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Being a high center of gravity vehicle I would think it would be reinforced for rollover.


Sarge43 "00" Tique 2.0L I4 ATX "98" Mustang 3.8L V6 AT The reason there's so much ignorance is that those who have it are so eager to share it.
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There is an NHTSA "safety standard 216" which requires a vehicle's roof to be able to support 1.5 times it's weight but I have no information as to whether it applies to SUVs (or whether the Durango complies, if it does apply to SUVs).

From that picture, expecting that roof to support 7500lbs (curb weight on the Durango is probably 5000lbs) is wishful thinking at best.

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Engineering validation processes are pretty strict for safety issues like rollovers. I work in the snowmobile industry and I'm sure that structural integrity issues in the auto industry are tenfold what we deal with. When the deer hit the roof it peeled it back like a can of sardines, which is quite a bit different forces than in a rollover event. I had a Dakota too (I know) and I remember a bulge in the ceiling that concealed a roll bar. I'm not really a Chryler fan, but I'm sure safety isn't a problem with them even if reliability seems to be, at least in my experience. I sold the Dakota after the tranny started acting up. Crazy picture though . Didn't that deer jump off an overpass or something?

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Brian: I'd have to agree with that.

Maddog: Don't know how or where it happend, the pic was in a group that my daughter e-mailed to me. I'd bet that sucker was considered a total.


Sarge43 "00" Tique 2.0L I4 ATX "98" Mustang 3.8L V6 AT The reason there's so much ignorance is that those who have it are so eager to share it.
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Originally posted by brianl703:
... I might be mistaken, but I think the roof of our Contours IS reinforced to handle a rollover (the rubber strips on the roof have something to do with it).




Nah, the rubber strips are beauty covers over the welded seam. The roof is welded together. On cars without the seam, the roof is welded at the A Pillar junction. The seam is filled and painted so you don't see it. Cheaper to slap a rubber strip over the seam than to fill and paint.


My name is Richard. I was a Contouraholic. NOW: '02 Mazda B3000 Dual Sport, Black BEFORE: '99 Contour SE Sport Duratec ATX Spruce Green PIAA 510's, Foglight MOD, K&N Drop-in
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