Roll cages and what not...
Discussion
Was just wanting to throw a quick question out there in the hope that i get an answer. I am currently restoring my mini and have been planning far ahead of myself so that i am prepared. I wish to, when i get to the bare shell, cut out the back seat/bench and install a roll cage in it's place. Has anyone done this before? Does it create any problems other than not having annoying backseat passengers?
Thanks, Dave.
Thanks, Dave.
FWDRacer said:
Rich - how much do they roughly add. I'm thinking of one for a fast road rebuild on the grounds of..... Passenger safety!
trouble is, the insurance companies just assume that if you have a crash, the roll cage will cause serious head injuries to a passenger, and they will be liable for the care.I found it a bit hard to now how much. My highly moded mini doing less than 3k a year had a cage and it hardly added anthing (and at around £200 was very low anyway). Some companys will just not quote and some will add a lot. I think it is probably more realistic to look at % add. But just phone them up go on line and get a price.
It seems to be how different ins. cos. perceive the risk. To some the fitting of a roll cage is a statement that the car will be driven in a way in which it is likely to crash. Others may see it as a way of making the car safer should it crash.
Of course, to many people roll cages are seen as for competition cars where crashing may be quite likely!
Of course, to many people roll cages are seen as for competition cars where crashing may be quite likely!
camelotr said:
I dont want to open a can of worms, but imho the roll cage is part of a complete safety system which ONLY works together: seat, harness, helmet, roll cage with correct padding.
exactly, whack a passenger with a length of cds tubing and see what sort of mess it would make of their head....thats why insurance compaines dont like roll cages in cars where people dont wear helmets
guru_1071 said:
camelotr said:
I dont want to open a can of worms, but imho the roll cage is part of a complete safety system which ONLY works together: seat, harness, helmet, roll cage with correct padding.
exactly, whack a passenger with a length of cds tubing and see what sort of mess it would make of their head....thats why insurance compaines dont like roll cages in cars where people dont wear helmets
I've got a multipoint cage in my latest project, but it will have harnesses, FIA seats and proper padding (not pipe lagging like some I've seen!). I wouldn't consider fitting one without.
in my build i will be fitting bucket seats and harnesses as i agree that a roll cage is only totally effective and safe with the correct seats and harnesses. however i don't know if all of this will be worth the money or time if my insurance is going to rocket. i am fitting them for safety reasons. it will be a fast road car but i want the roll cage so that if a crash does happen myself and my passengers are not crushed, but as i'm only 18 i can imagine that my insurance company will see the roll cage as a bit of a warning that i may be a dangerous driver... just not sure what to do. thanks for all the information etc.
dave.
dave.
DaveGedro said:
in my build i will be fitting bucket seats and harnesses as i agree that a roll cage is only totally effective and safe with the correct seats and harnesses. however i don't know if all of this will be worth the money or time if my insurance is going to rocket. i am fitting them for safety reasons. it will be a fast road car but i want the roll cage so that if a crash does happen myself and my passengers are not crushed, but as i'm only 18 i can imagine that my insurance company will see the roll cage as a bit of a warning that i may be a dangerous driver... just not sure what to do. thanks for all the information etc.
dave.
my opinion would be to leave it out, 99% of people who use harnesses in road cars never drive with them tightened enough, so they are more likely to injure themselves more by using the harnesses over the inertia seatbelts - who can be bothered to back the belts off everytime then re cinch them? - its a pain having to do it in a racecar!dave.
for a cage to be effective in a crash it needs the door bars and the harness bar to hold the harnesses in the right place, so you are running a full race car on the road - its just unpractical for everyday use.
guru_1071 said:
my opinion would be to leave it out, 99% of people who use harnesses in road cars never drive with them tightened enough, so they are more likely to injure themselves more by using the harnesses over the inertia seatbelts - who can be bothered to back the belts off everytime then re cinch them? - its a pain having to do it in a racecar!
for a cage to be effective in a crash it needs the door bars and the harness bar to hold the harnesses in the right place, so you are running a full race car on the road - its just unpractical for everyday use.
+1for a cage to be effective in a crash it needs the door bars and the harness bar to hold the harnesses in the right place, so you are running a full race car on the road - its just unpractical for everyday use.
Never managed to get the all-be-it cheaper variety (Securiton or something, won't say where I got them) to fit or adjust right in my mini.
When I had the Caterham I had 4 link LUKE harnesses which were great in competition but a PITA on the road.
Tight enoug to be effective means you cannot reach the switches - that goes for a mini too.
Buy a set of 97on doors with the added door bar. This will offer better side protection. Buy a set of good quality seats with proper attachment system. Get a good inetria belt. Finaly paint Your mini in a bright colour to be visible.
And drive it carefully
.
If You insist on using a roll cage, than install only the rear part of the cage, and remove the rear seats. Move it back as much as possible to get it clear from the front head zone. This will offer more chance in case of a rollover, but wont be that dangerous.
And drive it carefully
.If You insist on using a roll cage, than install only the rear part of the cage, and remove the rear seats. Move it back as much as possible to get it clear from the front head zone. This will offer more chance in case of a rollover, but wont be that dangerous.
Edited by camelotr on Friday 15th February 10:03
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