Roll Bar Thoughts. Do you have one or not?

Given it's only held on by a few sheet metal screws, I don't expect much. No, I'm not kidding myself.

Regards,
Tim

 

I love the look of a CJ5 without a rollbar, but I have a full cage in mine.

 

I have a meyers top also but I still have a full cage

 

To those who think Jeeps "look cool" without a roll bar....
It's not about "cool"...
It's about saving lives.
If a vehicle wedges underneath your Jeep broadside (even at 15mph) your jeep is most likely going over.
Doesn't have to be my fault, your fault, or anybody's fault..... (thanks to John Wayne and Richard Boone, Big Jake)you are seriously hurt or dead.
Like in....end of story.

 

For the roll bar non believers::::
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/348Win/CJRoll2_zpsbe0f0146.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/348Win/cherokeeroll_zps9b5d1f11.jpg


For the hard top believers

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/348Win/CJRoll3_zps3ee4c858.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/348Win/CJroll1_zpsb94b6485.jpg

The high school kid that takes dad's V8 Tux Jeep out after school
do you see the front cage behind the windshield; windshield frame looks pretty good
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/348Win/CJRoll6_zps1b107a7e.jpg

 

My Commando has something like 18 fasteners holding the top on, no roll bar you are still just talking about a sheet metal top and a windshield to protect you. Only one time I considered that I was in danger of a flop In the Commando, the abandoned C10 was downhill from me so I would have been supported by it. The 3B really hasn't scared me even with the hard top on, as long as the tires were aired up correctlly. Been out in Moab, doing a wheeley on the rear wheels, A guy we picked up on the trail said" That guy has a lot of Ba*ls" Nope, Just been driving this thing for many years. And, yes, I have had it going sideways on the ice or snow.About the closest I ever came to flopping a Jeep on the road was heading east on I70 and hitting I25 north, about 30 MPH over the posted in my MB. I just turned the wheel and got my head on the passenger seat. I'm not on my side so I better look at where I'm going.

 

>>>>>Bar&belt<<<<<Its a must in something that's top heavy, an is as long as it is wide ! swerve an its over you go.

 

Hi,

I have an open CJ with lap belt but no roll bar - I am aware of the risk(s) - likely the same as driving my motorcycle. This post was an interesting read - I was already searching for a roll bar but didn't manage to locate one in my area yet. I guess I will accelerate the search now. Roll bar were dealer installed options in 65 weren't they?

 

Thanks Howard...........Great old article and debate that started as "Shackles" and ended up as "Roll Cages & Bars".

Seems there are some other folks out that are just as passionate as I am on the subject of having some degree of safety in these old Jeeps!............No easy answer for anyone.

Personally I have been ridiculed many times by my position on safety as most folks in Jeeps just cannot come to grips with that need and simply reply "this is not a Race Car" And so be it and I respectively agree.........but that still doesn't mean you should not still apply some of that knowledge.

My other office with the body off.......early photo, 4130 Chrome-Moly chassis and cage........do to yearly chassis re-certifications there have been many changes and additional bars added , via safety updates mandated by the SFI.

Good Luck on your choices!

 

I put the foward rollbar hoop on mine after i saw some pics of windshields after the jeep being rolled!!! Seems the accidents are when i was just taking it for a quick spin around the block !!!!! I have heard this countless times.
Right after i got married i was buying new seat belts for my sandrail and my wife commented on how expensive they were ( Simpson 5-point) . A couple of trips later we flipped end over end and rolled once we both walked away with just a few bruises. Later she told me that she was glad i bought good belts!!!

 

Sounds like the same story as mine. How about a poll of how many Jeeps have "tested" their roll bars?

 

Better to have one on and not need it than not to have one on and need it

 

I've been struggling with that decision. My restoration is back to is factory specs and it didnt have one and i drove it for 20 plus yrs like that without a 2nd thought. Older and wiser now but I hate the rollbar look in the old Jeeps. Decisions decisions

 

Roll bar- Yes, Seat Belts-yes. An use them, don't sit on them. See the following article, my son was in the back seat.

http://newsitem.com/news/fatal-atv-crash-1.1130838


A short wheelbase CJ-5 with narrow axles may seem fine going 40-45 straight ahead, but have a car run a stop sign or a deer cross your path, you tend to want to swerve out of the way. Had mine on two wheels several times, and you may not have enough flat road to keep it from rolling over.

The 68 I have now has dual wheels on the back, which makes it much more stable.

 

Im for the roll bar. Tipped my 2a over at 30mph and it did its job. the windshield frame bent back and would have kept going if the bar didnt hit the ground. I think id trust a steel top without a bar but certainly wouldnt feel very safe without one. And youll be karting youre kids around how could you even ask the question?

 

I don't like the look with the roll-bar, I took it off for painting and I drove like this, windshield down, that is nice in hot weather.

But I rebolt the rollbar because it is useful for safety.

I have no belts, I could and I'll look at one.

The problem is that for the legal control every 5 years, what is on the car must be controlled.

So I'll take off the rollbar and the belts if I buy them.

In fact, if you drive on flat land, just slowly, on tracks, it is nice without anything. But if there is traffic, better go to safety.