Rekindling the rollbar fires?

[chester rides again]

Brucejohn,

I'm in the same boat as you. I like the pics of the roll bar posted by others, BUT I think it would look much cleaner to replace the hoop setup WITH the roll bar. You would only have to lengthen the straps a bit in the middle.

I'd consider keeping the rear hoop and just have a diagnal bar down the sides on the roll cage - probably not as safe though.

[Firemanshort]

I have often thought about this idea of replacing the 1 inch tubing that holds the soft top up with something more stout - like 1 1/2 inch or 2 inch tubing. I know that if it was tied in the exact same as the normal soft top hoops then it is not attached to the frame and not 'good'. But it has to be 'better' - and I know it would be easy. The easiest may be something as simple as replacing the hoop behind the driver with a larger pipe and leave the rest as-is.

Again - I know it is not NASCAR approved - but most (I know - not all) Series tense moments are off road and on a trail. The roll overs are generally low energy.

The real problem I have seen with this idea is that nobody will build this - too afraid of liability for selling a roll bar that is not really a roll bar.

I would still love to see someone with some weld/bend/fab skills make something that bolts in and takes the place of the regualr soft top hoop(s).

[scott]

...
Again - I know it is not NASCAR approved - but most (I know - not all) Series tense moments are off road and on a trail. The roll overs are generally low energy.

The real problem I have seen with this idea is that nobody will build this - too afraid of liability for selling a roll bar that is not really a roll bar...

just draw it up, take it to a fabricator and tell 'em it's a hand rail for your grandma's bath tup

[thixon]

I have often thought about this idea of replacing the 1 inch tubing that holds the soft top up with something more stout - like 1 1/2 inch or 2 inch tubing. I know that if it was tied in the exact same as the normal soft top hoops then it is not attached to the frame and not 'good'. But it has to be 'better' - and I know it would be easy. The easiest may be something as simple as replacing the hoop behind the driver with a larger pipe and leave the rest as-is.

Again - I know it is not NASCAR approved - but most (I know - not all) Series tense moments are off road and on a trail. The roll overs are generally low energy.

The real problem I have seen with this idea is that nobody will build this - too afraid of liability for selling a roll bar that is not really a roll bar.

I would still love to see someone with some weld/bend/fab skills make something that bolts in and takes the place of the regualr soft top hoop(s).

I will be doing exactly this to my truck. I have already worked out how to tie it to the frame (keep in mind I don't care about originality). When I get ready to fab it, I'll make a thread on it.

[zayante]

Jim Hall took some really good shots of the cage he built for Bill Rice, the previous owner of my 109 SW. It's very well anchored, and has the front seat inertia belts attached to it. The only really inconvenient feature is that there is a bar across the dashboard. On the up side, the front grab handles are handy. The cage makes a good framework to hang a bikini top on.

See:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24659401@N02/with/4405175585/

[badvibes]

Chris-

Good looking cage. I like that it has protection for the front seat passengers too. Seems like many Rover cages don't add that feature for some reason. Even fewer do it as an internal style. Though I don't really like the look of external cages I have to admit I like the look of the external cage like on the front of a Defender. Here's hoping you never have to find out how stout it really is.

I see either you or your buddy has been to Chimayo.....

[zayante]

Its the most solid cage I've seen. Now all I have to worry about is the loose gear flying around inside.

[JimCT]

No rollbar

This is what happens when you hit black ice at 50mph on the way to work.

[badvibes]

JimCT-

Hope everyone was OK. I'm always surprised how well, relatively speaking, the standard hardtop holds up in a roll. I imagine that they would have no integrity at all and will just collapse completely being mostly aluminum. Glad to see I was wrong.

Jeff

[JimCT]

Everyone OK

ended up on its side, the dog and me fine just beat up from all the junk flying around the truck. Note, tool boxes hurt! Got a few people and stood it up on its wheels and drove it home. Bought a used windscreen, pickup top and tailgater from RN and used it like that for a few more years.