles in the RotW contain similar features in their frame designs.

Thank you for your answer. The question I still have (given your explanation) is not related to the stiffness of these (as I did before), as they need to deform in order to absorb the impact as any true safety device, rather why are they bolted on and not welded? It would be simpler and cheaper.

 

[AzScorpion]

Thank you for your answer. The question I still have (given your explanation) is not related to the stiffness of these (as I did before), as they need to deform in order to absorb the impact as any true safety device, rather why are they bolted on and not welded? It would be simpler and cheaper.

So they can be removed when adding larger tires. ?

 

[AdamHarris]

So they can be removed when adding larger tires. ?

Yep lol. Also someone mentioned the bars may be made of Boron Steel and thus different metallurgy than the frame so not able to be welded to it...thankfully ?

 

[OCL]

Red truck is mine. That was the result of a wrong way driver that hit me pretty square, I was traveling at 60 mph.
I think it shows the crash bars made a difference for sure, I had no injuries to my legs/feet from intrusion into the cab. The other driver, albeit in a smaller vehicle was not so lucky. Just throwing out my experience, I think any modifications you do to your truck are your business. One of my other rides is a supercharged motorcycle and one of my first mods was to remove the side reflectors because they are ugly, thus making myself less visible to other drivers. So who am I to judge. ?

It looks like your Ranger saved you from serious injury. I'm not removing ANY crash bars to clear tires. Because even if I chose to take the risk, my wife sure won't be so understanding if worse comes to worse. To add insult to injury is if my Insurance company denies some of my claim because I modified the safety structure of my truck!

 

[KJRR]

We could discuss catch cans.

Or oil and filters, tire pressure, religion, tire plugs, politics, tgd...

 

[Ronbo]

at least the bottom pic was from a test, the speed is known. and if i recall its the standard speed used in the tests. which isnt crazy.

Yup. Top photo is Marks@SICKQK real world crash at speeds of 60 mph +/-, versus the standard off set crash test by NHTSA of 35 mph.

 

[onobeka]

Bugfixing, as I’ve said before. Tomorrow, when the moon is rising I will be welding some on my non protective enough EU chasis.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Yup. Top photo is Marks@SICKQK real world crash at speeds of 60 mph +/-, versus the standard off set crash test by IHTSA of 35 mph.

Yes, 60mph with both vehicles full impact protections systems in play. Full width bumpers, crumple zones, Ranger both full length frame rails fully engaged, which allows very little force to be pushed through the wheels once compressed as it was. The other is 35mph, completely missing the long frame rails, and only engaged with lateral add-on supports, allowing full impact in line with the wheel, which by design is not fully rigid. It's evidence and worth consideration, but neither tells the full story.

 

[McLeadslinger]

I cut/removed my crash bars when I did my lift and 33’s. I went through 8 high quality Lenox brand sawzall blades. I have brand new in the box Fabtech intrusion bars but I don’t think I’m going to install them. I’m afraid with my somewhat aggressive offset my tires will still rub them.

 

[YaBoiNewton]

Thank you for your answer. The question I still have (given your explanation) is not related to the stiffness of these (as I did before), as they need to deform in order to absorb the impact as any true safety device, rather why are they bolted on and not welded? It would be simpler and cheaper.

Yeah I can't speak for the specific details of the design. From experience with my own work there could be a million reasons to justify design choices that may not be obvious to others not involved in development. There were probably some other constraints that made fasteners a better design. Anything deeper than that is pure speculation.

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