Spare Tire Popping Bracket?

[603]

Crawling around under my Maverick tonight and I noticed this -

It sits in front of the spare tire on the unibody crossmember. The teeth are rather sharp, I can only imagine this is a safety thing where it pops your spare intentionally upon impact if you get rear ended. Google has been of no assistance so far, anyone know if that's actually its purpose? If not what the heck is it? I've always owned body-on-frame pickups so maybe this is common, I've just never seen it.

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[AF Blue]

this is a safety thing where it pops your spare intentionally upon impact if you get rear ended.

Nailed it.

 

[Maverick Life]

Crawling around under my Maverick tonight and I noticed this -

It sits in front of the spare tire on the unibody crossmember. The teeth are rather sharp, I can only imagine this is a safety thing where it pops your spare intentionally upon impact if you get rear ended. Google has been of no assistance so far, anyone know if that's actually its purpose? If not what the heck is it? I've always owned body-on-frame pickups so maybe this is common, I've just never seen it.

yup. here's a little more context:

 

[603]

yup. here's a little more context:

Interesting, thanks!

 

[fossil]

so, if an inflated tire shoots forward without the popping bracket, where does it go?
passenger compartment, gas tank?

 

[A Sturdy Beast]

so, if an inflated tire shoots forward without the popping bracket, where does it go?
passenger compartment, gas tank?

Gas tank.

 

[JsnMrd]

It deters catalytic converter theft.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

It's part of the "crumple" strategy to absorb crash energy (by destroying the vehicle) to protect the people.

 

[603]

so, if an inflated tire shoots forward without the popping bracket, where does it go?
passenger compartment, gas tank?

It seems the fear is a fully inflated tire with no barrier could dislodge/damage the fuel tank in the event of a rear end collision.

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