I do a little offroading mostly desert running and this weekend I came over a bump that I though was small but was much bigger and I am pretty sure we go air and slamed down really hard and that got me thinking about what if I set off the airbags doing that, A: it would hurt and B: is would cost a lot to fix. Is this a real concern? whats it take to set one off?

 

It would take a direct impact in the front or for you to roll. I am off-roading quite a bit and I never had to worry about it.

 

Yes it would be expensive to repair.

It would take quite a jolt for the airbags to go off and it would have to be in the front.

I wouldn't think it very likely to occur and if you are hitting that hard you would likely break something unless the truck is heavily modded.

 

nope stock and after that jump and the bottoming out I just got worried. I wouldnt worrie if I was like doing slow 4 wheelin but I am doing high speed desert and just got worried

 

In the worst case, I am sure there is a way to deactivate the system. Look at the baja race, they don't have an airbag hurts when they miss their shot

Even during slow crawling you can hit something hard, my front end hit dead on the other side of the wash but it was ok.

 

is there a way to disable them for offroading just to make my self feel better?

 

Pull the fuse. If you are traveling at speed you need a frontal impact to pop them. When in the air you ususlly land on the wheels, or at least you should try to , and that is not a direct hit. You need to hit a tree or something like that to pop them. I bent the frame on my 97 and they didn't pop because I glanced off when I landed.


JMC

 

Depending on the MY, 2 things need to happen.

1. Front end impact.
2. G force deaceleration.

This is how the newer MY have the airbags that cannot go off, unless you are traveling at least 18 or 28 MPH ( forget the exact number at the moment ).

Is this to say you would not have the G force deaceleration ? I would say no, if you have a nice leap of faith on a jump, you could simulate this ( or actually have that type of G force deaceleration ), even if you are below the MPH required.

Try to keep the bumper off the ground when you land, as JMC stated, and you should be ok. Of just pull the fuses, but then you run the risk of needing them off road in an accident, and not have them, which is another story all together.

 

In a general way, if you are planning on racing in the desert and do jumps, my advice would be get a roll cage, much better because the airbags won't save you if the top is crushed.

for off-roading (playing in the mud, trails, or rockcrawling), you would not reach the speed of 18mph, try that speed while going over boulders, might leave some parts on the way

 

I you are pushing it to the point you are afraid of setting off the airbags its time for a cage. When you have a cage and proper harnesses then removing the airbags is fine, but not unless you have the proper safety gear first, cage, and harnesses(seats too).

 

No way am i pushing my truck that hard all the time I was a one time thing and got me thinking that could have turned out bad. I just was wondering if i had a legit fear, and hopefully it wont happen again, it was a one time not paying attention waker-upper. I know now to not think it is just a small bump.

 

the wisdom is coming to you, fear you should not have

May the force be with you

Yoda

 

Actually, a 4x4 mag (forget which one) set off the side airbags on a Nissan (I think) suv when their running board was crushed by a rock.

 

I plow snow in the winter and let me tell you a frozen snow bank will stop you dead in your tracks from close to 30 MPH.

Scared the hell out of me the first time, I couldn't believe the Airbag didn't deploy and that nothing was bent to hell. Though to be honest, I think that may be why the plow frame cracked and had to be replaced. (Don't tell my Brother-In-Law)

But I think I'd pull the fuse like JMC recommended, if you wheel often you might look into installing a switch that would cut the power to the system. It would be more convenent than pulling a fuse and I'd think easier to remember.

I'd probably wire it so a indicator light was on when the system was deactivated.

Doug

 

Doug,

The Air Bag light will be on if you deactivate the system.

JMC