We gotta good debate going on all i know SGI is so gay

 

i understand safety is your concern, but when a truck is lifted right, how unsafe is it?

the bumper height is 29.5", some stock trucks barely make that! now take a truck that is mildly lifted (4-6") and with a tires size of around 35".
your easily over that limit.
SGI has also now implemented a rear bumper height 29.5".

what SGI is trying to stop is trucks like that big black dodge that was running around last year. it takes one person to wreck it for everyone.
that truck WAS unsafe.

did anyone know these laws were coming out before they threw the book at people? no. the bottom line is they passed these laws for a PUBLIC OWNED insurance company without the public's knowledge or approval, that crosses lines that go beyond political agendas.

now, tell me this,
if SGI said you could not lower a truck and legally drive it on the road; would you feel the same way as you do towards the new lift laws?
what if they said you couldnt drive a vehical older than X year?

 

When a truck is lifted it is a little more unsafe then a non lifted vehicle, but as for how much I would say unless the lift is extreme, it wouldnt be much more unsafe. But it would.

I forget offhand is the cumper height of 29.5 inches to the top of the bumper, or the bottom?
I dont agree with how they dont let people really know, maybe they should send notice out to everyone in a letter or something.

As for lowering a vehicle I believe they would actually be just as safe, if not safer due to the lower center of gravity. Thats not really the issue though.

There needs to be a safe height for bumpers, bottom line. How they figure that out, i dont have the answer for ya.

I dont think sgi should be able to dictate what you can and cant do to a vehicle. I think that a vehicle should have a safety inspection every year or two for vehicles over 5, maybe 10 years old.

I do know what your saying though Marshall. Guys plainly dont like being told they cant do this or that to their own stuff. I agree with ya 100 percent. I still think that some of your buddies in that 4x4 forum need to look at some of the reasons they want some laws changed.

I still cant get over that one guy that you said had to hit the ditch to avoid a traffic obstruction, thats not the kinda guys I wanna see in any vehicle, let alone one that could hump my civic all to hell and back!!

 

it is 29.5 to the lowest point of the bumper.

when he said that i belive he was refering to a highway accident in the winter time. came out of no where and had no way of avoiding collision unless taking the ditch.

 

See thats my point though man, when your driving you need to be aware of stuff going on in front of you. There MAY be the odd few times that it would happen that fast that a guy would need to take the ditch, but not very often. Either way I dont think thats really relevant to your bud having a lift or not. Hes lucky he didnt roll, as that center of gravity is raised, teh truck gets tippier!

Thats not really the point though haha.

Ok so just shy of 30 inches to the bottom of the bumper. Thats tall man, just shy of three feet! I just went and measured my losest part of the front bumper on my PSD and its 17 inches(not including the valence), that gives me alot of room for a legal lift. Also measured the back of the civic 29.5 inches is about 6 inches down from the top of the trunk lid.

It honestly doesnt seem unreasonable to me.

I also wish I woulda checked the back bumper, but shes pretty dark out there!

 

while we're having a civilized debate, may i shift the topic a bit?? can anyone think of a good reason why an ATV shouldn't be able to be liscensed?? think about it. signals and a horn are simple to hook up, you can get DOT approved tires for them, and most of them can do 80-100km/h... lets hear your thoughts

 

preppy, think, by the time you add lets just say a 6" lift, and a larger tire you are near if not over that 229.5 limit.

what about the vehicals such as 4runner that the bumpers are mounted above the frame rails therefore sits higher than the average bumper?

 

35 inch tires dont give a whole lot more lift then the 285's I have on there right now. My tires are about a 33inchish sized tire. I could add a 6 inch lift and 35 inch tires and be well under specs.

That is of course just my truck. I can see how that wouldnt work with a yota four runner, but that all goes back to the one simple question, why do ya need a bumper that high? So far the hobby and lifestyle aspect is the only thing I can personally see from it.

I still say they shouldnt dictate what ya do to your own vehicle, as long as its safe.

Im really not sure what to think about atv's being licensed. I think the huge downfall of them is they would always be in the blindspot of someone, and the fact that the top speed is only 80-100 on some.

Also what about seat belts with them? Are they different enough from a motorbike that they should or shouldnt have seatbelts?

 

the bumper on some is higher for ground clearance and approach angle.
alot of guys in our club go on weekend camping trips, and there are some hills that if they didnt have that approach angle their front bumper would hit the hill, rock, or other obstruction that is in their path to their favorite camping destination.

 

I seen a Chevy blazer that was lifted off the frame. The guy put 5 Hockey pucks under each mounting bolt. Then larger tires. My brother bought the truck and later sold it for a profit as a lifted truck. Nothing was done to the brakes or stabilty.
Also I remember an accident in the 90's where a lifted truck did rearend a car at 33rd and AVe,P and a backseat passenger in the car was killed from the impact of the trucks bumper to the head.
I too have had those lifted trucks follow behind my truck blinding me at night and their lights are on low beams yet I'm blinded in my mirror because their lights illuminate my cab. I end up pulling over or become an accident.
I think sgi brought this in because there are too many guys now that are not responsible enough to properly fix the trucks right for the brakes and other adjustments. So instead of individually dealing with everyone they just used a broad stroke of a brush.
I too agree sgi gets carried away with things and do not agree with everything.
I will admittt some lifted trucks are nice to look at, but to me are not very practical and not what they are mant for.

 

I see what your saying, but a guy doesnt NEED a higher bumper for those weekend camping trips! I do those kinda camping trips. I make do just fine with my stock bumper, and even if I had a lift that would be plenty!

Im pretty sure it comes down to being a hobby, and thats why guys are pissed at it. They try to justify it, which they shouldnt have to, and there really is no justification for it that fits into the necessity of it, over the safety of it(or lack of).

If someone has to go to a little less area for a camping trip to save lives, Im in for that. (not that I really believe it would do any good, a dipsh17 driver is a dipsh17 driver whether he drives a lowered acura, or a jacked up dodge, just trying to show ya a point of view on it)

The safety of other drivers has to be considered over the fun factor/hobby aspect of it.

So I ask again, why not some sort of quick release system for the bumper?(if its not illegal) Why not yank the bumpers right off when you hit the trails? Keep the bolts there lubed up and it takes minutes to remove MOST bumpers.

 

Glen, hockey pucks is an example of a improperly lifted truck.
hockey pucks can crack and fall apart.

Sheldon, plaese keep in mind; the places that you go camping are avaible to your stock vehical. the places alot of these guys go REQUIRE some sort of modification. way farther backwoods than the average weekend camper.

the quick release bumper is a good idea, but something like that doesnt seem like it would do much in a collision anyways.
i would get deeper into the quick release bumper, but i am not even sure if it is legal.

at this point, ALL lifted vehical ARE ILLEGAL.
within the past 2 days i have seen many lifted trucks pulled off the side of the road. normally more than one at the same stop.

this has been a very poorly written response on my part and i appolgize. late night and i had a long day.
but i do appreciate the interest put into the topic, but it wasnt originally posted for debate. it was posted so anyone on here with a lifted truck knew what was now happening, and hopefully for support from my fellow FTE members.

if your interested in helping out, there is a group on facebook you can join. i sent the invitation to everyone on my list, there are flyers on the Fight SGI's Raised Vehicle Policy (2008) website you can print off and hand out, and you can get involved with the links in the original post of this thread.

 

The only thought I have is the overly large liability aspect, other than that I`d say go for it!

 

It sucks to see the properly done vehicles catching hell for it.

Ill definatly give my support, even though I dont agree with all of it. Theres abit I do agree with (bumper height) but alot I dont (lifting the vehicle in general)

Great topic though man we havent had a good debate like this for along time!

Besides Morris has been busy lately, and Sherm seems busy with his lil one lately, so I gotta disagree with someone!!

 

thanks for the support!