Rekindling the rollbar fires?

[brucejohn]

After reading through the old threads I thought I might leave well enough alone. Mentioning kids, rollbars and sitting in back appears to bring out strong opinions. Obviously, I changed my mind, got out my paddle and decided to stir.

I want to add a roll bar/cage to my 3 door 109 with 3 seats in the front row. Our family of four has no kids in car seats, though a full back booster will be in use for another couple of years. Currently, except on the ranch we don't use the series with more than 3 passengers. =(

I could go with either an internal or external roll bar/cage though I have always had internals in my jeeps and land cruisers with expedition racks mounted separately. I have a pickup and a full top, both which I like to remove as much as possible.

Though she has a side facing seat I would remove to add a rear forward facing bench, I assume from a D90, and changing to 2 seats in the front row. High backs would be nice, though mounting a headrest and the reels on the roll bar/cage would be good too.

I am not planning on taking family vacations in mine, a backpacking trip or two a year would be consistent. Backpack trips typically involve four wheeling and only two of us. That may change as we all grow up or if I hit the lotto and get a 110. =) Four wheeling for me is usually about getting to where we start a hike or backpack trip, not trail running and certainly not extreme wheeling. Though it would be fun to hook up with others in nearby and do a trail run or two to see what that is like. Having said that taking a long 'expedition' trip "someday" would be a dream though not likely.

Mine is a daily driver, I live 10 miles out a farm and ranch road from a town of about 20,000 and most days I take a child to school or a bus stop. Depending on the wind, speeds to 65 are not uncommon and 50+ daily.

In the end, I guess I have just always had a roll bar, part of my question is do I need one? If so, which ones do folks have? It seems the externals are more common on rovers.

[ShootingCar]

Roll Bar with Forward Facing Rear Seat

I had a roll cage made of 2" sch. 40 carbon steel pipe with matching plates under the wheel wells that are braced diagonally down to the frame. I have a couple of college daughters who may drive in my truck so I want it safe. I talked with ECR who I got my truck from who thought that only the forward facing seats with three point seat belts were safe. I have additional longitudinal bars for stiffness but not diagonal bracing. I know that Ike recommended diagonals but I wanted it more accessible so I created a picture frame and added the gusset plates in the corners for more moment resistance. The gusset plates also provide the seat belt mounting points. I have three point retractable seat belts on all four seats. The rear seat is a jeep rear seat. The center mounting brackets are bolted to a 3/8 inch plate under the floor for anchorage. I powder coated the roll bar and am very pleased with it.

With the seat belts mounted to the roll bar, I can take the hard top off and put the soft top on and not have to change the seat belt mounting so thats good too.

I also plan to mount equipment to the roll bar. I actually found a pair of old metal milk crates that fit just perfectly under the lower horizontal stiffening bars on the wheel wells and become good places to stuff stuff.
I bunge them in place.



Jeff

[brucejohn]

Jeff...
That looks very nice. Did you build or have it done? The jeep seat looks good too.

[ShootingCar]

Roll Bar Fabrication

I am lucky enough to have a great Model T Restorer down the street from me who is a great welder and constructed the roll bar. I have photos of it in progress if you want to see it. I am self employed and too busy to ever get something like that done. That's why I have had pre-hung wood door leaning up in my garage and not installed!

Jeff

[ivarra]

I had mine installed mainly because I wanted front 3 point seat belts. It is not yet frame mounted, but has a horizontal bar under the tub and at the top connecting the front and back. I think that this year I would like to ask Trevor at RoverLab (he did the original roll cage) to connect the under-tub brackets to the frame. But even now, its better than nothing. Its solid (I can swing on it), and it will save us in a slow roll over.

You can see how my series is used (neighborhood errands, ice cream etc), so I need that comfort level. Also, I don’t have enough knowledge, tools, or time to do it myself. I am starting to feel like I am the only one on this forum who does not do all his own work on his vehicle!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivar2010/sets/72157623506666972/

[scott]

save your money

you guys with your worries about the kiddies and their safety...i see things differantly, for everyone your let reach college age that's one rover you won't be able to afford so i don't have a roll bar or forward facing rear seats or even seat belts and i often run w/o the doors on. take the kids for rides all the time. i do have a shovel on the back which serves a dual purpose, one dig'n out when i get stuck and two burying their little bodies when one bounces out. i just have to tell the wife "i don't know where jr's at blah blah"

yep if weren't for three of 'em reaching college age i'd have even more series vehicles, oh well darwin says some of 'em are going to survive...

[ivarra]

for everyone your let reach college age that's one rover you won't be able to afford

Hmmm, lets see now, what do I want when I get older ... my kids or more Rovers?

I grew up in South Africa, with the lack of vehicle protection and no-whining-take-it-as-it-comes attitude you are referring to, so I can see your point about being over protective, but everyone has their own acceptable comfort limit as far as protection goes.

[scott]

... your point about being over protective, but everyone has their own acceptable comfort limit as far as protection goes.

i was not making point here, just my sarcastic way of whining about not having all the toys i want. because the wife and kids don't visit this board i can make these jokes free from the fear of being beat to death with a short axle whilst i sleep. the wife especially doesn't appreciate dark humor

[usadventureracing]

Shootingcar, please add the photos, I had roll bar but I took out and wanted to make one just like yours. Thanks

[JimCT]

Attachment point

That sharp triangular knife edge shoulder harness mount so close to ones head scares me. Might be better to have something with a bit kinder profile, or just a nut welded to the bar.

[badvibes]

Just something to keep in mind. A roll bar/cage is just the 1st part. If you really think rollover protection is needed you then need good seat belts. Also anything that is loose in the passenger compartment has to go. That tool box in the cargo area becomes a serious head knocker in a roll. My CJ has a full cage. There's nothing left loose in it. My Series on the other hand often has loose items in back. A good cage may offer protection from being crushed but the passengers all need to be secured fast in their places and be free from objects flying around in a roll. If one doesn't do all the needed mods then a roll bar/cage might be a moot point. I was impressed to see the interior in the pics free of loose items.

[brucejohn]

Just something to keep in mind. A roll bar/cage is just the 1st part.

Good point badvibes!

Thanks for the photos Ivar, that is a beautiful example of an interior cage.

Shootingcar: Yes, post the pictures or better yet a link to where we can view them BIG.

Scott: You have a great sense of humor and good insight. My response is it's all about balance. Of course, if I keep my life balanced what do I need a rollbar for? =)

[scott]

...
Scott: You have a great sense of humor and good insight. My response is it's all about balance. Of course, if I keep my life balanced what do I need a rollbar for? =)

well if you're balanced and you've a roll gage you would be protect from meteors larger than the space between the sections of your gage.

i suspect badvibes comments may be influenced by my series...it's a freak'n rolling shed. i've so much crap in the tub. i am impressed with the tidiness of badvibes and some of the other trucks i see here.

[badvibes]

i suspect badvibes comments may be influenced by my series...

Maybe a little but I was really thinking of Artie's girlfriend when she rolled his FJ. RT was a friend who did things right. Had an 8 point cage built into hid FJ 40, tied it to the frame, good harnesses, stuff securely stowed. His GF Dianne rolled his truck at high speed on a little 2 lane road. Dianne broke both her arms badly when they went thru/inside the steering wheel as the truck rolled several times. Toy was totalled and I mean totalled. Diane survived and recovered from the wreck because the cage held, the harnesses held and she wasn't injured by something flying around inside the truck.

[ivarra]

i was not making point here, just my sarcastic way of whining about not having all the toys i want. because the wife and kids don't visit this board i can make these jokes free from the fear of being beat to death with a short axle whilst i sleep. the wife especially doesn't appreciate dark humor

Sorry Scott, I should have picked up on the humor, especially seeing that its my kind of humor. I must be tired, or I havent had a ride (in my series) lately. Or maybe its my kids annoying me ...

Ivar