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Subject:Re: Bumpers
From:Jay lefstein
Date:Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:11:45 -0800

I've had go westy bumpers with and without the hitch! Didnt cut or drill a thing??? They are fabulous!!! I have there swing away carrier and tow  a trailer way up some fairly gnarly mountain roads with no troubles...

Thank you
J
Sent from an undisclosed cyber machine

On Jan 12, 2011, at 2:48 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:

> what I question is why anyone would want bigger bumpers .
> 
> if it's safety, making the van into a battery  ram won't help at all in a
> rollover, or side impact crash.
> 
> adding weigh to the ends of vehicle is a disadvantage dynamically ..
> 'polar moment of inertia' ..means a thing heavy at the ends doesn't like to
> change directions as easily.
> 
> so nimbleness of handling will diminish some.
> 
> and  I wonder about the built-in crushability that's engineered, very
> intentionally , into the vehicle..
> it might actually not be as safe with bigger heavier bumpers on it, in terms
> if impacts from the ends and nice controlled crushability there.
> 
> I'm sure people realize the idea of crumble zones is to spread the forces
> out over those first milliseconds of hitting something ..controlled
> deformation for occupant protection.
> Make it into a battering ram ..and you loose that, I'd think.
> 
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Troy" <colorworks@GCI.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 1:25 PM
> Subject: Bumpers
> 
> 
>> Was just looking at the new "big bumpers" from Van Cafe' and then
>> comparing them to Go Westy's bumpers.  There's a several hundred dollar
>> price difference.  Does anyone care to comment on the relative advantages
>> of one over the other?  Considering my location, the Van Cafe' bumpers,
>> despite there higher price, may actually work out cheaper because of
>> shipping. Any disadvantages to the Go Westy bumpers? Sounds like some
>> minor cutting of the van is required.
>> 
>> Troy