1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Roll Bar Or No Roll Bar?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by montanacj, Jun 29, 2016.

  1. montanacj

    montanacj Member

    hello everyone i'm toying with the idea of removing the roll bar out of my jeep. I like the look of no roll bar but have to admit it does add a little bit of safety if nothin else it's an illusion of safety. What do you all think? Any good reasons on either side of the fence to keep or remove the roll bar?

    It's a full roll bar, hard to tell from the photo.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    If you think there is absolutely no chance of ever rolling then it certainly wouldn't hurt. Otherwise since it's already there might as well leave it. How fast do you drive it? How about the roads like where you're picture is taken. Roll bar might not help in that area.
     
  3. Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    IMOP - I use a cage and recommend it for everyone. Most of the bad rolls I've been around happened not when folks 'expected' to be in a roll situation (wheeling), but when they were just going down the road. I was taking a friend home from school doing about 35 on a gravel road for my first 'bad' roll over. My son had just finished working on his carb, doing about 40 on his... wheeling have mostly been 'flops' - sans one bad one down a 'long' hill.
     
  4. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    keep it.
     
  5. Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

    I like mine since I use it to grab onto when getting in and out of the jeep. Then there is the safety aspect. For looks, it's a personal call. Most roll bars I have seen in pic's look right at home on the jeeps. :)
     
  6. BJHitson60

    BJHitson60 Member

    Agree you should keep it unless you plan to put it in a museum or only use it for Sunday parades. :flag:
     
  7. wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    I agree with liking the look of no roll bar.........on a bone stock JEEP. But, safety takes precedence over looks. If the JEEP will see any trail time, keep it. I also agree with Warloch that you may need it exactly when you'd think you don't. Personally, if I was driving the thing back and forth to work once a week and that was all, I'd probably yank it and hope I never need it. DD and/or trail time, it would stay for sure.
     
  8. Mark Wahlster

    Mark Wahlster Member

    I would no more drive my Willys anywhere but the local pet parade without a roll bar then I would roar it down the highway without seat belts or not wear an Orange Safety vest while paving roads at night.
     
  9. throwback

    throwback Member

    Leave it. I like the look of the older accessories on your Jeep (spare tire mount, etc.) so the roll bar fits in well.
     
  10. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Roll bar is safer IF seatbelts are worn. But keep in mind that a bar will not protect from many other types of mishap.

    But I have made a personal choice to keep the authentic "early" look without a bar.
    I remember when roll bars in Jeeps were a new-fangled idea, and it doesn't look 'right' to me..

    Also that allows me to slip under down trees, chain gates etc.
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2016
  11. chipdom

    chipdom Member

    I purchased my 65 with no roll bar and searched for one before it took the road. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
     
  12. montanacj

    montanacj Member

    Thanks for all the replies guys. I was leaning toward keeping it and probably will. The wife certainly wants it to stay.

    @Glenn if you rolled done any of these mountains you'd be better off jumping out quickly.
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  13. ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    What about switching to just a roll bar instead of the full cage? Some protection is better than none, and it will open up your floors a little.
     
  14. ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    And is that a rear PTO drive unit I spy? (y)
     
  15. Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    keep it
     
  16. aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Id say to keep it. The one time you need it and don't have it may be the difference between a good video and death for you or your loved ones if they are in the jeep when you roll it.
     
  17. montanacj

    montanacj Member

    Yes that's a pto the jeep is actually all original as far as I can tell. I removed those second set of brake lights the PO had on for flat towing.
     
  18. army grunt

    army grunt Member

  19. Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    My Jeep has never had a roll bar, I like the look when the windshield is down, all flat. I do worry about a roll over, but put it out of my head, kind of like crashing when riding a motorcycle. I have thought about making one that replaces my Best Top frame, out of heavy wall small tubes so it would fit the top. I reinforced my windshield frame when I got a new replacement, by adding stronger corners, and welding it all the way around. Probably didn't do much, but it made me feel better about it. I know it would be smarter to have one, but I still like the look without it.
     
  20. Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    I have no seat belts, and I used to drive without the roll-bar, easier to drive under the trees... and the look is nice with the windshield down.
    This is really at slow speed. But now I keep the roll-bar because I drive sometimes on the roads. I understand that, without good seat-belts made to keep you put on the seat, there is a risk anyway. I don't know what my body would do if there was a roll-over?
    The roll-bar would just protect the Jeep body?