Roll bar mounted to the dash.

Bought a front hoop kit this weekend. Does someone have pictures of a dash mounted roll bar? I have the military dash and I'd like to still use the map box door.

http://groups.msn.com/ScottMilliner/dashpaint.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=354

 

Mine would too. Didn't remember them being so far over to the left. The one on the passenger side is spaced out from the right side enough for a 2" bar to go between it and the door frame.

 

Dan? Pictures?

 

Heres how I mounted mine. I just welded it up on Friday.

 

I really like your roll cage. I'm planning on a new cage myself. Was originally planning to take the front hoop to the floor board (and maybe tie into the frame). I like the dash mounts I see here. Any thoguhts on the pros and cons of mounting to the dash?

thanks,

 

I think the biggest pro to mounting to the dash is it makes it 100 times easier to get in/out of the Jeep, plus you don't have that bar bumping your knees when your wheelin.

 

With the engine up front, when you roll it wants to use the front bar to roll on, that's why I prefer floor/frame mount(personal experence) and it pays to have a grill rollbar too!!
Ya pays yur money, ya takes yur choice!

Dale

 

Mine's mounted at the mirrors . . . I'll get a picture this evening.

 

Running only a rear bar is initially done to keep the whole weight of the vehicle from crushing the drive and passengers. A front bar proved more protection and aided to preserve the vehicle. More elaborate Roll cages can also be constructed to protect the vehicle in a significant manner so it remains immediately completely functional after being recovered.

However there are situations where the front bar itself could work against you-- if it dislodges-- and could cave in on the passenger--- or break and inpales a passenger.

In this design it appears that the rear structure of the cage would serve to some extent support the front from collapse.


Jeeps are heavy in the front. If you are moving foward the front bar will take the initial force.
Depending on the force of the roll-- the front bar could dislodge from the dash and become a weapon-- and cause serious injury. If you are only going 5 mph the current design would help--Even the rear structure of the cage would support the front and keep it from caving in on a passenger. But if a hard roll happened on the highway at highway speeds the current design could work against you.

However one could reinforce the dash and connect that structure down to the floor/ frame with plate or some other structural configuration with something different than traditional round tubing.

Most old Jeep roll bars are not field tested-- so it is all a matter of judgement.

 

Looking at the top corners of the dash, it seems there is more support there than the floor. I was thinking of welding the bar to the floor plate. Then backing it up with a 3/16 plate behind the dash corners.

 

Scott, having one in a million bits at the moment and with a motorsport background, the top of the dash IE where the windscreen shuts on to appears to be the strongest part of the tub, i would mount it on a bracket off that point if i was putting a cage in. or go through the floor and mount it off the chassis that's the best option for strength but not very practical in a 50 year old classic car.

 

I'd attach the roll bar to the frame. Iv'e seen picts of a jeep that rolled with the dash mount. The force of the roll bent the dash/cowl assembley pretty badly.

I guess it really depends on what you want the roll cage to do. How much protection do you want?

Personally, I want to walk away from a highway rollover. If offroad and I flop, I want to push it back up and keep going.

I'd rather give up a little bit of comfort for safety.

 

I don't plan on rolling it. I just want to protect me from a slow roll/flop, and also be able to use the map box door.

I'm not the kind of person that is heavy on the throttle. I have low enough gears and experiance that I can stop before it rolls. (cross my fingers.) I just want to build my cage for the time when I might go over.