Thank God for HD bumpers...

IDK man this bumper saved a lot of things here. Stock bumper wouldve been fucked, airbags, destroyed everything.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/plate-bumpers-after-impact-with-pics.379600/page-3#post-10556815

 

I think you're missing his point. A really unyielding bumper simply passes on all of the force of the hit on to the thing it's attached to - which in this case is the frame. If the car's bumper (or blocker beam) had hit the trucks bumper, there might have been a very different outcome. That's because the car's "soft tissue" would not have absorbed the crash energy. Instead, the energy would have been transferred right to the truck's frame - probably buckling it. Sure, the OP's HD bumper came out of this relatively unscathed and the stock bumper would have been a mess. But in a slightly different set of circumstances, that same HD bumper passing all of the crash energy on to the truck's frame and occupants might have led to a very different outcome. The OP was very lucky.

Race car designers learned a long time ago that a car that crumples and spews parts during a crash is actually much kinder to the driver because it dissipates the crash energy instead of transferring it to the driver. The old front engine roadster style Indy cars of the 50's & 60's were famous for killing drivers, but the car could sometimes be driven away. That was because they were built like tanks and most of the crash energy was transferred straight to the driver - killing them instantly. The latest Indy cars make a real mess when they crash, but that's what they're designed to do - to save the driver.

 

Exactly

 

OP's HD bumper means airbags are more likely to go off in an accident, not less. Airbag sensors are inertial, it has nothing to do with the bumper getting smashed up. Think dropping an egg on a hard floor vs a mattress. Egg is the airbag sensor, hard floor is accident with HD bumper and mattress is accident with stock bumper.

 

If the rear section of the frame is destroyed why not weld in a new portion and have it straightened/weld in a beefier cross member? It's a good opportunity to box and reinforce it. They flex so much stock, it feels like the truck is going to rip apart.

 

Said no one ever. That's some damn good protection.

 

So what you're saying is that if I bolt a steel I-beam to the front of a Prius, it'll ram anything like an tank and not damage the rest of the car? Sorry, but I actually paid attention in Physics class and the energy from a crash has to go somewhere. If the steel I-beam doesn't absorb it - which it will not - then it gets transferred to whatever the I-beam is connected to.

As for the HD front bumper in those pics, notice what part of the Camry it impacted. Again, it was the "soft tissue" and a nice air filled left front tire. What might be very interesting is to see that exact HD bumper and truck impact an identically prepared truck at maybe 10 MPH - head on. I think you'd be astounded at the force (energy) transferred to the frames and even the drivers.

 

Now I want a Prius tank with an HD bumper.

 

If I build you one, will you swap me even for your Taco?

 

Hmmmm i know that texas roadhouse.....

 

Well, a Prius is a magnet, but not for that.

 

The energy went to the hood obviously that's why it folded along with the fender. My premise is that had it been a stock bumper on the truck the engine bay would've been compromised as well, along with the supercharger, aprons, etc. But guess what, not even the radiator (plastic POS) cracked.

 

I don't think you're understanding the physics of a car crash. The more rigid the body the quicker the truck decelerates during impact. This is what kills people. For a given impact speed less damage to the vehicle = more damage to occupants. Why do you think new cars explode into a billion pieces during crashes?

 

OP, glad you and the kiddo are okay! Getting rear ended is not fun. My truck got rearended on the interstate last year, and I still remember it like it was yesterday.

If the frame is bent, just assess how much your time and your truck is worth to you. Third party insurance companies aren't such good "neighbors" once they find out there's frame damage. Be prepared to do research in terms of fair market value, in the event of a total loss. Also, if insurance approves the repair, take it to a shop you'd feel comfortable with, as "preferred" shops are often under agreements to use the cheapest repair possible.

Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

 

The bumper did move a bit according to this photo. Note bolt position. So slightly forgiving i suppose.

 

That's good, but how are you and your baby doing?

 

she is fine, made of rubber at 9 months.
I have a sprained ankle and a pretty sore neck/back. Whiplash is infact a real thing.

 

In the grand scheme of things, that's not too bad. I hope you have a speedy recovery!