Point in case, OSI after a rear end bingle a few years ago The opposition We were able to drive away while he ended up on a flat bed tow truck. Germany 1 vs Japan 0
Fortunately not but even though I would still prefer a bit of steel to useless GRP between me and something else?
I've got grp bumpers. Doesn't worry me, if you have a big smash in one of these old buses your dead anyway!
Bumpers are only there for very low impacts like 5mph or less bumps. A front bumper mounts directly to the deform panel so it is sort of superfluous. The rear does offer some protection but again for low impact speeds. GRP isn't all that bad. Lotus build find sports cars from it. Boats are made from it and they all take a pounding. And to be honest I think GRP is far better than the dross of new bumpers being sold these days with thin steel. And for those who want them, I'm sure I found a company years ago who also sold overriders in the stuff too.
I had a rear end impact in my first bay, that ended up with the van down a ditch on the Cambridgeshire fens... the pictures are alluding me at the moment, but suffice it to say the bumper did diddly on the back other than flatten out and cause more panel damage!! As birdy said, the front bumper is directly on the def panel, so technically it's aesthetic anyway!! But steel is your choice at the end of the day!!
Wonder how an Insurance company would view replacing steel bumpers with GRP? Could be an interesting situation in the case of a front end shunt where the (possible) safety value of the deformation panel might be compromised by the use of a GRP bumper, something not allowed for in the original design.
I am not just talking about major impact I am talking more about the usual day-day carpark specials when muppets cant judge distances from your back end and the end of their noses!! In such case your £50 GRP bumper is wrecked whilst your metal bumper can be fixed. Remember these are 1940's designs folks, even though VW tried their best it is still a metal box on wheels with little crash protection. I just like my stuff stock VW thats all , if anyone wants GRP then cool, fill your resin boots, personally I hate the stuff- great for Bathtubs!
Erh? How do you figure that?? The bumper is bolted to the def panel which is welded to the chassis....
True but I would suggest that given the profile of the steel bumper that its impact resistance is greater than that of the GRP which in effect would be not much more than decorative trim stuck to the panel. The amount of energy absorption by the deformation panel would have been calculated on that basis hence my observation.
With fiberglass bumpers theres always going to be those who dont mind them and those who dont like the idea of them I think they will sell ok especially with the numberplate recess on the front one and fog light reccesses on the rear one Fiberglass will be of no use to me though as my bus is going to get quite a lot of abuse A farm gate swinging back and clouting a fiberglass bumper would probably crack it where as a steel one would just chip the paint
Unfortunately the steel bumper will offer little impact protection on the front... it's shape as far as I can see doesn't lend itself to energy absorption... if it did, then surely they would've kept with the LB style bumpers on the Brazilian bay, as opposed to going back to the EB style bumper? If someone with the engineering background wants to crunch the numbers, then I'll go with that outcome
well Boeing used a lot of composite materials on the 787 Dreamliner and look how safe that aircraft is, safe as houses its just trivial the whole fleet are grounded
I'm thinking of getting some adjustable spring plates made of GRP. Do you think there will be a market for them?? They will be much cheaper than the metal ones.
I've seen many a steel garage door dented beyond repair where a GRP one has sprung back to shape. Birdy i think your adjustable spring plates will compromise the ride quality, now get back to designing those GRP vests. Paul Weeding over riders would deffo be handy in GRP and probably only require 2 moulds then each over rider cut differently on the back edge
Interesting replies guys thanks. I did withhold some info as some of you are aware that I'm starting on a bay trailer project. The first one will be in steel as it was going to be a one off but after seeing the dub box caravan I'm wondering if there would be a market for a GRP bay trailer?
If you look at the dub box in my opinion it looks naff close up ,never seen one on the road either but spose they look ok from a distance .... I like the shiny airstream look ....... Grp parts are not for me but saying that I do have a grp sliding door runner cover , has been sweet for the last 10 years
