Thread: Driving light suggestions for a D3

Originally Posted by tombraider

Read my post again!!!!

I pointed out that crash dynamics over 60km/h means.....

100Km/h + Big Roo + Centralised Hit = FUBAR, big time :!:

Your vehicle will however be limpable (is that a word? I've used it in a sentence now so yes!) if your lucky, but chassis dynamics + Roo mass at 100km/h is pretty much death to the vehicle (as well as the roo)

A glancing or off centre blow however is definately a possibility to survive with a decent bar!

My point was a large number of motorists believe their 4wd to be "much safer" with the bar to swipe roos with, when in reality its a mental thing. Lets face it, at night would you drive the Barrier Highway at 110km/h without a Bar considering the Roos lining the sides?

Cheers
Mike

Now I have never hit a roo or anything else with the County, but I drove a million or so miles in heavy trucks outback. This advice probably does not apply to light vehicles and their less robust bullbars, but the rule with a truck is not to swerve or brake, but, if you can, hit them dead centre with the bullbar. A corner strike may bend the bar back onto a tyre. This particularly applies to cattle. Of course, if you hit an 800kg bullock with a 4wd you are in the poo, particularly if you are a long way from help.

I've hit more Roo's than I'd care to admit to, in several Patrols and the 'fender. Both Patrols had alloy (POS) bars, the first one wrecked the bar, drivers side headlight and mudguard. Impact speed was approx 60km/h. Our latest Patrol cleaned one up front and centre, stove the bumper in as luckily we hit him on the downward part of the hop, went under the vehicle and the drivers side rear tyre and flicked the ute sideways at approx 75km/h. Several have gone into the side, underneath, etc at various speeds, usually below 60km/h. Ironically this vehicle should've had a steel bar, but SWMBO insisted we have the alloy one, and conned the salesman into throwing it into the package as it looked better, regardless of my protests and arguments ..........

The giggest hit in the Defender was a genuine 80-85km/h minimum impact speed. Dead centre, approx 50kg Roo. Wrecked my number plate, dinged my steering damper and felt like hitting a brick wall, it was a hard hit. No damage to the OE/ARB bar, mounts or chassis. I was mightily impressed. If it was an alloy bar, I would have been in deep do-do.