Roll cage concerns
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
Roll cage concerns
Hi all,
I have the first stage of my roll cage complete but have some safety concerns that have been buggin' me. I have the cage mounted to the frame with some very hefty brackets. The seats are mounted to the floor of the cab as are the lap belts. But, the shoulder straps are attached to a crossmember of the rear hoop of the roll cage. Basically, the cage and the cab are not connected in any way to each other... except for the shoulder straps.
If the roll cage or the cab separate from the frame, the shoulder straps could be a problem. If I ever rolled it hard enough to cause this (which I don't plan on doing), chances are I'd be toast from the impact anyhow.
SO, am I just being paranoid or is there something else I should be doing to fix this? Mounting the cage to the cab floor would solve it, but I don't like that idea too much.
Any thought?
TIA.
Kevin K.
I have the first stage of my roll cage complete but have some safety concerns that have been buggin' me. I have the cage mounted to the frame with some very hefty brackets. The seats are mounted to the floor of the cab as are the lap belts. But, the shoulder straps are attached to a crossmember of the rear hoop of the roll cage. Basically, the cage and the cab are not connected in any way to each other... except for the shoulder straps.
If the roll cage or the cab separate from the frame, the shoulder straps could be a problem. If I ever rolled it hard enough to cause this (which I don't plan on doing), chances are I'd be toast from the impact anyhow.
SO, am I just being paranoid or is there something else I should be doing to fix this? Mounting the cage to the cab floor would solve it, but I don't like that idea too much.
Any thought?
TIA.
Kevin K.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
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From: Spokane, WA
I've seen some crazy wrecks Kevin. All I can say is if you manage to seperate the body or roll cage from your frame you have much bigger issues to worry about than your seatbelts. 
Are you using flanges for the roll cage that bolt on either side of the floor pan or does the bar itself go through a hole in the floor? If you did the flanges then the roll cage would hold the body in place even if the cab mounts came loose.
Are you using flanges for the roll cage that bolt on either side of the floor pan or does the bar itself go through a hole in the floor? If you did the flanges then the roll cage would hold the body in place even if the cab mounts came loose.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
i have thought ot this same problem on my cage when i start it for my bronco. i am gonna run 2 bars wide enough to bolt seats to along the floor going from door to door! that way it is all connected to the cage and if the cage and chassis ever separate you stay in the cage!
that's my plan and it might be a good suggestion!
-cutts-
EDIT: exactly like this!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...oid=66787&.jpg
that's my plan and it might be a good suggestion!
-cutts-
EDIT: exactly like this!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...oid=66787&.jpg
Last edited by IB Tim; Jan 27, 2005 at 04:58 PM. Reason: remove img
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Coutts Canada
If you are worried about it, could you run an extra bar to conect the straps too that conects to the floot and ties into the roll cage, or just tie the bar you have the straps already connected to to the floor.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
you could but then you would still have a chance of getting hurt b/c then the seat will go one way and the straps another way! the best/safest is to attach the straps to the same part of the truck the seat is... know what i am saying?
although the chance of the 2 ever separating is very slim (depending on quality of work of course!)
-cutts-
although the chance of the 2 ever separating is very slim (depending on quality of work of course!)
-cutts-
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
Ivan,
The cage goes through holes in the floor and attaches to the frame. I suppose I could put some flanges on the vertical tubes at (or a little above) the floor. It would prevent the cage from dropping down, but still allow the body to move independantly.
Fish,
That's what I really want to do, but I want the cage to be removable. I can't figure out how to make the lower part with the seats detachable yet strong enough.
mustange70,
I wanted to avoid physically connecting the cage to the cab to allow for movement on the trails.
Thanks for the opinions guys. I'll have to sit in the garage, drink beer and stare at it for a few hours and hopefully some magical solution will present itself. I'm thinking that I may go with the flanges on to the floor.
Thanks again!
Kevin K.
The cage goes through holes in the floor and attaches to the frame. I suppose I could put some flanges on the vertical tubes at (or a little above) the floor. It would prevent the cage from dropping down, but still allow the body to move independantly.
Fish,
That's what I really want to do, but I want the cage to be removable. I can't figure out how to make the lower part with the seats detachable yet strong enough.
mustange70,
I wanted to avoid physically connecting the cage to the cab to allow for movement on the trails.
Thanks for the opinions guys. I'll have to sit in the garage, drink beer and stare at it for a few hours and hopefully some magical solution will present itself. I'm thinking that I may go with the flanges on to the floor.
Thanks again!
Kevin K.
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
just curious....why do you want it to be removable? i thought the point in a cage is to keep everything inside!
-cutts-
-cutts-
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Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
Several reasons. I'm never content with the way things are and I wasn't sure how it would look/work. I also knew that once I got it in and done, Someone would have a better way to do it and have to cut it out and start over. I just wanted to be sure I've taken everything into consideration before making it permanent since this is my first attempt at a cage.
I figure by the time I build Rollcage v3.2, I should be ready to weld it all in for good.
Kevin K.
I figure by the time I build Rollcage v3.2, I should be ready to weld it all in for good.
Kevin K.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
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From: Spokane, WA
Originally Posted by KJKozak2
I'll have to sit in the garage, drink beer and stare at it for a few hours and hopefully some magical solution will present itself.
