Preparing for and Surviving a Car Rollover

Hanging on to the steering...        read full caption Hanging on to the steering wheel during the rollover in this rig would have resulted in serious hand and arm injury. It is important to be aware of what is going on during the roll and try to position yourself accordingly.

Can you spot all of the no-no’s...        read full caption Can you spot all of the no-no’s in this photo?

Clevises and other heavy recovery...        read full caption Clevises and other heavy recovery equipment (multimount winches, jacks, chains, axes, shovels, and so on) should be securely fastened on the outside of the vehicle if possible. This clevis could cause some serious bodily harm if it ricocheted around inside your cab during a rollover.

A very common blunder is cheesy...        read full caption A very common blunder is cheesy battery mounts. Wood, bungee cords, and rope are not acceptable for battery hold-downs. Factory or custom plastic or steel (aluminum corrodes quickly when in contact with battery acid) mounts should be used. The rubber cover on the positive terminal provides some protection from the hood crushing in and causing a short.

Rings such as this one can...        read full caption Rings such as this one can be purchased at a hardware store. They can be installed in the interior or bed of your vehicle to provide proper mounting for ratchet straps.

For items that you have to...        read full caption For items that you have to keep inside the vehicle, such as this toolbox, a nylon ratchet strap is the best method of retention. Bungee cords are not as effective when holding heavy items.

The items in this unlatched...        read full caption The items in this unlatched center console may not seem dangerous, but when the vehicle flips they will become meteorites in your cab. Tightly latch gloveboxes, center consoles, and coolers to avoid any interior astronomy during a roll.

Always travel in the same...        read full caption Always travel in the same direction as the fall line if possible. Be cautious when traversing trails that are perpendicular to the fall line (side hills).

Once you have determined the...        read full caption Once you have determined the vehicle is stable and is safe from fire or fuel leaks you can pose for your photo. Inspect everything (fluids, steering linkage, tires, wheels, and so on) after the vehicle is flipped back onto its wheels. Notice the secured cooler and lid.

This Jeep began to roll over...        read full caption This Jeep began to roll over backward, but was saved by the hitch. Always put the vehicle in reverse when backing down hills. A quick blip of the throttle can often avoid a rollover.

The highlights of any motorsport are the wrecks. It’s a sad fact, but flying parts, skidding tires, spinning cars, and burning hulks of vehicle are sure to grab your attention. Off-roading has its own spectacle…the rollover. This may seem great unless you’re the one getting rolled.

Crowds gather at infamous rollover spots to watch the carnage. Nobody wants to see anyone get hurt, but a little bit of action and a few dented body panels are a different story. It’s common knowledge that a good cage can protect you from injury, but that’s not the only thing you’ll need. Read on to find out that there’s more to surviving a rollover than hanging on for the ride.

Preparation

You may not be planning to roll your pride and joy, but not being prepared is the biggest mistake you can make. If you are a regular four-wheeler, we’ve found that it’s probably not a matter of if you’re going to roll over, but when.

Look through the inside of the vehicle for any loose objects that will become dangerous projectiles in the event of a flip. That multimount winch sitting in the back of your SUV will turn into a tumbling asteroid that could take you out in a rollover. Coolers should be secured and latched, otherwise that cold drink could hit the spot…literally. Anything loose, even jackets and tow straps, should be secured. Tie-downs are the preferred method, since bungee cords will stretch and possibly break if overloaded. Use common sense when securing your cargo.

We may catch a lot of flack for this, but five-point harnesses may not be the best choice for a rockcrawler. As most of us know, these harnesses restrict movement and limit visibility on the trail by keeping you in one position. Under most circumstances they are the ideal restraint to have. There are other situations where a standard lap belt or factory seat belt and shoulder strap are the best choice. If you don’t have a full cage or your cage fails and the roof of the vehicle collapses below the height of the headrest, you won’t want to be in a five-point harness. With a lap belt or factory shoulder harness you can lie down across the seats to avoid injury. Ideally you should have a sturdy cage in any vehicle you use off-road to prevent the roof from collapsing. Properly mounted harnesses are the right choice if this is the case. For more information check out the cage building and harness installation tips in the June 2000 issue.

Know the Obstacle

Before traversing an obstacle with rollover potential (you can roll on anything, trust us) look at the surroundings. Is there a cliff on one or both sides? Are there rocks or tree stumps large enough to enter the side or top of the roll cage or through a window or sunroof if you flip? Will those bowling ball–sized rocks get picked up from the ground during your roll and pinball in the interior of your vehicle? Expect the worst. If you have any doubts take the bypass or the cable. You’re more likely to ruin everyone’s trip if you hurt yourself or others than if you swallow your pride.

It doesn’t matter if the obstacle is only a few large stacked rocks or a steep muddy hillclimb, you should know the fall line. That’s the natural downhill course between two points on a slope. These points are where your vehicle is on the trail and where gravity will take it in the event of a roll. If you have a choice, it is best to follow the fall line when climbing or descending an obstacle. Skiers often throw small clumps of snow down hills to find the fall lines. Throwing a few rocks down a hill or obstacle can identify the fall line for four-wheelers. If the fall line leads to a 900-foot cliff you may want to consider if it’s worth the risk. It may be that the vehicle will only tip onto its side. Try to anticipate all the possibilities. During the Roll

We often hear less experienced drivers passing on poor information to those that don’t know what to do during a roll. The most commonly given advice is to grasp the steering wheel and wedge yourself into place with your legs. This is good advice for a slow roll or tip to the side, but it isn’t exactly the best positioning for a high speed or multiple rollover. Hanging on to the steering wheel can injure your fingers and arms. During a roll the tires may hit the ground or other solid objects, transferring the force through the steering wheel. You will not be able to hang onto the wheel in this situation. Also, the roof may crush down to the steering wheel. Your hands could become pinned between the wheel and glass or metal. Not good.

The best approach is to let go of the wheel once you have begun to flip and cross your arms to keep them from flailing out the vehicle. You can pin yourself in place with your legs, but it is important to be aware of your surroundings. Broken glass, tree limbs, dirt, mud, and that cheeseburger you lost a week earlier will be floating around the cab. Pay attention to the direction the vehicle is rolling and whether or not the roof is caving in with each flip. If the roof begins to get too close for comfort you will want to lie across the front seat or center console to avoid injury. This is a good idea regardless. Things may get tight if you have a passenger but you should both be able to fit. Practice this procedure beforehand. It should go unsaid, but at every event we see someone trying to stop his vehicle from tipping with his hand; don’t do it! Even if you think you are The Incredible Hulk you cannot support the weight of your vehicle with your arm. Paint and metal can be replaced; hands and arms can’t.

The Aftermath

Once the vehicle has come to a stop you’ll want to kill the ignition as soon as possible to prevent a fire. Check yourself and your passengers for any injuries. Hopefully, once you have found that everyone is all right, you can grab your fire extinguisher and climb out of the vehicle, watching out for broken glass and torn metal. Get everyone away from the vehicle quickly if you smell gas. If not, you can do a quick caveman imitation celebrating the demise of your vehicle.

If the vehicle has sat upside-down or on its side for an extended period of time it’s a good idea to check the fluids and pull the spark plugs before cranking the engine. Cranking the engine with the plugs removed will expel any raw fuel and crankcase oil from the cylinders. Failure to clear the cylinders could result in a hydro-locked engine and may also bend rods.

Once you’ve given everything the once-over and reinstalled the plugs you can start the engine. Expect some smoke from the exhaust and the engine compartment, and watch for fires. Inspect all the steering, suspension, and other chassis components. Rubber motor-mounts have been known to break during a roll, sometimes sending the fan into the radiator during or after the roll. Inspect these components closely before heading down the trail.