Death roll warning on 4WDs

This is a major reason why you should consider a patrol, stability.

They are they only vehicle of this type that can claim a tilt table angle of 48 degrees (cruiser 45) and also have a long wheelbase such that the surface area of their wheelbase X track over the external dimensions is a greater proportion.

All adds up to lowest roll centre.

Robin Miller

Not to mention that fact that more 4wd's are in country areas on bad roads at high speed than sedans.

How likely are you to roll your dunnydore driving through the suburbs at 50km/hr?

Now how likely are you to roll your 4wd with loaded roofrack at 110km/hr when you're driving on poorly maintained roads out bush?

Not really a suprise is it...

Over the years I've driven just about everything from heavy vehicles to motor cycles, each of those has it's positives and negatives but each should be driven within it's limitations ie don't try and drive a semi trailer rig like a sports car. The problem is not with the vehicle it's with the drivers.

Mike Harding

The drivers can only be responsible to a certain degree which includes there ability to understand the issue.

Cars or anything that goes out of the norm causes increased risk.

Hence so many deaths and increased damage in some types of vechiles
and choosing the right vehicle gives and increased margin of saftey.

Robin Miller

Now Robin we are not a patrol salesman are we? LOL

Regards Bob

Come on Guy's, that keeped a couple shiny bums busy for a couple years (i suppose) , now we know the all about the " Bleedin Obvious ".
Scoof

I must be Bob, I only gave half the story - thinner metal panels than there main rival keeps the centre of gravity lower as well , and so contributes to more panel dents from stones.

Robin Miller

A tilt table is a static test and does NOT take into account the "flexability" (or otherwise) of a live suspension. It does not automatically follow that the highest tilt table rating equates to the greatest on-road stability.

As bad as a VW beetle?

As bad as a VW Beetle..?? Not sure Truckster, I don't intend to find out...!

'occupants of four-wheel-drives are five times less likely to die in head-on collisions'
A good point for a change.
Leroy

I wonder if that holds true for hitting a stationary (and unmoveable) object, or a larger vehicle ? (truck ?)

Phil,

Out of interest,what do you think caused the roll overs?
In my experience, on the road or track, it is usually (but not always) one of three things.

1. turning too sharply, too much speed for the corner
2. swerving to miss something on a straight road (similar to 1)
3. tyre blowout/sudden loss of pressure.

Off road add a few more things.

In one I was involved with Oldplodder the car immediately behind me rolled on
basically a straight road.

All seemed innocent enough.

It was red clay surface, dry as we started and drizzle began and
the road slowly became more slippery.

The lead car was a long wheelbase patrol,like mine and wasn't
having much trouble.
I noticed that I had to pay more attention to the driving
but the "Rocky" behind me was finding the going a lot
harder and made a slight over correction which lead to
another and a rollover.

Robin Miller

. . . .add to that poor packing causing unnecessarily high Centre of Gravity - putting heavy things in the roofrack, rather down low e.g. water, fuel, spare tyre .

Oldplodder, you are really close to the mark!

The rawlinna one was in wet weather, greasy track, 40kph, and the landcruiser went sideways after hitting a wombat hole in the track; rear tyre off the rim and it fell on its side.

The Birdsville one was good gravel road, Landcruiser at 80kph, over a crest, may have been on the wrong side of the road, oncoming vehicle, overcorrected, spun around, and fell onto its side in a ditch. Electric windows and central locking didn't help! Older age may have been a factor.

The tanami one was a combination of speed, high tyre pressure, rear tyre blowout and the Disco rolled. Family inside - eventually got out. Continued their holiday in a resort in Broome, while vehicle shipped back.

The anne Beadell one was a Defender pulling campertailer , and I don't have more detail except that it rolled twice.

Yeah, different factors for offroad - others seem to be due to speed on gravel roads.

.....and the most obvious factor of all, driver fatigue.