Annual lecture on rollover danger

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ginericfj80 said:
I've never seen one in the boneyard with ARB bumpers, sliders, etc... or even a lift. I imagine that the damage would be multiplied.
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I've always thought my truck handled better after the lift. The designers have a target in mind when designing the stock suspension. While handling is high on the list it becomes a give and take situation with ride quality. I suspect that the ride quality was made as smooth as possible without too severely jeopordizing handling.

Good point about the roof damage of a weigted truck. But at least that's on me and I try to drive accordingly.
 
Thanks, Rick. I'm glad I would fall into the MAKE SURE category.

Still waiting to hear the answer to Junk's question, and I doubt Volvo ever has made any type of claim about fatalities, prove me wrong.

That being said, I probably am going to be selling my 60 and buying a pre-98 Volvo wagon for wife and kids, and start driving and modding our 80.....
 
Doug,

Thanks. It's good to hear the conservative side once in a while.

Besides handling some reasons I still have a stock suspension and stock tire size on my DD is:

*Able to park in parking garages
*Able to park in my garage
*Grandparents and the family can get in without too much trouble
 
Yea, thanks again for the reality check. PACNW96 lists all the reasons I only did a stock height OME and 285s. Looks great and drives better than new. But I just bought a mini van for the family car - so time to start the mods. Once I get the engine knock figured out.
 
brownbear said:
oh wow, this thread would have worked in all the forums.

think of those SOA 60's.......

Thanks
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hmmm,,, lets see.
i can see over almost everyone on the road,
sliders keep me protected on side impact hits
i still think i'm safer in my 60 than in a 80 or a 100
drive defensivly alway watch out for the idiot next to you.

for every one inch you go up, your stance or width of the rig needs to go three inches out.
i believe thats what downey off road has come up with.

i'll keep my 60 :D
 
Whodat,
Never seen it, only heard it from a sales guy and a few owners.
Considering the source I thought it a lye.
If it is true then that pretty damn impressive.
I do like the way they drive even if it is a volva:)
I was hoping someone would have a good source for the facts.
 
fzj80kidpen said:
Whodat,
Never seen it, only heard it from a sales guy and a few owners.
...
I was hoping someone would have a good source for the facts.
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I think it is a little colorful storytelling, but it is based on some facts, like this Wiki article about the Volvo 200 series:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_200_series

"For many years, it was one of the safest cars in the world. American automotive fatality records, which are very complete, recorded no fatalities in a Volvo 240 until 1993. After that year, however, fatalities rose to 80-100 per year. Of course, an unknown portion of this may be because of the demographics of the Volvo driving population, which would tend to be more stable and less inclined to higher risk driving."
 
Junk,

To clarify, I have 2 bros in law and this one has never married - still looking for Miss Right I guess. We were talking about the ideal vehicle once and it varies by what's available but has some basics. Something AWD, stability control, ABS, front/side/head curtain airbags, heavy as possible, low CG as possible / high floor as possible, and German helps from an extreme survivability standpoint. For a new car, the Mercedes R class seems to be the very definition and even has air curtain bags to the third row. For a used car, a 100 series LC/LX from 03 up (got side curtains and stability control), and used Audi A8s from 97 on would both be near the upper end of survivability.

Stability control is highly effective and will help reduce rollover likelihood because they focus on keeping the vehicle from yawing. Even when you are not touching the brakes, these systems apply the brakes in proper sequence to keep the vehicle from getting sideways and then rolling. Amazing stuff in his opinion. He reports in a cone slalom that they can get their best time for the day through the cones with an SUV's stability system on, then spend hours the rest of the day with the system off trying to beat it. You just floor it and blast through the cones with the system keeping the rear from stepping out of line (which slows you down).

As for springs - yes they do soften over time. Shocks are a far bigger factor however in terms of dangerous handling from wear. Tires. Totally separate debate that would go on for pages.

Best advice is that which we know to be true. Slow down, keep a heightened sense of awareness, and buckle your seatbelt. I found it interesting that in the case analysis they found that her head would not have come closer than 3" to the roof when the truck was inverted with her belt on and an uncrushed roof.

I know this isn't an exciting topic but I still want to be bantering with, sharing information with, and hearing from all of you years from now. For everyone reading this, the most dangerous thing we do every day is get behind the wheel of any vehicle.

Dealmaker - congratulations on properly restraining your family. Well done.

DougM
 
I see another vote for Phil's cage...

Anyone who has seen it in person can really appreciate it.

I had a chance to study it at Moab last May and I really liked it.

Maybe this is the excuse I need to build one for mine......
 
I think about a cage all the time. The problem is that there aren't any kits for the 80 yet and we don't have a local fabricator that would take on such a job and do a decent job. I'd rather go without than have a crappy one. I also think about seat belts all the time. I'm convinced that harnesses are a better answer. I even got used to wearing them all the time in my 40.
 
Phil's cage is the SCHIZ. When you first look at it you think "OK, so this is bling to make you feel bad-ass" but as you linger on it you really begin to appreciate what it represents.
 
:frown: Makes me glad my DD is my Toyota Avalon, and the 80 only gets used for wheeling trips. Not that an accident couldn't happen to and from, but less miles = less likely. Plus, after 7+ years of driving an FJ60, I'm used to driving slow, so I don't "push it". You do what you can, and don't worry about buying trouble...
 
cruiserdan said:
Phil's cage is the SCHIZ. When you first look at it you think "OK, so this is bling to make you feel bad-ass" but as you linger on it you really begin to appreciate what it represents.
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Phil's cage is very nice, the fabricator did an excellent job of fitting it in the 80!
 
landtank said:
When lifting the truck pretty much everyone will put in the springs and bolt on the shocks, that's a given. Now when it comes to being sure the front end is properly aligned, that's another story.

It basically boils down to making sure your caster after the lift is within the design specs of the truck. The enfosys is on MAKING SURE. With everything we know and with everything that is available there is absolutely no reason for anyone to be driving around with a truck's alignment out of spec.

Bolt on whatever you want for springs and things, have the caster read and then adjust appropriately. A real simple formular for a safe driving truck that most people will ignore.

I'm currently adding 30mm spacers to the front and will be adjusting my caster plates accordingly. Is it a pain in the ass, you betcha, but even though I'm most likely to be the only one in the truck in an accident, there is no reason for some stranger to have to suffer for the rest of their lives because I got lazy.
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I have been driving this way for 4 years-no caster correction. I think it "basically boils down to" driving safely in the vehicle at hand. I have had some close calls, spins, etc, etc, but never close to a roll-and I have been in 3 HORRIBLE rollover accidents in my life. I've been asked how quick my 80 is with the 3fe and 4.88s (i.e. top speed). My answer? I don't know. I don't know because I don't think I have had my 80 over 65 mph but a handful of times, ever. Not because of a lack of power, so don't go bashing the 3fe on this now.

If you know the top speed of your lifted 80 and you know it well. You have WAY more problems to deal with in order to prevent an accident than caster.

Not saying it is not a valid point, but... Drive defensively within the limits of the vehicle you are driving, THAT is safe.
 
Tools R Us said:
Phil's cage is very nice, the fabricator did an excellent job of fitting it in the 80!
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After reading this thread I think Roll cage has moved up on the to do list for the 80.

Does anyone have a pic of "Phil's Cage," or tell me where I could see a pic?


Sam
 
PKP80 said:
After reading this thread I think Roll cage has moved up on the to do list for the 80.

Does anyone have a pic of "Phil's Cage," or tell me where I could see a pic?


Sam
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Phil is out of town for the next couple of weeks, so no mud for him.:D Contact Slee, he had a bunch of pictures of Phil's truck on the for sale page, they went away when his site was updated.
 
cruiserdan said:
I see another vote for Phil's cage...

Anyone who has seen it in person can really appreciate it.

I had a chance to study it at Moab last May and I really liked it.

Maybe this is the excuse I need to build one for mine......
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Well, your wife is out of town:idea:
 
I think she would "notice" that one when she got home.....:eek:
 
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