How much space do side air bags take?

[boonsur]

I'm assuming they mount in the B-pillar. Does the pillar get bigger? To the point it intrudes into the head area?

 

[ntenna]

Nope. They go over the top of the doors (front and rear, if you have 'em), and frankly, I can't see any difference except for the tag. Haven't taken the headliner out yet .



B-pillars are not different at all, no problem.

 

[Dean Upson]

They take up no room at all that you can actually see.



Dean

 

[boonsur]

May be the stupid question of the night, but...

How important are they, in a truck of this size? IOW, how do the Rams fare in side impacts?



Many years ago, my girlfriend (at the time) was hit broadside in a station wagon. Broke her neck & caused quite a bit of brain damage (and no, that's not the reason we broke-up). I look at my little guys & think there is no price too high to prevent major injury to them. However, I really think a lot of the forces would be lower-body due to the height (4x4).



I'm about 99% sure I'll get them (especially now that I've jinxed myself if I don't get them). I just want to be sure there isn't something obvious I'm overlooking. Does the NTSB, etc. publish ratings both with, and without the side air bags?

 

[ntenna]

They have general comments, and you can check the Center for Auto Safety as well, but this is new stuff in a truck and I don't recall seeing any tests on these yet.



What is not clear is how much coverage you get as these units expand down from the top of the door. Anybody out there find any tech specs on these?

 

[Garry Verheyden]

Even though it's likely that the vehicle hitting you will come in to the cab at or below waist level, your head will still go into or through the side window glass as the Dodge moves sideways, and your head and body stays in the same location. At best, you will have some buises or a black eye. Worse would be lots of cuts, brain damage or death. I think the extra safety is worth the money even in an 8000 lb truck.

Garry.

 

[Dean Upson]

I agree with Gary. When I placed the order for my truck, I didn't feel that I needed them. My wife informed me that my level of intelligence wasn't very high to spend $45,000 for a truck and be to cheap to spend another $490 for a safety feature. I changed the order on the truck and got the air bags. I still think they should be standard equipment. Some of these new innovations are slow to accept. I have a friend that absolutely refuses to use seat belts, period.



Dean

 

[Casey Balvert]

They cover the entire window glass area in both the front and the back seats. The window areas are pretty well without any impact protection so the airbags are a good idea in my opinion. In these trucks, you are most vulnerable from the side. My wife wanted them. Not sure why she was more sensible than me in this area but I ordered them to please her and I am glad I did. Since I had not seen a new truck when I ordered it in March I guess I was concerned about the room they took up in the interior. When I got the truck all I could find was the little SRS sign on the side of the headliner. I highly recommend getting them.



Casey

 

[boonsur]

Without any further doubt...

I'll be getting them. You have helped reinforce my thoughts, thanks. I do wonder about their effectiveness for children, whose heads are not all the way in the window region.

 

[Dean Upson]

If nothing else, They could protect the children against flying debris. They certainly can do no harm.



Dean

 

[loncray]

Side Airbags

When I ordered my QC, I elected to not get the side airbags. No particular reason beyond cost at the time, but I've since read questions about them - what happens when you crash your truck and they have to cut the roof off to get you out? Esp. what happens if one or more of the airbags hasn't fired yet? Emergency rescue guys are trained on how to avoid setting off an unfired steering wheel or dash bag I'm sure, but how're they even going to know about the ones in the ceiling? I don't want to scare anybody out of buying them, but there IS a harm possible.

 

[Fireman]

I don't mean to be contrary, but don't belive that air bags can do no harm. The latest generation of air bag is much improved, but earlier generations killed more people than you will ever know and have injured countless rescuers. We still see quiet a number of broken arms and wrists as the result of minor colisions that without air bags would have resulted in no injuries. Those adjustable pedals that we think are luxuries are realy safety devices. They move the pedals closer to you so you don't have to move the seat forward and be so close to the air bag. The most serious injuries and death are usually the result of having your seat all the way forward and being to close to the deploying air bag. Passenger side air bag throw the cover aginst the windshield with such force that in most cases it will break the windshield (or wind screen for our members north of the boarder) and we know it that takes a pretty good lick yo do that. I for one don't feel safe, those things scare me to death. You can bet I'm going to drive extra careful because of it.

Fireman

PS Don't get me started on ABS

 

[Casey Balvert]

I think we have digressed from the original question. FWIW so did I. Casey

 

[boonsur]

My decision has already been made, to late to change... IT'S ORDERED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Oo. Oo. Oo.



I like the direction this thread has taken, definitely other things to consider (the point about rescue workers is very enlightening).

 

[Dean Upson]

Congrats on the order .



dean

 

[Prairie Dog]

What we need is an air bag to protect the U. S.

How bout' Oprah!

 

[Ladders]

Readin' n' thinkin'

Not too gud of an idea but reading this has me thinking back to the roll-over and if we would have had them (side bags) of any type, maybe we would not have been indunuated with all the side glass. The extra tint helped but still had a lot of slivers in the clothes, hair, etc to clean out. Also, it would protect the head in this type of accident. If you have small ones, it would assist in keeping the glass from the eyes, nose mouth (which was our major problem) and just may prevent a major cut.



On the rescue side, there should be a way (time is of the essence) to tell from the outside that they are installed (a sticker on the window ownt help if there is no window left) w/o trying to lean in and read the headliner or some other place. This should be a Fed issued std (location of label) because the mfg's would not agree on where.



Agn just my lousy 0. 015$ and ... .....



SOTSU!! (hope to be running by March if rebuilt)

\\BF//



EDIT: if I could type/spell wouldnt have to edit.....