Roll Bar Height

Hello all,

Merry Christmas! Now that i have my Jeep wired, running, stopping and rolling, I am building my next set of to-dos for the future. One area i do not like is the height of the roll bar/bikini top. Yes i am a fairly tall guy at 6'3" and have lowered the seat back to normal from the POs handy work but still top out on the top. I am wondering how high is appropriate for the roll bars? Do they go above the windshield, to the top or below? Possibly looking to build a different roll bar that fits better all around. I want a top to still work though too.

Thoughts? Any pics of how yours line up with the windshield?

 

My rollbar is from a late CJ5 and is about .5" lower than the hardtop. Basically level with the top of the windshield
I need to put some rods between the windshield and rollbar because the bikini keeps hitting my bald spot when it starts flapping even when it's soo tight the stitch holes of the seams show.

 

If you look at pics of the Bestop full ones, you will see there high spot created from their stretch bars which slopes down toward the windshield. When I later added my roll bar, I had it made to fit just inside their top. Pic is before the roll-bar .

 

This is before my top. It isn’t a full top and only covers the square above the driver and passenger. My roll bar does not slope and am wondering if it should be higher on the back slopping toward the fro t which would give me more headroom

 

Typically, a rollbar should fit under a hardtop or soft top, just to give you options.
-Donny

 

Agreed. I don’t believe this jeep will ever have a hard top. The soft top obviously is flexible to a certain degree on its height. I’m just trying to get a good understanding to where it would rise to both in the front and the back just in case I go away custom roll bar route.

 

The roll bar needs to be just taller than you noggin and if you roll it would be wise to have a front hoop (cage and connected with bars) I also have a bar hoop around the grill, if you roll, the grill bar and front hoop will be the pivot points! Ask me how I know!!!

Dale

 

Yeah thanks. No off ridding fir this rig but still I know in normal accidents it’s a possibility. I was thinking of a bar down the center as I’m also trying to ensure my top doesn’t fill and sag when raining.

 

This is the idea...
Adding a roll-bar over the hard-top is more complex. But possible...

 

These jeeps are incredibly susceptible to rolling over in daily traffic. I also wouldn't be surprised if an on road incident was harder on a rollbar than offroad due to the speeds involved.

 

I keep the roll bar on my Jeep. I like it without roll bar too. Safety first.
As I say to my sons, when they drive : be cautious when you turn, the gravity center is high, car is short, it is more easy to roll than you believe.
The same issue when driving where ditches are along the way.
I have just put the Meyer hard top back. It is funny to see how it adapts to the roll-bar.
I suppose that roll bars are made at the size of hard-tops, or soft tops.
Picture with and without toll bar... Without roll bar, you can drive below branches but you must take care of your head!
The only problem is that my Jeep stays young, but I become older and older... Difficult to accept.

 

I should explain, both roll-overs were on dirt and paved roads at speeds that defied the laws of gravity. I figured that if it was baseball...three strikes and you're out!!! I stopped doing that.

When I am off-roading usually your sphincter tells you your "on the edge"!!!

I had 2 link bars to the front hoop and added a 3rd when I raced it along with front/rear and side bars, (race requirement).

This was with 3" lap belts and 2" shoulder belts, if you don't have belts...why bother with any roll bars?

All tubing was 1.75" x .120" wall. My bars fit under the top and that's why I had to rebuild my windshield frame w/glass...twice!!!

Dale

 

Yep, the two roll overs posted by forum members last year happened on the street. Both drivers walked away, but without the roll bars/cages they would have been severely injured at best. It's not just for offroading:

• Roll Cage Test Results.
• My First Jeep Build 69 Cj-5

 

The dead men tell no tales.

 

I'm in the same boat and will need to fabricate a new roll-bar setup. I have a suitable hoop but it'll need to be shortened in height (it's width is right - it came from a CJ5 rollbar that went through the wheelhouse down to a beam welded to the frame.) Problem is, I don't know what the overall height should be and I don't currently have a top to use as a baseline.

Would you guys with a factory rollbar do me a huge favor and take a measurement from the top of the wheelhouse to the bottom of the hoop?

Thanks!
John

 

It needs to be tall enough that you won't hit your head on the bar and also to keep a soft-top from hitting you on the head, but should also be a bit taller than you so in the event of a rollover you have some space.
Mine started slightly above the windshield and ended up WAY above the windshield.

 

In the words of Buford T. Justice... Ooooffff!


John

 

Since no one else has replied…
Mine is pretty close to factory, although it might be off a hair. From a straightedge across the wheelwells to the underside of the center of the hoop, it’s 30 1/4”. There is a slight bend in the center to make a high spot in the middle. The edge of the flat stretch, just before the corner bends begin, it’s 29 7/8” from the underside to the wheelwell. I hope this makes sense.

 

Not that one.