hey guys, my brother works for progressive and showed me this video (click here) . Its a crash test video of our year of trucks, 97-03, specifically its a 2001. Careful though, it does really poorly! you can see the ratings that the different parts of the body got and its not that good!!
enjoy
BLA

 

That's not exactly news. I'd seen the story of how poorly F150 extended cab pickups did in crash tests at least 5 years ago on ABC. The photos of passenger compartments ripped wide open were telling. For it's huge size, heavy weight & alleged strength the occupants deserve better. FORD was slow to improve the design. FORD apparently believes it's customers are not interested in safety. The rollover risk seems to be accepted, along with poor MPG, as part of the image.

Its hard to sell safety to consumers who are expected to raise the center of gravity & are more interested in making their Gas Guzzlers sound loud.

I'm always amazed at how pathetic pickup traction is. This AM I witnessed a prime example when a very conspicuous bright yellow, oversize knobby tired, generously lifted, top shelf exhaust system, heavily accessorized pickup backed out of a parking space in flat rain soaked field of grass & got stuck! The dude got about 4' & the tires began to spin, then he witlessly spun them at high speed. After the 3rd try he really hit it hard & sprayed a 25' roostertail of mud & chopped sod in a broad arch, plastering a bunch of cars.

 

yeah i didnt think that it was new news, but i dont think that most of the people have seen the footage, ha yeah, thats what happens to mall crawlers!

 

wo, thats a heck of a wreck. and that was a nice truck :*(

 

i don't really see where poor mpg comes from, seeing as i get better or as much mpg as most new trucks...

 

ha i get like ten mpg, 12 at best! but i got some mods so...its all good!

 

Dont mind him he gets 15 mpg and thinks it should be better

 

That was me, Im glad you saw it, I was afraid that no else got to enjoy this as much as me!

but seriously, do all club wagon drivers feel this way about pickups? No one seems to mind my pickup when Im helping them move or hauling landscaping materials for them!

As far as safety goes, you have to weigh the chances of offset crash incident versus avoiding an accident all together. I hope Im never in anything any more serious than a small fender-bender. But then again, Ill occasionally let my kids sit without their booster seat.

I guess we all take the same chances - just at different levels - than driving cars that dont meet 5 star ratings. For instance, why do we continue to drive cars with seatbelts, when there is no doubt a 5-point harnesses work better. Think of all the spine injuries would be avoided if we were buckled into a race car harness? But then again, how many accidents would be avoided if people would hang-up and drive!

 

I encourage everyone to turn into fear-freaks over vehicle safety.

Please, for your own peace of mind, put all your motorcycles in the back of your Ford trucks and send them to me. I'm here to help. (Don't forget to sign the titles.)