Interesting take on vehicle modification
- Thread starter bartheil
- Start date
calicamper
Expedition Leader
I also find it interesting that high priced housing areas you rarely see these mods, those folks generally don’t see any value in the cost to do them and really dislike the unwanted attention. But as you move to lower cost of living regions you see more and more of these mods.
Jeeps don’t count lol. Even the wealthy do built jeeps to go dirt driving lol.
billiebob
Well-known member
This should be a sticky,
Absolutely the bible of expedition vehicle design.
The only point missing is modern vehicle design also focuses on pedestrian safety and every after market bumper is by design going to maim pedestrians. Otherwise this article needs to be forwarded to every cop and DOT, MOT guy out there. A lot of the points mentioned are already regulated in Canada and the USA but completely ignored by law enforcement. And we, the guys building those rigs only want to look cooler than the guy beside us..... We could care less about safety, visibility, range, handling, braking, reliability..... heck we just carry MORE spare parts cuz we know things are going to break.... Upgrades??? really, most mods even on this forum are down grades hurting range, handling, capacity, braking, safety.
The threads.... "what spares do you guys carry".... absolutely kill me. UMM I carry a spare tire.... and I use a shop with a licensed mechanic for oil changes and basic maintenance..... because I'm not a licensed mechanic.
On a softer note, thinking back to my hot rodding days I did it all for the fun of building something cool and unique but I knew nothing I did was "upgrading" the vehicle. Every mod was strictly to grab attention. But it never went farther than White Ave, 124 st or Groat Road either. And I KNEW it was far from reliable. Safety in the 1970s was not a big concern. So yes, the guys who have imagination and are not just bolting on parts, have at 'er, you know what you are ending up with.
Absolutely the bible of expedition vehicle design.
The only point missing is modern vehicle design also focuses on pedestrian safety and every after market bumper is by design going to maim pedestrians. Otherwise this article needs to be forwarded to every cop and DOT, MOT guy out there. A lot of the points mentioned are already regulated in Canada and the USA but completely ignored by law enforcement. And we, the guys building those rigs only want to look cooler than the guy beside us..... We could care less about safety, visibility, range, handling, braking, reliability..... heck we just carry MORE spare parts cuz we know things are going to break.... Upgrades??? really, most mods even on this forum are down grades hurting range, handling, capacity, braking, safety.
The threads.... "what spares do you guys carry".... absolutely kill me. UMM I carry a spare tire.... and I use a shop with a licensed mechanic for oil changes and basic maintenance..... because I'm not a licensed mechanic.
On a softer note, thinking back to my hot rodding days I did it all for the fun of building something cool and unique but I knew nothing I did was "upgrading" the vehicle. Every mod was strictly to grab attention. But it never went farther than White Ave, 124 st or Groat Road either. And I KNEW it was far from reliable. Safety in the 1970s was not a big concern. So yes, the guys who have imagination and are not just bolting on parts, have at 'er, you know what you are ending up with.
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pith helmet
Well-known member
All these potential problems could be mitigated if our leaders would just weld us into our homes and feed us through slots. We could call it the Civilian Control Party, or Corporate Credit Program, CCP for short. It could work.
XJLI
Adventurer
Yikes. Wes knows his ********, and all he was trying to say is you shouldn't cheap out on your rig and point out that another country has regulations for this that keep everyone on the road safe, and that many of our automotive standards are beyond antiquated.... and y'all always gotta make it political.
DRAX
Active member
There is one bit of nonsense (so far) in that article, something I've heard multiple people repeat with no data to back it up. Mostly comes from the RV/travel trailer groups that are trying to be scary weight police.
100% false. Insurance is literally to CYA when you're negligent. To say that your insurance would be invalidated due to exceeding GVWR is absolutely false, at least when it comes to non-commercial insurance. I don't claim to know anything about commercial insurance, but that doesn't apply here anyway. Still, if nobody were negligent then probably 95% of accidents wouldn't happen, the other 5% would be due to mechanical failure or something similar.
Run a stop sign? Negligent and insurance pays out.
Crash while speeding? Negligent and insurance pays out.
Rear-end while texting? Negligent and insurance pays out.
Other than that little bit of misinformation, I generally agree with what they are suggesting.
100% false. Insurance is literally to CYA when you're negligent. To say that your insurance would be invalidated due to exceeding GVWR is absolutely false, at least when it comes to non-commercial insurance. I don't claim to know anything about commercial insurance, but that doesn't apply here anyway. Still, if nobody were negligent then probably 95% of accidents wouldn't happen, the other 5% would be due to mechanical failure or something similar.
Run a stop sign? Negligent and insurance pays out.
Crash while speeding? Negligent and insurance pays out.
Rear-end while texting? Negligent and insurance pays out.
Other than that little bit of misinformation, I generally agree with what they are suggesting.
pith helmet
Well-known member
the second sentence of the article gets to regulations and never leaves the topic. it is about regulating vehicle mods. that is political by definition.
DRAX
Active member
There are reasons behind the regulations, if you want to close your eyes, plug your ears, and yell "LA LA LA IT'S ALL POLITICAL" then go ahead, but that doesn't make it true.
Maybe go watch some of Dan's videos if you don't want "politics" involved...
pith helmet
Well-known member
Man 1: "Do what I say."
Man 2: "I don't want to do what you say."
Man 1: "Why do you have to make everything political?"
I'm not ignorant, nor am I wrong.
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
Ha. 
Just about every 'overland' vehicle in Northern America is over GVWR....by a lot.
The total payload capacity on a new jeep wrangler unlimited is right about 1000lbs.
Australia has an entire industry devoted to 'legally' increasing GVWR by having the vehicle modified by an approved shop with an engineered 'kit'.
Just about every 'overland' vehicle in Northern America is over GVWR....by a lot.The total payload capacity on a new jeep wrangler unlimited is right about 1000lbs.
Australia has an entire industry devoted to 'legally' increasing GVWR by having the vehicle modified by an approved shop with an engineered 'kit'.
DRAX
Active member
Except...you kind of are in this case. Logical mods don't require regulations and regulations don't make logical mods illogical. Look past the politics, if you can. Or don't, doesn't bother me. Just seems rather silly to imply you're dismissing what's been written simply because regulations were mentioned.
Later!
pith helmet
Well-known member
yep. it breeds itself, it's the perpetually drinking bird of bureaucracy.
pith helmet
Well-known member
I get it but would you have responded to me in the same way if I had said "yeah, we need those rules here, to keep everyone safer."
You are also assigning logic to the regulators; I can't take that leap. You know there are regs that bother you.
XJLI
Adventurer
"We need those rules here, to keep everyone safer" does not compute to a comparison to the communist party.
I can get on board with a healthy discussion on what should and shouldn't be regulated or "the law," and who makes and/or enforces them. But coming right out of the gate with "weld us in and feed us through slots" is pretty sensationalist.