I've been thinking about getting a Calmini winch bumper (it will probably never get past thinking due to the cost/brokeness ratio but I can dream) and I've been wondering what those things do to you in a wreck.

I know that for little bumps and scrapes the ARBs etc. have saved people from a lot of costly damage - but I wonder if it might kill you in a bad wreck... it seems like it would defeat the crumple zones and airbag.

I have heard that in old cars - before all of the crumple zones etc - that sometimes after a wreck the car would be fine... and the people would all be dead.

Any thoughts? Does anyone know of a really bad crash with one of these installed and how the people fared?

Sorry to be morbid here - but it's definitely worth a second thought if that cool add-on might cost you your life.