Does the F53 have a crumple zone?

[Long & Winding road]

I dont know what made me think of this but does the F53 chassis have a crumple zone?

I know my E450 chassis has front end crumple only (easy to see).

For that matter, What about the big diesel Spartan and Atlas chassis? Or do they worry about stuff like that on the super big rigs?

[Beau388]

No Not required in vehicles 16,000 lbs gross weight or greater.

[Long & Winding road]

Yep, thats what I figured. Plus since we sit on top of the front axle for the most part ..... you dont want it to crush that easy and intrude inside the cockpit.

[Cason61]

Originally Posted by Long & Winding road

I dont know what made me think of this but does the F53 chassis have a crumple zone?

I know my E450 chassis has front end crumple only (easy to see).

For that matter, What about the big diesel Spartan and Atlas chassis? Or do they worry about stuff like that on the super big rigs?

Yeah, that's what I thought about when I signed for my 34, only one door to get out. Hopefully I don't hit hard on the front end cause getting out of the drivers seat (one way), plus even though I am 5' 10" I will have to move the seat back to get out. With no electricity, I'd be in trouble.

[K0LCB]

Try real hard not to hit anything

[Cason61]

Originally Posted by K0LCB

Try real hard not to hit anything

So far I been lucky. Good set of brakes, Steering a little slow, was even worse before the alignment. Could be worse though, gave up bikeriding cause of all the safety gear I wore.

[The Gritz Carlton]

you'll make it to the impact zone before any crumple zones do, so they didn't waste the time to build them in. Amazing how they can build a vehicle today exempt from airbags also...especially one where you're second only to the headlights in a wreck.

[Long & Winding road]

Well for the most part the big A class RV's are tall enough so In a crash the engine and tranny will go under you + your taller and heaver than most vehicles on the road so thats a big advantage in a crash.

[The Gritz Carlton]

On the plus side, you won't miss any of the excitement...you'll be the first one there!

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

On the plus side, you won't miss any of the excitement...you'll be the first one there!

That IS funny: but in a very perverse sort of way...

(Reported too many fatal accidents over the years... )

[Cason61]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

On the plus side, you won't miss any of the excitement...you'll be the first one there!

Yeah, that's true. Long time ago I owned a Ford 'Econoline' pickup. It looked like a van in the front but was a pickup in the back. Got T-boned by some idiot running a red light one night followed by a long hospital stay. Maybe an airbag in the windshield would have helped cause I got thrown through the windshield and hit the pole myself. I always wear a seat belt now and wish my RV had a steering column airbag.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Long & Winding road

I dont know what made me think of this but does the F53 chassis have a crumple zone?

......cut......

Yes, in effect it does, it’s the trunk of the vehicle in front that crumples.

I’m serious, how often would a crumple zone in a 15,000-plus pound vehicle actually crumple enough to make a significant difference?

If you run off the road and hit a tree or concrete wall, then sure, it would help. Or if you hit another large truck head on. However, I expect those are rare compared to running into the back of cars, SUVs, or pickups. And due to their lower mass, their crumple zones would end up absorbing the vast majority of the energy anyway, so an F53 crumple zone would be wasted in most accidents in my opinion. That’s likely why they are not required.


By the way, the Econoline crumple zone isn’t all that effective, which is a major reason Ford has to treat it as a vehicle over 10,000 pounds and replaced it with the Transit van which is far safer. I drive my E-Series as if any minor accident could injure us badly or worse, even though it has a little crumple zone and front airbags.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Crumple zones are generally made up "pre-wrinkles" in body panels/fenders and uni-body construction systems...not frames...originally introduced by Volvo and Mercedes Benz. Brake away engines and transmissions were incorporated into that design as well, including the spare tire mounted horizontally in the trunk floor for rear impacts. Since you...the driver...are at the forefront of any accident in a Class A, it wouldn't matter if they had them or not. A factory tour will show you what they build upfront to protect you...not much. You're toast without any airbag protection. The attached video shows a number of A's involved in wrecks (C's as well). None of us really stand as good a chance as these thing are build like houses of cards. I agree with Chance...even though I have a full frontal F550, I drive as if my next fender bender could be fatal. They are huge and top heavy which will further aggravate any normal accident.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTZkd2zGdrM

[Bob Denman]

Now my head hurts...

[Long & Winding road]

No, they "pre-wrinkle" the Frames as well. My Axis (E450) is pre wrinkled as well as my old Jeep from the 90's.

I dont have any pictures of it but I can send this weekend if I remember.

[Cason61]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Now my head hurts...

Yeah, all this talk about crumple zones. It is very educational and I understand why it isn't worth the extra money now. Guess when I drive the RV, I'll just wear my Greenbay 'cheese hat' for head protection and yes I have one.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Originally Posted by Long & Winding road

No, they "pre-wrinkle" the Frames as well. My Axis (E450) is pre wrinkled as well as my old Jeep from the 90's.

I dont have any pictures of it but I can send this weekend if I remember.

You get the same visual effect when they use the "benders" also...may not be an engineered thing but a result of frame forming that looks like crumple zones. I don't think Jeep thought that far ahead. They knew you were dead if you had a wreck in one anyway. I have an '89 so I speak for myself as well. Getting out on the road at highway speed is a "butt tightening" experience.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Cason61

Yeah, all this talk about crumple zones. It is very educational and I understand why it isn't worth the extra money now. Guess when I drive the RV, I'll just wear my Greenbay 'cheese hat' for head protection and yes I have one.

We need a picture of it...

[Chance]

This is front frame of older E-Series. It may have changed a little but principle remains. There is about a foot of length of corrugated section meant to collapse under less force.

[Long & Winding road]

Yeah, thats how my frame looks in the front... minus the rust. LOL.

Looks like a crumple zone to me.