Expy Crash Test Question

[gtnator]

Does anyone know if Ford made the same mod to the Expy to fortify the front of the steel frame to protect against that newer small overlap front crash test?


"Ford made some engineering changes to the SuperCab, including the addition of these so-called wheel blockers -- tubular bars welded to the truck's high-strength steel frame -- to deflect crash energy and improve safety."

In Crash Tests, Ford's Aluminum F-150 Is The Safest Pickup
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joannm...inum-f-150-is-the-safest-pickup/#3081e7082236

 

[rumline]

IIHS seems completely uninterested in testing full-size SUVs, so we may never know how well the Expy does at that test. IIRC they haven't tested an Expedition, Navigator, Tahoe, Yukon, Escalade, Sequoia, Armada, etc since at least 2015.

 

[JExpedition07]

I remember in 2015 when they did the redesign fords super cab did relatively poorly in the offset, they then beefed it up. The Expedition has always scored well since gen 2 (2003+) in the govt tests but IIHS doesn’t do much.

 

[gtnator]

I remember in 2015 when they did the redesign fords super cab did relatively poorly in the offset, they then beefed it up. The Expedition has always scored well since gen 2 (2003+) in the govt tests but IIHS doesn’t do much.

Exactly, and that’s my real question. I know they may never test the Expy, but my question is: did Ford put the same reinforcement into the Expy bumper as they did in the F150? That article spells it out.


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[Yukon Joe]

I think when they came out with the Gen II Raptor, they did not include the Wheel blockers. So hard to say about the Expedition without crawling under there.

Got a pic of what they look like?

@Yukon Joe

 

[gtnator]

So you think the tubular bars “wheel blockers” welded to the front of the frame are visible by just going underneath the Expy? I was thinking one would have to remove the bumper? But I don’t know, that would be great if it’s visible from below....


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[Yukon Joe]

So you think the tubular bars “wheel blockers” welded to the front of the frame are visible by just going underneath the Expy? I was thinking one would have to remove the bumper? But I don’t know, that would be great if it’s visible from below....


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I'll check tonight.
But this is what I found on the Raptor forum. I doubt they are painted yellow, lol.



@Yukon Joe

 

[dlcorbett]

The bars used on the f150 have been std on them since 2016, so im sure they are standard on the expy as well. If you search on youtube, the crashtest vids of the expy has underside views(there are pics on the nhtsa site as well) and though not iihs, seeing as how well the expy did again, i wouldnt think it would be any less than marginal on the offset test

 

[JExpedition07]

Here are the NHTSA tests for gen 3&4 expeditions. Unfortunately they don’t do offsets but they do test rollover, roof strength etc.

 

[Yukon Joe]

@GTNator Here are photos of in front and behind the wheel well. No crash bars seen. The front dose have a bracket that holds the bumper. Sort of like a crash bar.


Excellent videos @JExpedition07, thanks.
The Expy looked like it does a great job holding its own. How fast is it going in the first video?

@Yukon Joe

 

[gtnator]

@GTNator Here are photos of in front and behind the wheel well. No crash bars seen. The front dose have a bracket that holds the bumper. Sort of like a crash bar.


Excellent videos @JExpedition07, thanks.
The Expy looked like it does a great job holding its own. How fast is it going in the first video?

@Yukon Joe

Thank you Yukon Joe for taking the time to look underneath your Expy. To be honest, I don’t even know what I’m looking at in those pictures, so pardon me as it may be obvious to you: but is there any way those crash bars are actually there and attached to the frame, but just hidden behind something where we can’t see it from the angle you took those pictures?


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[gtnator]

And wouldn’t a parts schematics show definitively if there were (or not) tubular bars (wheel blockers) attached to the frame as they would be present in the parts drawings that dealers use to order parts?


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[Yukon Joe]

And wouldn’t a parts schematics show definitively if there were (or not) tubular bars (wheel blockers) attached to the frame as they would be present in the parts drawings that dealers use to order parts?


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The first photo is of the driver side in front of the wheel, between the body mount and the bumper. The frame is too the left, and the bumper bolt can be seen on the bracket (ti the left).

The second photo is behind the passenger side front wheel. No crash bars viewed, even where the fender well hides the frame.

@Yukon Joe

 

[Yukon Joe]

And wouldn’t a parts schematics show definitively if there were (or not) tubular bars (wheel blockers) attached to the frame as they would be present in the parts drawings that dealers use to order parts?


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I looked for a parts schematic, but my sources (tascaparts.com) didn't list many parts as of yet for the new 18 expedition.

@Yukon Joe

 

[JExpedition07]

@GTNator Here are photos of in front and behind the wheel well. No crash bars seen. The front dose have a bracket that holds the bumper. Sort of like a crash bar.


Excellent videos @JExpedition07, thanks.
The Expy looked like it does a great job holding its own. How fast is it going in the first video?

@Yukon Joe

They are crashed into the wall at 35 MPH. Looks like it’s safe to say the wheel blockers are not present on Expedition.

 

[Yukon Joe]

They are crashed into the wall at 35 MPH. Looks like it’s safe to say the wheel blockers are not present on Expedition.

Not present, and viewing the videos, not needed.

@Yukon Joe

 

[gtnator]

Not present, and viewing the videos, not needed.

@Yukon Joe

I actually disagree that it’s not needed. The crash tests in the video do not test the “need” or “non-need” for offset reinforcements. The offset (small overlap) test is completely different. There are many vehicles that score a perfect score on all other tests but fail to protect the driver or passenger with a small overlap crash, which actually occurs in a high percentage of frontal accidents. Many many times when a front crash occurs, your vehicle is not hitting another vehicle perfectly head on. Many times a car coming opposite to you will drift into your lane or you may hit an object with just part of the driver (or passenger) side because you were trying to avoid the crash but just couldn’t get out of the way.

As was shown in that F150 that failed the small overlap, the drivers compartment can collapse under that kind of stress.

I hope Ford decides to protect us in the Expy by reinforcing the front bumper as they have in other vehicles. I almost feel like because they rarely test large SUVs/trucks, manufactures believe they can get away with being cheap. Problem is these vehicles are driven by families more than they are strictly farm vehicles. The Suburban is a prime example, it’s hugely popular with families, yet it’s never been tested for small overlap, and GM knows it so they don’t spend the extra $100 (or whatever small amount it is) to protect occupants from a head on overlap crash.


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[rumline]

This has been my thought process since those tests came out, and none of my vehicles have done well on them: if you're about to hit a pole or corner of a building and can't avoid it, better to hit it straight on and have the engine take it rather than try to steer away and have your legs take it.

Yes I would rather that Ford reinforce the bumper than resort to the above.

I guess this is what happens when IIHS doesn't bother testing large SUVs...manufacturers don't care about making them any safer.

 

[Yukon Joe]

So what's the reason behind not getting them tested? Obviously they are wildly popular. And as stated, an offset crash is more likely.

@Yukon Joe

 

[Blackscreen67]

So what's the reason behind not getting them tested? Obviously they are wildly popular. And as stated, an offset crash is more likely.

@Yukon Joe

They have been by safecar.gov....

They're popular yes, but no where near as in demand due to price and competition.

This $hit is pretty impressive though!


The best here is around 5:30 in the vid....