Stupid question….lightning storms

[Jobofly]

So I am curious if hard top jeeps are as safe in lightning storms as other vehicles? The storms where I live have been more intense this year than I can ever remember. Just wanted to get everyone’s thoughts on that.

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[Volt0]

These things are great in tough weather conditions

 

[kevman65]

It's fiberglass composite. Non-conductive.

Now if lightning hits a tree and it comes down, that's a different story.

 

[yoda13]

So I am curious if hard top jeeps are as safe in lightning storms as other vehicles? The storms where I live have been more intense this year than I can ever remember. Just wanted to get everyone’s thoughts on that.

They were more intense here in the spring than I can ever remember as well.

 

[PuddleJumper]

Yeah, even with a soft top. You in a steel faraday cage with 33in rubber isolators on each corner. You'll be fine. Albeit possibly scared in some muddy britches

 

[mepperson641]

Just my $.02, but most of the articles you'll find on the safety of motor vehicles when struck by lightning have to do with the vehicle acting as a faraday cage and the lightning following the "skin" of the vehicle to ground. This leaves the passengers "mostly" safe as long as they're not contacting any metal that's connected to the frame. From that perspective, I would "assume" that the fiberglass tops are slightly less safe than a traditional sedan with a steel cage. Having said that, if it's raining and your vehicle is wet then I would expect that the lightning could still follow the frame around the vehicle. One interesting suggestion I found: lean back in your seat in case a lightning hit causes your air bags to deploy. That would just add insult to injury.
And one last thought... yes, tires should act as a nice insulator and make the vehicle much less likely to be hit. But if the tires are wet your vehicle is still providing a ground location for the lightning. And, there have been instances of Anvil Lightning travelling up to 100 miles from a storm. With that kind of voltage all bets are off. It's going wherever it wants.

 

[ArchEtech]

If you are directly hit by lightning I don’t know that the construction of the top is going to make much difference.


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSGP3t0ODOgSn47t9RGOWAjBtGiZmUFe2oRcA&usqp=CAU

 

[MrBones]

Same as being in a plane. They take hits frequently.

 

[Rusty PW]

There is a picture on the net where lightning came through the windshield and into the dash. Blowing the dash apart. When I get home. I'll try to find it.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Maybe another question would be (just in case the panels aren’t safe) is, would I feel a lightning strike and would I be around afterwards to talk about it?

 

[bgott]

Just my $.02, but most of the articles you'll find on the safety of motor vehicles when struck by lightning have to do with the vehicle acting as a faraday cage and the lightning following the "skin" of the vehicle to ground. This leaves the passengers "mostly" safe as long as they're not contacting any metal that's connected to the frame. From that perspective, I would "assume" that the fiberglass tops are slightly less safe than a traditional sedan with a steel cage. Having said that, if it's raining and your vehicle is wet then I would expect that the lightning could still follow the frame around the vehicle. One interesting suggestion I found: lean back in your seat in case a lightning hit causes your air bags to deploy. That would just add insult to injury.
And one last thought... yes, tires should act as a nice insulator and make the vehicle much less likely to be hit. But if the tires are wet your vehicle is still providing a ground location for the lightning. And, there have been instances of Anvil Lightning travelling up to 100 miles from a storm. With that kind of voltage all bets are off. It's going wherever it wants.

I read years ago that the black in the tires is carbon black and that tires are actually conductors.

 

[Stuntman Mike]

Myself not worrying about lightning but about hail.

How resistant are our trucks against hail?

 

[Gvsukids]

How resistant are our trucks against hail?

Hard top better than soft top.

 

[bgott]

I read years ago that the black in the tires is carbon black and that tires are actually conductors.

https://www.document-center.com/standards/show/ASTM-F1971 https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/learn/tire-basics/why-are-tires-black.html.

 

[bgott]

https://www.document-center.com/standards/show/ASTM-F1971 https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/learn/tire-basics/why-are-tires-black.html.

Like anybody really cares!

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