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PostPosted: June 5, 2016, 11:56 pm 
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I know that this has been discussed in other parts of the forum, but usually as an aside to some other related subject. I would like to get other peoples takes on protecting the soft, squishy, organic cargo usually transported by a Locost. This could be any intrusive outside force, but since I live in the heart of "White Tail Country", and just recently totalled my beloved GMC van due to a deer hit, Deer are frequently on my mind.

First, I would like to know if anyone here has had any first hand (or even second hand) experience with a Locost vs Deer/or-any-similar-large-creature incident, and what were the results?

Secondly, I'd like to get a discussion started sharing ideas of increasing occupant protection. I got very good input from several of the guys when I posed a similar question about 'Reinforcing the Boot' on my Locost design. I hope this generates some more good ideas.

Let the banter begin! :cheers:

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 12:21 am 
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I think Jack has had first-hand experience with that.

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 2:52 am 
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I would think that the closer you get to having a full cage supporting the windshield, the better in this regard. However, for primarily street use, there are typically reasonable limits to this as well.

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 10:15 am 
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Yeah, I pretty much decided that a cage supporting the windshield is a "Must Have"! I like the design that Kurt has on Midlana. With the crossed top braces, you still have reasonably easy access to your cockpit.

This recent hit (my second in 3 years) has me a little 'spooked'. I grew up on the west side of Los Angeles where the biggest critter I had to dodge was a Great Dane. These White Tails are much bigger animals than the puny little black tails that hang out in Griffith Park or the San Bernardino mountains. Now, the Missouri Dept. of Conservation has decided, in their infinite wisdom, to reintroduce Elk to this neck of the woods. YIPES!

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 11:14 am 
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Wow, Mike. Two hits; no wonder you are spooked. My only experience was hitting a Coyote in a CRX, and the damage was substantial. But I had some near misses with deer, in the mini van with the family on board, which made the full cage to be a no-brainer. I also installed one of these electronic deer whistles: http://www.xp3hornet.com/faq.shtml
I have no proof on how effective they really are, but I believe it helps.

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 11:59 am 
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DOT windshields are good protection. The issue with cages is that you need to provide padding to protect the passengers heads. During an accident a person stretches a great deal, several inches in the back and the neck is possible.

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 12:33 pm 
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I grew up on SoCal and hardly ever see deer. We went skiing in Utah some years back and at dusk along the canyon heading to the ski area, there were deer everywhere, crossing right in front of the car. I kept going slower and slower because they were completely brain-dead about when was a smart time to cross. If I lived up there I don't know what I'd do... some sort of " 'roo bars" on a truck maybe. In a Locost, yeah, about all you can do is have a cage, and not drive those roads at dusk and dawn.

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Last edited by KB58 on June 8, 2016, 9:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 3:35 pm 
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My idea is, you have to be lucky. We live in the woods, with deer, coyotes, turkeys and smaller critters wandering through all the time. The deer aren't that big, but I imagine one landing in the cockpit. Nothing could save me there. I had one close call, could've gone either way, fortunately the deer and I went in opposite directions. I now slow way down on approach to the house.The freeway is less than a mile away. Animals wander across it from time to time and get smashed, so you're not safe anywhere.


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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 3:48 pm 
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The issue I was seeing was that the windshield pillar, the dash hoop and the place the frame starts to narrow down don't happen in the same place in a Locost or Car9, I don't remember about Midlana. Making a front roll bar for the windshield and using a windshield with some curvature would make a strong protection.

Maybe you can move the part of the frame where it starts to narrow forward enough to line up with where the windshield hoop is and then cosmetically move the dash back so the cockpit doesn't look too big.

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 4:37 pm 
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KB58 wrote;
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and not drive those roads at dusk and dawn.


Usually that's good advice. That's when probably 75-85% of deer hits occur, but that last 15-25% is a (female dog)! My last hit was at 12:30 in the afternoon. Some hunter friends that really know deer behavior insist that something must have spooked her bad to break out of the brush in mid-day at full gallop like that. I tend to agree. Usually, when you see deer in daylight, they approach the roads with caution.

Marcus, I like your thinking here. Besides the front cage hoop, a curved windshield should help protect in a frontal collision. That W/S that mkejim installed on his Lalo would be awesome. I wonder if a VW Super Beetle W/S would work. Where's my tape measure?

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 5:26 pm 
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Here's an old pic of the Midlana frame, giving an idea of the chassis shape:

Image

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 6:01 pm 
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Thanks, Kurt. I'll definitely be borrowing a few ideas from your Midlana build. Lot of good engineering in there! :thmbsup:

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 6:40 pm 
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I'd say you're only realistic option is a front rollbar hoop and make the opening as small as possible. Deer go through well-supported, well-bonded DOT windshields all the time. I don't think a locost stands a chance at using the windshield to stop 200lbs of deer.

The problem with front roll hoops is they need to be supported. Maybe not for deer hits, but for rollovers. So then you put a halo in there to support it, and now you have a steel tube waiting to brain you in a minor crash since you have no helmet on.

I once came up on a deer in perfect conditions for it to be totally camouflaged. I didn't see it at all until it turned it's head and it's eyes shone in my lights. The only thing that save me and my Yaris was the fact that I drive with R-comps which had enough grip to get stopped. Street tires would not have done it. So yeah..... racing tires are what you need :wink:

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 7:52 pm 
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The stickiest tires in the world would not have helped! I never even saw the deer. Middle of the day, clear straight stretch of road with wide shoulders. I scanned the area :shock: for possible bogeys, turned towards my wife, and WHAM!!! :shock:

A front roll bar hoop has never really NOT been a part my plan, but a well braced windshield would just be an added barrier between intruder and passenger.

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PostPosted: June 6, 2016, 9:48 pm 
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My take is to NOT have a windshield or roll bar. I've had deer jump OVER my S2000 twice while in my neighborhood. You need something short enough they can always jump over it without tripping on all that stuff sittin' way up high. :P

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