Armoring a QX4

[zach7685]

I thinking more along the lines of stiffening the overall structure of the body.....so i guess welding at a bodyshop..........

Article on how pathfinder performed marginal in IIHS Side impact Test
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/11/iihs ... e-impacts/

That's the 05+ Style w/o side airbags... Any car w/o side airbags is going to do poorly IMHYAO.

[reckless1]

I don't think a brushguard will add safety to your R50.

I had a brushguard on my last QX4. When I got into an accident, the brushguard simply directed the force of the accident to the frame rails and totaled the truck. Crumple zones are present for your safety even if the truck gets mangled up.

I think the brushguards can add body protection, from branches or parallel parkers, but I don't think you should think it will add safety in a collision.

I would be curious to see a photo of the accident. I don't mind if the car is totalled but I do care to see my passengers safety protected. Right now I am still of the belief that brush guards do protect the occupants when installed properly. I could be mistaken and would love to be proven mistaken if I am but mentally I can't imagine it not protecting the passengers. I can imagine it destroying the truck but from all the accident pictures I have seen I have never seen it where it brought danger to the passengers.


I agree side air bags are necessary. I am waiting to find a 2003 with navigation black on black with low miles to come up for sale. I love my QX4 other than my concern for safety in an accident. I have totalled 3 and 7 series BMW's at high speeds and the cars protected me very well other than minor face burns and a slight hairline fracture on my arm from where airbags exploded.

[zach7685]

"Many, but not all bull bars and brush guards can turn a very safe vehicle into a death trap. You're bolting on a device that bypasses many of the safety features of the vehicle and transmits loads directly to the front sub-frame of the vehicle. What might have been nothing but a fender bender results in huge amounts of energy directed in exactly the wrong places." The dont do anythignin a high speed wreck. I see no use for them Other than to look cool .

[zach7685]

Side note If you were to hit a pedestrian/biker while I don't blame you the results would be Catastrophic....Get a Volvo XC90 I challenge someone to die in one of those... the second would be the hummer h1 even though it doesn't have airbags ha-ha it doesn't need them...

[reckless1]

"Many, but not all bull bars and brush guards can turn a very safe vehicle into a death trap. You're bolting on a device that bypasses many of the safety features of the vehicle and transmits loads directly to the front sub-frame of the vehicle. What might have been nothing but a fender bender results in huge amounts of energy directed in exactly the wrong places." The dont do anythignin a high speed wreck. I see no use for them Other than to look cool .

I try imagining two QX4's, one with a brush guard the other without, ramming into each other head on at high speed (70+ mph). I imagine the damage to naked QX4 being much more and fatality rating being higher. Somehow I imagine the brush guard QX4 surviving with brush guard bent and front partially caved in. From the pics I have seen on ebay of totaled QX4's the front end caves in pretty quick (the rears are even worse).

If brush guards bypassed safety systems I don't think the military would use them in their combat and scout vehicles. I think the reason they use them is to protect the vehicle from minor accidents.

[zach7685]

http://www.informedforlife.org/demos/FC ... horder.pdf <<< Fatality statistics. pathfinder fares well

[Towncivilian]

Nissan has a TSB stating aftermarket brush guards / grill guards and the like are not recommended due to potential affects they may have on airbag operation in a vehicle crash.

NTB96-080 - GRILLE GUARDS, BRUSH GUARDS AND WINCHES

I was thinking of getting a brush guard for my Pathfinder but after seeing this TSB, decided not to.

[GRNMACHINE]

GRILLE GUARDS, BRUSH GUARDS AND WINCHES
APPLIED VEHICLE(S): 1996 & later Pathfinder (R50)
1996
& later Truck (D21)
SERVICE INFORMATION
Nissan does not currently offer grille guards, brush guards or winches for 1996 & later
Pathfinders or 1996 & later Trucks.
Nissan recommends that aftermarket products not be installed.
Because the 1996 models are equipped with airbags, installation of these types of
accessories may affect the operation of the airbags in the event of a vehicle crash.
Each aftermarket accessory has different structural characteristics. Nissan cannot evaluate
the many that may be offered for sale and is not aware of how these non-approved
accessories may affect our vehicles.

** WACKY they would say that ** The brush/grille guard I have is NISSAN OEM marketed in their aftermarket Genuine OEM accessory pamphlet Maybe they changed their mind? Have always wondered about the air bag operation etc, but assumed all good since Nissan sells it.

[skiski329]

Best idea i have of armoring up and not showing it, is you need to get a full roll cage in the car. I think your best bet would be talking to a race shop. I am also in the chi area, perhaps you can find a good shop by the racetrack in joliet. Also you can put padding on the bars inside to match the trim (my friend did that on his racing porche) and it dosen't show much. personally i would like the look of the bars in the cabin. it would feel like a rally car.
and on the less legal note, i don't think you can have the 5 point seatbelt in IL (or most states) but that is way better than the 3 point. but of course you need to know how to properly tighten them for them to work, and there is that bit of how it takes longer to take them off if you catch fire.