ResQtec V2 Ram *
Photo: Tom Schierlitz * What it is: ResQtec V2 Ram
What it's used for: Getting the dashboard off your chest after a high-speed crash
Modern cars do a good job of absorbing the impact of a head-on collision: The metal in the front crumple zones deforms in specific ways, sparing the occupants the brunt of the kinetic energy. The downside — a bad crash can create a hardened-steel trap around the driver and passengers, making it tough to get them out in a hurry. That's where a good hydraulic ram comes in, like the 27-pound V2. Rescuers wedge the end of this $3,030 cylinder on the inside of the door sill and an aircraft-grade aluminum rod extends to push against the windshield pillar. Its 5,000-psi hydraulics deliver spreading force of up to 12.7 tons — more than enough to crack open your wrecked ride like a pistachio. The V2 can create a 31-inch gap in a mere 13 seconds — increasing the odds that once you're free, you'll be rushing to the car dealer, not the emergency room.
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