Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:09:23 -0800
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Fire
In-Reply-To: <BB6F6229-8A7C-4B0E-AACD-5998A461639E@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
On Mon, Dec 17, 2012 at 5:36 PM, Robert Stevens <mtbiker62@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Several extinguishers are great but might be a hazard in a crash if
> > mounted behind legs/feet with typical extinguisher mounts. Behind the
> seat
> > pedestals should much better.
> >
>
Extinguishers are a proven hazard if they aren't mounted securely. Now
in a Vanagon, there are often a lot of other potential 'loose
objects'....at least in many of the vans I see. People simply do not
think about stuff 'flying around' inside as much as they really should. I
know I take chances (understatement) in my vanagon when I often use it as
a work vehicle (to make my fuel costs not exceed my earnings (Ha!) in the
housing trade) and carry tools around.......But in case of a freeway or
highway speed rollover or other high speed accident....loose items inside
the vehicle DO become lethal.... I would probably be in serious trouble in
the event of a rollover in my van with my work stuff aboard.
One of the cardinal rules of High Performance driving events and races is
that nothing loose or potentially loose is ever ever allowed inside a
vehicle. In one of our first participations in those Open Road high speed
events, a driver in a Mercedes small sedan went off the course and rolled.
He was killed by his fire extinguisher, which came loose and hit him in the
back during multiple rolls at about 130mph. His helmet was also cracked,
but he died from an internal injury caused by the flying fire bottle...His
mount was improperly installed...
Those inexpensive household extinguisher mounts, plastic or a wall
hook/bracket with some kinda tear away strap?...Not safe for use in a
moving vehicle. There are inexpensive but secure, quick release
vehicle-specific mounts that are appropriate...
Think about that, next time you toss your 50lb tool box or a hydraulic
jack behind the rear bench and fly off down the interstate....
.Next time you see a clothes dryer in operation....imagine yourself as
firmly mounted inside (like with your seatbelt in your van) while
everything that is loose behaves like all those clothes...Not a pleasant
thought, contemplating a rollover accident, but they do happen and if you
can minimize flying objects inside in case it does happen....you should do.
Don Hanson
