Structural quality question

[Deleted User 38384]

In "the good ole days" the perception was that the more solid a car was the more safe it was. It was decades before they realized (and sold the public on the idea) that the energy of the crash in those solid vehicles was being transferred into the occupants. Eventually they started designing crumple zones to dissipate a lot of that energy.

Funny... I created a crumple zone in my Jeep right onto the heads of those unwanted.

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[Murphy Slaw]

I don’t know about structure, but my wife ran our windshield into an asteroid within the first few weeks.

We’re not even gonna fix it until it happens again.

 

[Jerryrock]

I know my $50,000 Jeep Wrangler has airbags up front, and in the front passenger seats, and that's it. However my wife's $34,000 Subaru Forester has one of the best crash ratings on the US market, including rear side airbags to protect the passengers in the back. So if your main concern is safety, I would factor in what you'll be using your Jeep for primarily and making a choice based on that usage.

I mean you can buy Rubicon for $65,000, and it's on-road prowess will be crappy when compared to other vehicles, and it's off-road prowess will be amazing compared to other vehicles.

Or for $35,000 you could buy a Subaru Forester, and it's on road prowess will be significantly better than a Rubicon.
And with the money you saved you can buy a side-by-side for $20,000 which is significantly better off-road than the Rubicon is.

Me personally, I own a Jeep Wrangler because I like tinkering with things, and the Jeep Wrangler has the most aftermarket modifications available outside of the engine bay than any other vehicle on the US market.

So if safety is your main concern, I would personally save the $10,000 and get a comfortable daily driver and then with the money I saved I would go buy a SxS.

New Wranglers have front and back side curtain airbags on the side roll bars.

 

[yokramer]

Oh shit I didnt know 2nd accounts were acceptable around here .... I have ideas now.

 

[VKSheridan]

Yes OP, you’ll be fine if your wife tee bones you in front of your girlfriend’s house.….

 

[Deleted User 38384]

New Wranglers have front and back side curtain airbags on the side roll bars.

Yeah but only 2024 onward.

If you purchase a Wrangler from the first 6 years of production, the backseat is basically death trap.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Here's what you get if you buy a 2018 to 2023 Jeep Wrangler:




Say goodbye to your backseat passengers!!

 

[Reinen]

Don't worry about it. Even in this Jeep (which is obviously totaled) if you look closely the roll cage is still roll caging. It's about as good as you're going to get in a vehicle today. Nothing is 100% safe but the JL is MASSIVELY safer than any Jeep model before it.

 

[TNShaker]

I'll try this again, general question without regard to legalities and liabilities. I've had Jeeps as old as a 1946 CJ2a and my newest one was a 1997 Wrangler. Currently I own a 1958 CJ5. I'm thinking about buying a new Wrangler. I'm not a fan of the whole "sport cage" thing but I understand it is engineered into the design. My question pertains to the rest of the Jeep. Aside from the airbags and belts, in a t-bone situation (without rollover), has the Jeep body and frame structure been constant, improved, or decreased? Does that cage provide any extra strength at the point of impact? Has the addition of the cage allowed for a decrease in weight/integrity for the frame and body?

In 2023 I had someone racing a light in a minivan t-bone me at over 50 MPH in my driver door. Fortunately I had lifted weights for the last 20 years and was in good shape for a 58 year old which saved my life, but still it was major. Also fortunately his bumper lined up with my frame rail so the frame took most of it. I broke 9 ribs, scapula, both lungs and tore trachea, also ripped my SC joint at end of collar bone off my chest plate and was out of work and driving for a while. The injuries were bad, but he was doing over 50 in a mini van. Today 2 years later I am fully recovered except my SC joint which even with a dangerous surgery will never be the same, I ordered a 2024 Jeep as soon as was released and even before I could drive again in 2023 which has side air bags, and just today finally dropped it off to get lifted. I cannot do heavy work with my left arm anymore so I could not do my own lift and wanted to wait until my claim was over before I got it lifted,, gears are next. They can take a hit, but as in any can a little luck helps too.

 

[THAW]

Don't worry about it. Even in this Jeep (which is obviously totaled) if you look closely the roll cage is still roll caging. It's about as good as you're going to get in a vehicle today. Nothing is 100% safe but the JL is MASSIVELY safer than any Jeep model before it.

I agree with your point. But I believe that was a JK, and in the final analysis the Sports Bar didn't make it. The driver wasn't in the vehicle; the passenger plus 2 dogs were ejected, and fortunately survived.

 

[Reinen]

I agree with your point. But I believe that was a JK, and in the final analysis the Sports Bar didn't make it. The driver wasn't in the vehicle; the passenger plus 2 dogs were ejected, and fortunately survived.

Well, it survived at least one switchback and took some very big impacts. There's only so much one can reasonably ask of it.

How far did that Jeep end up rolling, anyway? It must have taken dozens and dozens of hits.

 

[THAW]

How far did that Jeep end up rolling, anyway? It must have taken dozens and dozens of hits.

Supposedly it fell about 1,000 feet and the lady thinks she rolled about 20 times before being ejected.

 

[Reinen]

Supposedly it fell about 1,000 feet and the lady thinks she rolled about 20 times before being ejected.

I'm sure she didn't have the clarity of mind to accurately count how many times she rolled before being ejected and it's very likely to be over-estimated. But even if you cut that number in half, how many vehicles will withstand 10 full vehicle weight impacts to the roof and still not have a collapsed passenger compartment?

Not many, that's for sure.

 

[Ratbert]

I'm sure she didn't have the clarity of mind to accurately count how many times she rolled before being ejected and it's very likely to be over-estimated. But even if you cut that number in half, how many vehicles will withstand 10 full vehicle weight impacts to the roof and still not have a collapsed passenger compartment?

Not many, that's for sure.

Let's try it again after cutting out the high-strength steel segment above the rear seat!

 

[Dusty Dude]

Looking at the main structure of the JL reminds me of cars from the 30’s. Full frame with a rigid square box for the body. I remember video clips where the cars were rolled upside down(body intact), put back upright, and driven away.

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