Slee Rear Bumper Crash Test (Unofficial, Unsolicited, Unplanned)

[TemboTusk]

Hey Jon,

Was not expecting the story I read. Glad to hear you and all out there are alright. Metal can be fixed.

I worry about something like this traveling the freeways at rush hour, not while wheeling. I think we all can take a lesson from your story.

 

[e9999]

glad everybody is fine!

weird rear window breakage. Is that OEM glass? With a heavy tint film?

 

[spressomon]

Bummer Jon! But glad, obviously, no one was physically harmed!

I share your sentiments about Slee's bumpers!

 

[philthyphil]

Very glad to hear everyone is ok. Just moved East from GJ so I know the area. These are very safe vehicles as stated many times on this forum. Unfortunately I have the experience of rolling one at 60 mph on icy roads.

Wife is pregnant, maybe that is good excuse for upgrading the bumpers on her 100 as this is her daily driver, and she's been bugging me since the other two are armored.

Again, glad all are safe.

 

[jonharis]

Well the pole pretty much says it and MtnAddic probably hit the nail on the head. If something is built right and quality is a priority, safety will most likely follow.

Great story, minus the damage of course. Glad everyone made it out in one piece.

You ought to send this in too them, hell they may send you a free bumper in exchange for the positive publicity.

Insurance is covering the cost of the repair, which by the way, beating a dead horse, you get what you pay for. Even if they didn't cover it, I would never expect something like that, and would pay full price for a new one again in a heartbeat. Again I am just glad that everyone is ok and that I could show a real world example of a quality product that is out here.

I can deliver a new bumper to you in a couple weeks when I head to Moab if need be.

See above. Thanks, but it's taken care of.

Hey Jon,

Was not expecting the story I read. Glad to hear you and all out there are alright. Metal can be fixed.

I worry about something like this traveling the freeways at rush hour, not while wheeling. I think we all can take a lesson from your story.

Jerry. Thanks for chiming in, people probably noticed Jerry's Loadspotter Fridge slide in one of the pics. I'm happy to say that it sustained no damage, and the fridge was securily held in place. I think I stated in my drawer review that I feel items like this with secure mechanical locks and attachments are huge safety features. Nothing moved in my truck whatsoever. The only items that were not tied down were clothes bags and tent and my camera. Te fewer projectiles the better. The Runner sustained a broken center row seat due to the gear in the back sliding forward.


Sent via iPhone. Sorry for the typos.

 

[jonharis]

glad everybody is fine!

weird rear window breakage. Is that OEM glass? With a heavy tint film?

I'm glad you noticed that. A little irony. I had the truck interior detailed for the first time on Friday before we left and also had the windows tinted. Yes it's tint film over the factory tint glass. It turns out that this too is another safety feature. Very little glass ended up inside the truck. The film held it together and it was all removed with one hand.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That 4Runner folded up-probably saving the life of the driver. While it looks bad, it's supposed to do that in a high energy crash.

That is a common offroad scenario - driving fast, unknown terrain, fast braking. A good lesson to keep major distance between trucks.

No doubt the rear of the 100 is STOUT, and the Slee bumper makes it even more rigid.

Glad everyone walked away.

 

[pfran42]

Glad you are OK Jon. I would have flipped the F out had I been hit with my 18 month old in the back seat. Keep us posted on the re-build!

 

[Layonnn]

I'm glad you noticed that. A little irony. I had the truck interior detailed for the first time on Friday before we left and also had the windows tinted. Yes it's tint film over the factory tint glass. It turns out that this too is another safety feature. Very little glass ended up inside the truck. The film held it together and it was all removed with one hand.

Does it really end up being more safe that way? Every window but the windshield is designed to shatter so that you don't have huge blades of glass flying around. Imagine if that huge rear window chunk was thrown forward and you had tall rear passengers.

Very glad to hear that you and your loved ones are okay.

 

[jonharis]

A potentially valid point. The rear shattered into small rounded pieces. It could be handled without touching it. The whole thing was still attached in areas and had to be forcefully removed. It probably wouldn't have hurt anyone either way but I could see situations where the film could slow/stop and incoming object, ya know, tree, baseball batt bricks, cougars, etc.

 

[Layonnn]

A potentially valid point. The rear shattered into small rounded pieces. It could be handled without touching it. The whole thing was still attached in areas and had to be forcefully removed. It probably wouldn't have hurt anyone either way but I could see situations where the film could slow/stop and incoming object, ya know, tree, baseball batt bricks, cougars, etc.

I do remember seeing on FJ cruiser forums a product that was a special kind of tint that made the windows nearly smash proof. They had a company demo video where they would hit the window with their tint with a baseball bat, hammer, etc, and the glass wouldn't even crack.

I am interested to see what the rear frame assembly looks like with the bumper off, to see if any damage was done. Did any of the bolts that hold the bumper to the frame shear off?

 

[jonharis]

I do remember seeing on FJ cruiser forums a product that was a special kind of tint that made the windows nearly smash proof. They had a company demo video where they would hit the window with their tint with a baseball bat, hammer, etc, and the glass wouldn't even crack.

I am interested to see what the rear frame assembly looks like with the bumper off, to see if any damage was done. Did any of the bolts that hold the bumper to the frame shear off?

That product is sweet. We have been looking at putting it on our house windows, in a car it would be good unless you drove it off a bridge and needed to break the glass to get out, or EMTs needed to break glass to get in.

No bolts appear broken or shorne. The shop put the rear crossmember in as a replacement item on the quote but said that they wouldn't know until they got it on the frame machine. I have a few pics of the underside I can post tomorrow.

 

[Gottagetone]

Thats Crazy! Glad everyone is ok...that poor 4Runner

 

[paflytyer]

Jon,
So glad to hear those babies are ok! As a father of 3yo twin girls, I can't imagine the split second after the hit, and the thoughts that go through your mind for the safety of your children.
As long as they're fine, nothing else in the world matters.

 

[AimCOtaco]

Jon,
So glad your family and friends are safe.

The 4runner was definitely following to close for the speed/terrain. That is the first negative thing I notice about most peoples driving style. Fist thing I tell a newbie is to stay way back. I bet that guy learned his lesson.

 

[farinvail]

Jon, Glad you and family are alright. Wow. Best of luck to everyone involved.

 

[jonharis]

New rear bumper will be out of PC in about 2 weeks, it's going to be tight but It should be all back together just in time for CM.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Hard to imagine your thoughts with the kids in the back. Glad to hear everyone involved is OK.

I'm surprised the poll did not included function and looks knowing the high level of safety and quality in its stock form.

 

[jonharis]

Hard to imagine your thoughts with the kids in the back. Glad to hear everyone involved is OK.

I'm surprised the poll did not included function and looks knowing the high level of safety and quality in its stock form.

I wanted to go back in and edit it as soon as I pressed submit. Oh well.

 

[B-RAD]

Sorry to hear about the accident and glad that you, your kids, dogs and the other driver are ok. Great testament to Slee and the 100 series.