Rollover potential

[Rosie]

Just wondering what thoughts/stories are out there on potential and real rollovers with Land Rovers. With a short wheel base and a tall profile, is rolling over a consideration?

[scott]

roll over should always be a consideration with a 4wd. on pavement we tend to go faster than these vehicles were intended to turn at. off road we think they're little goats.

drive like an old man in town (easy for me cuz i'm there) and practice off roading every chance you get so that you can find that point just at the end of thrill and just before regret. you'll know you're there when the heart is reving high than the rover and the mouth is not spewing explicatives

[greenmeanie]

Been there and done it and have the scars to show for it.

You have a short tall and narrow truck on drum brakes that was built in the 60's as a farm truck. The designers were thinking of it travelling at 30mph and not 65 mph. You do not have all the idiot computers that compensate for drivers of modern vehicles so you are in charge. Drive it with that in mind.

One other thing is to make sure that if you ford anything or just drive through deep puddles learn to dry out the brakes. Wet brakes make for interesting times. Ask me how I know.

Sctt has it right abot off roading. IIRC I read somewhere that most people feel uncomfortable beyond 20° and most feel like they are almost vertical when they are held at 45°. No substitute for practice and going out with an experienced group.

[Jim-ME]

My 2 cents. Just remember that a Rover isn't a car or even a modern truck and that just because you have 4 wheel drive it doesn't mean you can go faster. It means that under most conditions you can get there. Use common sense and you will be fine. These are after all simply a mechanical vehicle nothing more or less. The fact that people feel that they will go anywhere is simply because they know how to drive or are very lucky. They will get stuck or worse yet roll over with the best of them. Nothing more or less. Be cautious until you are comfortable with it's capabilities and be mindful of it's short commings.
Jim

[Jeff Aronson]

In 18 years I've put over 400,000 miles on my '66 II-A. Mindful of its 1950's design, I've been careful but also exposed to all the nuttiness on today's back lanes and interstates.

In all those miles I've had only one rollover, and that's when I put the car in a ditch unsuccessfully avoiding a horse in the middle of a road. The problem was not the severe braking or sharp turn - it was the rear wheels going into a ditch that flipped the car on its side. It was running the roads two days later.

I have no fears about the handling of my car in emergencies, but that does not allow me to be nonchalant on the roads. The Series Rover is a now- elderly design that uses leaf springs, drum brakes, slow steering and a torquey but low horsepower engine. The advice given by others here is astute, but you don't have to fear driving the car on today's roads; today's drivers are another matter :). Driving defensively never made more sense to me than it does today.

Jeff

[badvibes]

roll over should always be a consideration with a 4wd. on pavement we tend to go faster than these vehicles were intended to turn at. off road we think they're little goats.

Is that a load bearing goat?

An ounce of prevention is worth what to you? First mod I made to my Heep, soft top only, was a roll cage. I knew I would be using the truck in situations that might lead to a roll. First mod I made to my Series, station wagon with a hard top I don't remove, was seat belts. Not just lap belts but 3 point belts. The thing I fear most in the Series, I don't push it as hard as the Heep, is that steering wheel with no collapsable column meeting my chest abruptly. I learned my lesson from a buddy who was always preaching safety. He had a Toy FJ 40 that he put an over-built cage in with 5 point harnesses. He rolled it offroad once, soft flop onto its side no problem. His girlfriend rolled it driving home one night, road from Zuni back to Albuquerque. 50+ mph, multiple rolls, the cage and harnesses saved her life, truck was totalled. If you are never going to drive offroad then you may not need a rollcage. If you know you're going to push the envelope then there may be no such thing as overkill. Even with the cage in my Heep, 6 point tied to the frame, I think I'd be OK in a low speed roll. I don't know about a high speed roll in a soft top vehicle. For on road driving good belts and as mentioned by others driving very defensively should be a minimum.


Jeff

[JimCT]

Black ice at about 50mph

[badvibes]

JimCT-

Your truck? How many times did it roll? The hard top looks like it held up fairly well. I've wondered how they would fair in a rollover. Hope everyone was OK.

Jeff

[LaneRover]

I have never rolled and on two occasions I have even had both wheels on one side off the ground. I am not saying that I am a completely credible off-roader who really knows the limit of his truck. Both times it was in a situation where I had cross-axled and wasn't getting through a section. Both times I was probably pretty stupid and solved the problem with a bit more speed. The first time it happened, my buddy in his Ford pick-up saw both wheels on the right leave the ground and was wondering how we were going to get my truck back on its wheels, but the Rover just plopped back down on its wheels and I continued through.

I guess that I am saying that though it is a tall, skinny truck, most of the weight is down low. If you occasionally off-road you will chicken out long before your truck will tip over. I think that everyone is giving you good advice about remembering that it is an older design that doesn't have all the electronic aids to keep you from suffering at the hands of your own careless driving like modern cars and trucks have.

Don't try to drive it like it is a sedan on the road and you will be fine.

Brent

[adkrover]

If you want to see the limits of slow speed off road action, spend a little time searching youtube. It's pretty easy to find videos of people rolling and nearly rolling their wheelers on trails. It's amazing how far you can go before it will actually tip at low speed. High speed is another matter. It's pretty easy to roll even a new vehicle with too sudden of a course correction. Especially if it's to bring the vehicle back up onto a shoulder after drifting a bit to far to the right.

[derekchace]

this is what happens when a rover rolls. It not fun get a roll bar!
http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg298/steeltiger22/car%20crash/

dont do what I did

[Tim Smith]

Was waiting for Derek to pipe up there.

Rolling is never fun but the nice thing with these trucks is that they are old and slow. That helps up keep ourselves out of trouble. But you never know when that deer is going to jump out or if that cell phone addict will. Play it safe.

With that said, I've seen 85 get passed out by the long needle (another story) and more madness in series rovers... but in the end, there is always something to remember. If there is the slightest chance that a pedestrian or other motorist could pop out when you least expect it, they will. So never play rough on public roads.

On a lighter note. At least some vehicles were designed to rollover.

AduH6zvXuI4

If thats your game, I'm sure we could find you one on the cheap! :p

[badvibes]

derekchace-

OUCH! I mean OUCH! Hope you and your passenger both recovered without deficit.

Jeff

[daveb]

On a lighter note. At least some vehicles were designed to rollover.



great video tim. here is a friend's response:

"There was that court case
in the UK when the local constabulary could not catch a Robin on the M1
that was doing a ton. Had to set up a road block. The judge laughed the
case out of court, criticising the police for being unable to catch the
Robin."

[Tim Smith]

great video tim. here is a friend's response:

"There was that court case
in the UK when the local constabulary could not catch a Robin on the M1
that was doing a ton. Had to set up a road block. The judge laughed the
case out of court, criticising the police for being unable to catch the
Robin."
I can only hear that in a Yorkshire accent.

[SafeAirOne]

I just came across a video of a rollover overachiever this morning--It is halfway down the page and loads automatically when you boot the page up.

http://www.foleyspecialistvehicles.co.uk/index2.htm

[adkrover]

I think we are forgetting that Rosie intends to drive her Rover as a delivery truck for her organic milk farm. It's unlikely that you will need to worry about a rollover as long as you can keep it under 85 and not try to forge any gorges. I'm sure there is some cunning way to make a pun using crying over spilled milk but that is not my thing.

[SafeAirOne]

I think we are forgetting that Rosie intends to drive her Rover as a delivery truck for her organic milk farm.

Funny...First an enquiry about high traction tires. Now one about rollovers. I'm beginning to suspect that the "little farm delivery truck" is a ruse and that intensive off-roading and expeditioning is really what Rosie has in mind! :p

[Blueboy]

today's drivers are another matter :). Driving defensively never made more sense to me than it does today

especially on the MA Turnpike!:D

all joking aside, it does seem that there are more drivers out there today that are not paying any attention to what they are doing.

feel sure all have horror stories, yet, most recently a person keep on driving through a stop at a "T" intersection and would have hit me directly midsection had I not been watching him and seeing he was not slowing down.

how can you not see something as large as a blue 109 with a white top?

Jaime

[derekchace]

Just wondering what thoughts/stories are out there on potential and real rollovers with Land Rovers. With a short wheel base and a tall profile, is rolling over a consideration?
Hi,

This is my husband's ID on this forum, my name is Cate Chace, but I just saw your post and felt compelled to reply. We had a '73 LW Series III and we were involved in an accident when a bloke pulled out in front of us with no warning. Our car rolled avoiding him and we were not going fast! I was very badly hurt. I nearly died, multi trauma is no fun, I assure you. Get a roll bar and replace the seat belts. My medical bill is about $150,000, I still cannot drive, my arm is still broken and trying to heal (I may have to have another operation), I have terrible scars along my arm and underneath in my armpit as when the bone (humerus) broke in half, it ripped open my underarm, my ribs (ALL broke) still hurt, I can't use my hand properly due to radial nerv damage, my neck and back hurt constantly, I have a bald spot on my head where it came into contact wth Rte 15. PLEASE don't let this happen to you. We only went out for a cremee!! I am lucky in that a) I lived, and b) I still have my arm; but the "recovery" is very hard and physical therapy is helping but it can be very depressing. I wish we had had a roll bar and harness type seat belts.
Cate

[Tim Smith]

Hi Cate,
Let me extend my sincerest hope for a speedy and successful recovery. Your story is a sad one but I'm heartened in the fact that you survived and I'm down right delighted that you are actually able to muster the strength and post your story to the board.

I can't imagine the road you'll have to follow before a full recovery but we're all pulling for you.
:cheers:

Best wishes.
Tim

[thixon]

Hi,

This is my husband's ID on this forum, my name is Cate Chace, but I just saw your post and felt compelled to reply. We had a '73 LW Series III and we were involved in an accident when a bloke pulled out in front of us with no warning. Our car rolled avoiding him and we were not going fast! I was very badly hurt. I nearly died, multi trauma is no fun, I assure you. Get a roll bar and replace the seat belts. My medical bill is about $150,000, I still cannot drive, my arm is still broken and trying to heal (I may have to have another operation), I have terrible scars along my arm and underneath in my armpit as when the bone (humerus) broke in half, it ripped open my underarm, my ribs (ALL broke) still hurt, I can't use my hand properly due to radial nerv damage, my neck and back hurt constantly, I have a bald spot on my head where it came into contact wth Rte 15. PLEASE don't let this happen to you. We only went out for a cremee!! I am lucky in that a) I lived, and b) I still have my arm; but the "recovery" is very hard and physical therapy is helping but it can be very depressing. I wish we had had a roll bar and harness type seat belts.
Cate

I saw the earlier posts and photos on this. Terrible story. Makes me think twice about piling my youngsters into my truck. Glad you made it through, and I hope you have a speedy and full recovery. Good luck to you.

[Rosie]

I secretly would love to forge the gorges around here!! This truck is a little goat for sure!!! I love the way it just picks up and pulls ahead!! And now that my steering is tight, I can actually drive in traffic!!!
But the plan is to soberly stay on the road unless one of my cows needs quick rescue in the pasture. I thought I would perhaps haul wood etc., but the truck is too nice at this point, maybe years from now, when it is more broken in...or worn out....but I would like to think of it also as some kind of investment at this point, since the paper investments seem to be going down the tubes....
Anyway, more seriously, Cate, very very sorry to hear about your suffering from the accident. It is a wake-up call to be prepared out there. I do have a shoulder strap seatbelt, but not a roll bar. Dones Rovers North sells these? I do also worry about the door panels, while we are on the subject of fear of driving, and wonder if steel sliders would help if hit from the side.... anyone have any thoughts?

[Eric W S]

Dones Rovers North sells these? I do also worry about the door panels, while we are on the subject of fear of driving, and wonder if steel sliders would help if hit from the side.... anyone have any thoughts?

RN doesn't sell roll bars.

Sliders are not designed for side impact protection. Will they help? Depends on what hits you and how fast.

If your worried about a rollover, get a cage. It's that simple.

Your going to spend a great deal of money trying to make an antique into a modern safe driving car. And in the end, your better off starting with a modern car than trying to create one.

Your better off doing everything you can to prevent a rollover than trying to protect against one. Best brakes, shocks, springs, engine in good tune with good acceleration...

[Tim Smith]

... wonder if steel sliders would help if hit from the side.... anyone have any thoughts?
I think so!

By the way, as for using your truck for the harder/dirtier chores, I say go for it! These aren't fragile antiques to be relegated as 'only for show' vehicles.

Get yourself a thick rubber horse mat, cut it to size and toss it in the back. That will protect the floor and sides against bumps and bruises as well as quiet things down a little bit. I'm certainly glad I did. :D

[greenmeanie]

RN doesn't sell roll bars.

Sliders are not designed for side impact protection. Will they help? Depends on what hits you and how fast.

If your worried about a rollover, get a cage. It's that simple.

Your going to spend a great deal of money trying to make an antique into a modern safe driving car. And in the end, your better off starting with a modern car than trying to create one.

Your better off doing everything you can to prevent a rollover than trying to protect against one. Best brakes, shocks, springs, engine in good tune with good acceleration...

It of course depends on the sliders and as you say what hits you but they can only help with side impact. The truck as built has only 1mm thk aluminium sills and door panels with that minimalist door frame between you and the outside world. Put on a set of sliders like those provided by IKe that pick up onthe chassis at several points and it will help with most cars and normal pickups/suvs. I recently stripped down the driver's door on an Audi allroad (Gets good safety ratings) and the side impact bar is a piece of aluminium strip about 1/4" thick positioned mid way up the door. Of course the rest of the car structure is designed to crumple in a sympathetic way but it gives you something to compare to.

As for rolling over. For normal road use you should be fine if you run a hard top. Several of us have experienced roll overs where the hard top has held up well enough to walk and, in some cases, drive away.

Cate and Derek were drving in a stripped lighweight where only the foldable windscreen projects above the bodywork. This is great wind in your hair driving but not very safe as they will attest to. A roll hoop or cage becomes attractive/essential when running a canvas or completely topless.

As several have pointed out - keep her well maintained and drive defensively.

Cate, it is great to see you are making progress.

Gregor

[Eric W S]

As several have pointed out - keep her well maintained and drive defensively.


Exactly. Good defensive driving goes a long way.

Try driving a 66 in the city of Chicago and your driving style changes. Trust me.

Buy sliders for when you take the 88 into the field. Not to enhance side impact.

[Leslie]

By the way, as for using your truck for the harder/dirtier chores, I say go for it! These aren't fragile antiques to be relegated as 'only for show' vehicles.

Get yourself a thick rubber horse mat, cut it to size and toss it in the back. That will protect the floor and sides against bumps and bruises as well as quiet things down a little bit.


That's what I did. Tractor Supply has some thick stall mats on sale right now. I cut one up to cover the bed of the 88" (the bed is right at three feet wide by four feet deep), then I took the rest and cut strips of it to cover the wheelwells too (I don't have any seats in the back of mine at all). The mat is darn near an inch thick. My labrador is much happier riding back there now.

These things are for use, Rosie. If you want to carry some wood, go for it.:thumb-up:

[Blueboy]

My labrador is much happier riding back there now

when we had the HTD90, I installed a ST rear mat after removing the jumpseats for the 2 Labs.

One would be on each side with the front paws on the wheelwell and their head out the window.

with the rear mat in place, you can clean it out very easily and not worry about what you carry including soaking wet Labs or firewood.

of course now they just sit in the rear seat and the wood goes in the rear cargo area.


Jaime