I just had a thought. Is it safe for us to be driving without rear bumpers (only fiberglass roll pans) considering we have a rear mounted fuel tank? If we got rear ended hard enough, without a bumper to absorb some fo the shock, would it just crush the bed and fuel tank? If so, it would surely catch fire and we'd be lucky to get away with only our trucks burned up. Just another paranoid thought I guess... Would a bed mounted fuel cell be a safer alternative (and better for hihg performane apps?)?
unsafe without rear bumper?
- Thread starter lightngsvt
- Start date
Chuck you didn't have to say that
lolWell my front tank got dented (dont ask...) and I only use the rear now unless IM on a long trip.....
Mike Gager
5 cans short of a 6 pack
how many lightnings (or any other truck for that matter) have you heard of that have blown up from not having a rear bumper in a rear collision. i cant remember hearing of a single one. i think we are OK
Not saying it will happen, more or less questioning if it is *possible*. How many of the fire related deaths in the Mustangs do you hear about? Im not knocking Ford, or their vehicles, as thats all I drive.
Chris Wilson
Active member
The tube bumper may not look like much ,but it sure beats nothing. I have been rear ended in almost every vehicle I own and I won't own a vehicle without a rear bumper. The risk of a fuel tank rupture is pretty remote. The bumper sure does prevent alot of damage from occurring. I got hit so hard once that it broke the seat back in an extended cab. I got out expecting to see the quarter panels bowed out 6 feet and there really was minimal damage where the bumper got into the corners of the bed. The El Camino SS that hit me was practically totaled. The bumper was at the same level as the headlights on that vehicle and it wiped out everything. I bet there was at least 4 to 5k damage. Ford generally puts real good bumpers on their trucks. The rears at least. The fronts are more for decoration than anything else I believe. It's just a matter of time before we all get hit. I'd rather minimize the damage if possible.
Chris
Chris
Red 93 L1 #3383
Boys & their toys
With the tank boxed in between two frame rails and two crossmembers it is very unlikely to get crushed. The only thing that could happen is the car that goes under the truck could puncture the tank. If the tank was to get crushed (18-wheeler rearending you and pushing you into a wall) a full tank would be less explosive than an empty tank. Gas vapors are explosive and gasoline will burn, but not explode. IMO if you get rearended hard enough to crush the tank a bumper would have done you no good. Just crawl under your truck and look at the steal box around the tank.
Red 93 L1 #3383
Boys & their toys
With the tank boxed in between two frame rails and two crossmembers it is very unlikely to get crushed. The only thing that could happen is the car that goes under the truck could puncture the tank. If the tank was to get crushed (18-wheeler rearending you and pushing you into a wall) a full tank would be less explosive than an empty tank. Gas vapors are explosive and gasoline will burn, but not explode. IMO if you get rearended hard enough to crush the tank a bumper would have done you no good. Just crawl under your truck and look at the steal box around the tank.
Icepick
Active member
Hi Chuck,
Pick up a piece of 1 1/2 thick wall box tubing, Cut it to fit between the frame rails drill a 1/2 inch hole on each side of the tube ( The holes are already drilled in the frame) a couple high quality bolts and your set... This will give you piece of mind... It did for me!
Cya!
Pick up a piece of 1 1/2 thick wall box tubing, Cut it to fit between the frame rails drill a 1/2 inch hole on each side of the tube ( The holes are already drilled in the frame) a couple high quality bolts and your set... This will give you piece of mind... It did for me!
Cya!
POWERSTROKE
Member
I wouldn't worry so much about the rear gas tank as I would the $$$ from even a light hit on a rollpan and all the damaged sheet metal that would have to be fixed or replaced. I've had many vehicles in the body shop to get repaired and I've NEVER had an experience with one I've been happy with. These MORON's that make the ads where "So-and-SO Bodyshop fixed My car Good as NEW" wouldn't know the difference between a hack job and a good repair if Your dropped the whole bodyshop on their empty little heads! The more armor Your vehicle has the better. I have basically the same front bumper on My PSD that You guys with the Gen I L's have but My rear bumper has the frame rails joined with a piece of 5/8" x 4" steel bar on it's edge... The corners are reinforces with 1-1/2" heavy wall angle iron, and the whole skin of the bumper is over 1/8" thick. Plus I keep My reciever hitch ball installed in the reciever bolted to the bumper just to keep those idiots in their Honda's and Toyota's from trying to drive underneath Me! I would guess in any impoact over 20 MPH it would penetrate far enough into the engine compartment to fracture Their engine block!Oh Darn... Another Ricer Bites the DUST!
Black Lightning
Member
I don't carry a spare tire because it is so stupid to put a 15" tire as a spare when all the ones on the truck are 17" and the spare tire rusts out the gas tank just my two cents
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POWERSTROKE said:I wouldn't worry so much about the rear gas tank as I would the $$$ from even a light hit on a rollpan and all the damaged sheet metal that would have to be fixed or replaced. I've had many vehicles in the body shop to get repaired and I've NEVER had an experience with one I've been happy with. These MORON's that make the ads where "So-and-SO Bodyshop fixed My car Good as NEW" wouldn't know the difference between a hack job and a good repair if Your dropped the whole bodyshop on their empty little heads! The more armor Your vehicle has the better. I have basically the same front bumper on My PSD that You guys with the Gen I L's have but My rear bumper has the frame rails joined with a piece of 5/8" x 4" steel bar on it's edge... The corners are reinforces with 1-1/2" heavy wall angle iron, and the whole skin of the bumper is over 1/8" thick. Plus I keep My reciever hitch ball installed in the reciever bolted to the bumper just to keep those idiots in their Honda's and Toyota's from trying to drive underneath Me! I would guess in any impoact over 20 MPH it would penetrate far enough into the engine compartment to fracture Their engine block!Oh Darn... Another Ricer Bites the DUST!
Thats why it pays to have friends that work in a body shop.
We figured its only gonna cost me about $300 to fix it, thats with him doing all the work in his garage at home.
