On any challenging off-road trail, your frame is going to flex regardless of what vehicle you have or what kind of chassis modifications you've done.
And the more it flexes, the more capable it will be negotiating the most challenging sections. Of course there is a point when the chassis flexes so much that it becomes incompatible with the running gear or starts to develop fatigue cracks.
Have you ever driven a off-road vehicle off-road?
Why yes, I have (Jeep ZJ, Ford F250 chase truck - wasn't mine, Subaru GL, KTM990, Various Honda Xr's, Husky 450...the list goes on). It's all about the right tool for the right job I think. Even then, just because you want
some things to flex it does not mean you want
everything to flex. Take a look at ANY serious off-road weapon. Even a tube frame truck. There are gussets everywhere to keep the frame from flexing in the wrong places. You want flex, yes, but only in certain areas. No one wants a rig that drives like jello and will shake itself to pieces. That's pointless, and kinda dangerous (like you said, metal does fatigue over time if stressed incorrectly).
Sounds like you'd want a nice solid body-on-frame, not unibody.
For Any hard-core rock crawling, absolutely, I agree. But I did say I had no intention of taking my CX-5 anyplace that challenging. Only well used trails. This car will never be a Rubicon killer, that's for sure. (rofl2) Although it might be fun to try...
There are good unibody 4x4's out there (cherokee, FJ) but they're designed that way from the get go.
Yep, had one (chrokee) and the entire car flexed like hell. Couldn't even close the hatch if all 4 tires were'n flat on the ground. That felt better on the trail than it did on the street.
Otherwise even if it flexes, so what? you're not worrying about speed here... just transiting the obstacle. With tires aired down to 5 lbs steering precision is pretty crappy anyway.
True, but if we're talking about a brand new CX-5, I'd want to minimize body flex for a few reasons. Very, very expensive glass bonded to the frame is one example (unless you just pull the glass before hitting the trail, but then it becomes just a trail rig). I don't believe this car is intended for that kind of abuse, so something would have to give (break).
If what you're talking is off-road rally racing: well, then you ARE thinking something entirely different, but I think the CX has a long, long way to go before being ready for that too.
Ha ha...not WRC rally racing. (drive2) There are local rally lite races that are on pretty level terrain. Just like timed autocross events on dirt. The CX-5 would be more than up to that challenge (with a bit of stiffening). I agree with most of your points though.
