snow-induced fender-benders

[ahunt01]

I'm now starting to think about idiots in the snow. People here don't drive well in the snow, and they frequently rear-end each other. So let me pose a couple questions regarding my Jeep Wrangler.



I notice that the tire sticks out past the rear bumper, thus when a car rear-ends a jeep, they might push in the tire into the tailgate causing body damage. Is there a beastly rear bumper that would bounce cars off like a hockey puck?



I read somewhere on here about a dude running head-on into something and the jeep literally bounced back to a dead stop, however the jeep suffered no real damage. So as far as the front end goes, what front bumper would plow right through a car (in case I lost control) without causing major damage to the front end?



Finally, no aftermarket bumpers would have any negative effects on air-bag deployment, would they?



I still plan on getting safari bars, or the equivalent, to help reduce damage to the front end if I hit a deer ( or person, just kidding just kidding) going at a slow speed.

 

[boxer]

I read somewhere on here about a dude running head-on into something and the jeep literally bounced back to a dead stop, however the jeep suffered no real damage. So as far as the front end goes, what front bumper would plow right through a car (in case I lost control) without causing major damage to the front end?

Nice to know that people like you are putting on even bigger bumpers on your SUV so that when you can't control you vehicle, it is the other people on the road that suffer the consequences.



You're almost as bad as the guy that completely cut me off yesterday with absolutely no signal. No one behind him in his original lane, no one behind me in my lane, and yet he can't signal, or slow down a second. Then when I honk my horn the idiot tries to brake check me, locking up all 4 tires and going into a slide and hitting the curb. Luckily due to proper winter tires, modern technology, and moderate driving skill I was able to avoid the idiot.

 

[medic]

cop car bumpers are probably what you are looking for - they extend past the body of the car and can prevent damage. However, this can reduce the usability of airbags becsaue they are triggered when sensors in the front of the car are activated - if they dont' activate or activate with enough force, they won't deploy - your car may be safe, but you may not be.

So as far as the front end goes, what front bumper would plow right through a car (in case I lost control) without causing major damage to the front end?

Well now that doesn't make sense. Plow through another car with a modified jeep becsaue you lose control, possibly hurt someone else, maybe get a trip through the legal system becasue of reckless endangerment or possibly even manslauter, maybe get sued for wrongful death, to protect your front grill? I like my car too and want to protect it, but that's not worth it.



And as far as bouncing off a wall, well incase you don't remember your physics that would mean all the force of the impact is coming back through the car to you. This is why all those 60's Detroit metal Cadilacs would be perfectly intact after a crash, but the driver would be a mess. Cars are designed to fall apart at the crush zones to take the force away from you.



Instead of paying extra money for physical improvements for your car, why not get some more insurance instead to cover the uninsured person that may slide into you. And as far as you losing control, well, if you know that's possible keep some more distance from others and slow down.



I'm not an SUV hater, I may end up buying one, but I don't agree with your plans.

 

[psl car wash]

Finally, no aftermarket bumpers would have any negative effects on air-bag deployment, would they?

this is the only question i can answer 4 you........airbaggs work off of a sensor, how they work is they "sense" an impact so WHICH bumper does NOT matter

 

[HomicidalSloth]

What you need for the read is a big, big trailer hitch. Like the kind that sticks back from the vehicle 10 inchs or so. I've seen cars rear-end trucks with those things, totally destroying the front of the car, and all the truck needs as a new hitch cover, or sanding out the metal or something.



As far as the front of your car goes, well, that's most likely to be your fault if the front of you car gets damaged, so think about other people, and not yourself. I'd just leave it the way it is and watch your driving.

 

[LouisanaJeeper]

front

http://www.4wd.com/arb/



rear

http://www.warn.com/truck/mounting-systems/rear_bumper_jeep.shtml



brush guards are a waste and will not prevent damage



the air bags are deployed with a deccelerometer inside the cab



ps. dont let the non SUV whiners bother you. if you want to make your vechicle less prone to damage go for it. the arb bumpers are DOT approved i believe

 

[boxer]

Just to be clear, I am not anti-suv.

I am however against him putting on a huge bumper on the front in case he makes a mistake and hits someone else. That is simply ignorant to the other people on the road.

I think the money would be better spent taking some driving courses, and proper winter tires.

 

[kempie]

Unless he raises his SUV the size of his bumper doesnt matter. Its the height difference in bumpers that causes problems.

You need to get your facts straight so that you dont appear ignorant when your probably not.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Well, the bumper height difference is a problem. It's a problem for minor accidents, where the car's bumper goes under the truck's and damages the car and not the truck, and a bigger problem in worse accidents where the truck rides up over the car and bypasses the energy-absorbing structure of the car (which will already be on the short end of the stick due to relative masses). Ford has admitted this problem and vowed to take steps to mitigate it.



This is America and everybody can drive whatever they want, but SUV's, pickups, and minivans have, until recently, been skirting the safety, fuel economy, and emissions regulations for passenger vehicles by exceeding the 6000 lb. gross vehicle weight and being classified as "trucks", an exemption meant for actual work vehicles and not 50% of the vehicles being sold. The government was ruefully slow in recognizing the shift from a "truck" being what they delivered your washing machine in to what your wife takes the kids to school in.



I'm not "anti-SUV", and support everyone's right to buy one, but if every Tom, D ick, and Housewife is going to drive one, they should comply with the laws intended for the vehicles that are driven for personal use.