[MDarius]

Yesterday I saw a pick up with a cowbell hung from the frame behind the bumper. ''Hmm.'' thought I, ''that's odd.'' I took a closer look and lo and behold the bell was hung at exactly the same height and in direct line with the lowest hanging part on the truck from the undercarriage, in this case the rear end.

Lo tech, redneck, white trash...call it what you will, but I bet he knows when to stop on the trail and he didn't spend $$$$ on skid plates. Anybody used this technique? What do you think? Subtle, cheap, effective. I bet if you painted it bright orange it would even be attractive.

[Grench]

I've heard of this being done in-line with the pumpkins. My thought is that if you're going fast enough to make the bell ring, you're not going to stop in time. If you're going slow enough to stop, you're not likely to hear the quiet little clunk over the sound of the engine sitting right over the top of it.

I'd be intrested to hear if someone has found them effective.

[FJBen]

This is super old school! My dad used to have it waaay back in the day, same theory...I thought they just liked the clangin' when I was little. Now I know...and knowing is half the battle....(thats twice today I've posted the G.I. Joe motto)

[corsair23]

There is a guy that has one on his Jeep, and has videos on the web of his offroad adventures...Can't remember his name but all through the videos you can hear that bell clanging...Oh, and it clangs all the time, not just when you hit rocks.

[dtrain]

Its for ranchers and other animals... so they hear you coming. Its so you don't suprise anyone/animal. At least that is what my hick buddy tells me...A Real American Hero (GI Joe battle call)

[Campfire]

Old school heeps have had them around for years. And an old Rubicon legend is that you can't hang one on your rig until you roll over. I told that to my 17 year old who's driving a 51 Willys and all he said was "alright! I'm gonna get me one"

I can hardly wait.

[CreeperSleeper]

They also use those in clubs. There is a club in Portland that if you get "detained" for more than 15min on a club run, you get the cowbell. You have to keep the bell until someone else "earns" it.

There is another club that makes you spin your club plate upside-down for a year after you roll.

[stayalert]

waiting patiently for animated "more cowbell"