SuaveGato

Hello,
the truck I have has a blown & removed driver side airbag from a previous wreck. I am considering replacing it but since this truck will mainly be an off road and hunting vehicle I’m not sure? I will still be driving it on road on occasion, not to mention to and from hunting spots on the freeway though, so I would like the safety of the airbag. My concern is if the airbag might accidentally go off on rough wheeling? What are the general thoughts on airbags and wheeling? The other thought I had was if I did get it replaced, maybe see if I can have a switch added, like for the car seats? That way I could turn it off when off roading and on when on the roads?

Anyone have any thoughts, info. or experience with this?
Thanks,
1996 Tacoma 4x4 X-cab 3.4L

OutdoorLiving

Personally, I'd like to have it intact if it were affordable. And being an airbag, I'm sure it won't be affordable. But I could hear my old man saying, "What's your life worth?"

Anyway, regarding airbags, I believe it's been revealed here that airbags are deployed based on sensors detecting an immediate? decrease in speed and not an impact. I don't know anyone that's personally set off an airbag wheeling, and I've seen some people pick-up a few pine trees on the trail with equal damage to their pride and bumper without an airbag deployment.

However, I'm sure one of the veterans will chime in and correct me.

BruceTS

I once ran over a Honda, totalled it and my air bags didn't deploy.............

sswearin1

that's hilarious, I remember your post about that. how did that happen, wasn't that guy on the wrong side of the road? sorry for the hijak.

SuaveGato

Well, I talked to the "airbag guy" at my buddies body shop, CAN'T PUT AN ON OFF SWITCH IN IT... Too hard, too complex, too many regulations etc. but he said no problems with airbags and off roading. Basically he said, if it goes off you will be glad it did, it only goes off for a GOOD reason! to keep you from going through the windshield..
thanks,

ecchamberlin

Agreed! I have come to some very abrupt stops and no airbags popped off. Never heard of it before. Maybe out Preruning wold cause one ot go off but not slow off roading like most of us do.

I would get one put back in.

Ironmike4x4

If you can afford it just go ahead and replace the airbags. I once fell into a hole that gave way to and underground creek on a trail and had a rough landing. The left front wheel dangled on top of the hole and the front skid plate was on the ground. The airbags never deployed.

SnoViking

i think the airbags wont deploy under 10 mph... so just make sure youre under that before you start knocking down trees... call the dealershp... they should know