[zukmeista]

shep wrote:

The chance of a car destroying impact is a lot greater then a car fire.

As long as you're not driving...

[sikysa]

I'd be more worried if I didn't have a cargo barrier and had a toolbox/esky/spare wheel etc in the rear compartment instead.
It ultimately will get a race mount system installed. It won't move anywhere, I assure you. But each to their own. I don't see it as a problem in it's current form and definitely will not have any issues when the mount is changed.

[shep]

sikysa wrote:

I'd be more worried if I didn't have a cargo barrier and had a toolbox/esky/spare wheel etc in the rear compartment instead.
It ultimately will get a race mount system installed. It won't move anywhere, I assure you. But each to their own. I don't see it as a problem in it's current form and definitely will not have any issues when the mount is changed.

I will admit I am a bit paranoid seen some nasty stuff recently.

[fordem]

Gwagensteve wrote:

My 2c - the hammer and extinguisher are in the right part of the car.

My understanding is that those hammers are to allow trapped occupants of a vehicle with electric windows to smash a window and cut their seatbelts to get out. I do understand the need in the rear compartment of a vehicle where there is no interior door release. They were introduced into the European market over twenty years ago and It wasn't due to the widespread use of cargo barriers in Europe, I can assure you.

This is my understanding of it also - a submerged vehicle, the water shorts out the power windows, there's too much pressure to push a door outwards - you break the window and get out that way. I don't know where they were first introduced, the first place I saw them was in the US, but that could just be that I'm in the US a lot more frequently than I am in Europe.

[Blakey]

fordem wrote:

Gwagensteve wrote:

My 2c - the hammer and extinguisher are in the right part of the car.

My understanding is that those hammers are to allow trapped occupants of a vehicle with electric windows to smash a window and cut their seatbelts to get out. I do understand the need in the rear compartment of a vehicle where there is no interior door release. They were introduced into the European market over twenty years ago and It wasn't due to the widespread use of cargo barriers in Europe, I can assure you.

This is my understanding of it also - a submerged vehicle, the water shorts out the power windows, there's too much pressure to push a door outwards - you break the window and get out that way. I don't know where they were first introduced, the first place I saw them was in the US, but that could just be that I'm in the US a lot more frequently than I am in Europe.

unless you go out in the ocean, i doubt your power windows will short. if its relatively fresh water its actually a hell of a lot less conductive then salt water. and at 12V will have no where near enough push to even make a connection straight from the battery.

the reason your power windows and most likely any windows wont work when your car is submerged is the pressure on the window forcing it into the car, so unless you get it quick your power windows wont have the grunt to over power the pressure as i doubt will your hands if you have manual windows.

[Gwagensteve]

Whilst I understand your point Blakey, there's enough evidence that vehicle electrical systems do die once the car has stopped in deep water to make me want to carry a life hammer with me if I had a 4WD with power locks/windows.

Steve.

As an aside in relation to wanting a snorkel for deep water crossing "protection" in a new 4WD - if your vehicle ceases motion in water deep enough to risk the engine, then the car is a right off from an insurance point of view. Quite apart from that, if you the car does stop, then there is no doubt water will flood the interior. I reckon that many, many people who fit a snorkel to their new/near new 4WD don't really consider that the car is likely trashed even if the engine doesn't have water in it once water depth "requires" a snorkel.

[Mike57]

I am with Shep here. I have a cargo barrier and have thought about mounting the extinguisher on the passengers side in the middle like this but the thought of it coming loose in an accident has stopped me doing that. I have it behind the passengers seat which is not ideal but I feel safer with it there. The hammer for breaking the windows should be on the other side of the cargo barrier by law to allow anyone trapped in the back to get out. My barrier was professionally made and installed and that is where they put the hammer along with instructions not to move it.

[Gwagensteve]

My fire extinguisher has a metal bracket and you're welcome to try and rip the extinguisher out of its mount. My guess is you'll take some of the seat mount with it. I have seen plastic mounts for FE's and don't think they have any place in a vehicle, for the reasons you state. I guess it's all down to how sturdy the mount is, but I'll stand by the mantra that if you cant reach it from the driver's seat, it's probably not worth having. These are small extinguishers and time is everything.

I understand the legal requirement for a hammer in the rear of vehicles with no interior door latch - it makes perfect sense. That doesn't discount their value for the seated cabin passengers, which was their original intent.

Steve.

[droverdave]

Gwagensteve wrote:

My fire extinguisher has a metal bracket and you're welcome to try and rip the extinguisher out of its mount. My guess is you'll take some of the seat mount with it. I have seen plastic mounts for FE's and don't think they have any place in a vehicle, for the reasons you state. I guess it's all down to how sturdy the mount is, but I'll stand by the mantra that if you cant reach it from the driver's seat, it's probably not worth having. These are small extinguishers and time is everything.

I understand the legal requirement for a hammer in the rear of vehicles with no interior door latch - it makes perfect sense. That doesn't discount their value for the seated cabin passengers, which was their original intent.

Steve.

I actually have a motorsport/CAMS approved fire extinguisher in my car (my subi, not the sierra). Looks a little like this,

http://www.ktecauto.com/ktec/components ... 72c965.jpg

The clip on mine is a little more advanced, but pretty simliar. It's not going anywhere, yet is a very quick release if required. Which is how it should be.

And if its good enough for CAMS motorsport, its good enough for anything im going to do with it on the road.

Definately agreed with the location, if its in the back, under all your bags and tents. not much good when your engine bay is onfire on the side of the highway. Car will burn down before you get to your fire extinguisher!

http://www.cams.com.au/Sport/~/media/A9 ... 0A19B.ashx

Must remain restrained under 25G. If i recally my physics, for a 2kg extinguisher, thats 2 x 9.81x25 = 490N of force = ~50kg of force.

[greenzook89]

They mount hammers and extinguishers in the cabs of the CAT machinery at work all the time. And some of them do go over!